Lac Sardine in Laurentides: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lac Sardine is a Laurentides water, in Quebec. The water sits 334 metres up. At 5 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. The closest town, Mont-Laurier, is 27 km away. Further out sit La Minerve (31 km) and Rivière-Rouge (34 km). Nearby, in order: Lac Toncamp at 1.2 km, Lac Coindrelle at about 1.8 km, Lac Bazin at 2.2 km, Lac Legende at about 2.3 km and Lac Prevost at 2.4 km. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lac Sardine

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Species logged across Laurentides include pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, brook trout and rock bass. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Lac Sardine gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 18°C in July and bottoms out near -15°C in January. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Ice clears near late April and comes back about late November in a typical year. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Time your trip to Lac Sardine by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Lac Toncamp sits 1.2 km off and takes the overflow. The position on Lac Sardine is worth confirming on the day.