Lac Rond Fishing near Saint-Donat-de-Montcalm, Quebec

• Overview

  Set in Lanaudière, Quebec, this is Lac Rond. The country here is lake country bush. At roughly 8 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Nearest town is Saint-Donat-de-Montcalm, 20 km off. Beyond it, Sainte-Béatrix at 31 km and Chertsey at 32 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lac Rond

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Lanaudière records list pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass among the fish reported. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The shape of Lac Rond decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 18°C and January at -14°C. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. Open water usually runs from late April until about late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. The season on Lac Rond rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Lac Bon a Rien at 0.5 km is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Lac Rond before loading the car.