Lac Savane in Lanaudière: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Lac Savane in the Lanaudière part of Quebec. The ground around here is boreal forest. It measures about 14 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The bank runs about 1.9 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. It is high ground by Quebec standards. The nearest place of any size is Saint-Michel-des-Saints, 22 km away. After that come Saint-Donat-de-Montcalm at 47 km and Manawan at 56 km. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lac Savane

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. County-wide records name pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Read Lac Savane for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -15°C to 17°C. The window is narrow, and fish feed hard while it lasts. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early May. Break-up sits around early May on average, with the water closing again about mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. That shapes the year on Lac Savane.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Lac Oublie, 1.1 km out. None of that is settled for Lac Savane in what we hold.