Lac Sinclair in Laurentides: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lac Sinclair lies in Laurentides, Quebec. The surface lies 287 metres up. At roughly 8 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. The closest town, La Conception, is 11 km distant. For a city, Saint-Louis-de-Terrebonne is 80 km off. Others worth noting: Lac du Brochet 1.9 km away, Grand lac Sinclair 2.1 km, Lac Suzanne 2.7 km away, Petit lac Sinclair 2.9 km and Lac de la Fourche 3.3 km away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lac Sinclair

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, brook trout and rock bass. The county list is broader than any single water. Lac Sinclair repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -14°C and July at about 18°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Anyone fishing Lac Sinclair regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Lac du Brochet is 1.9 km off. Check the position at Lac Sinclair before loading the car.