Fishing Petit lac Jean in Lanaudière, Quebec

• Overview

  Out in Lanaudière, Quebec, sits Petit lac Jean. It stands 389 metres above sea level. It is pond-in-a-field scale, with the far bank a short lob away. Most waters listed here for Lanaudière are larger. The closest town, Manawan, is 54 km away. The nearest city of size is Trois-Rivières, 137 km away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Petit lac Jean

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for Lanaudière cover pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Petit lac Jean the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 17°C; the cold one sits at -16°C. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early May. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early May until roughly mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Petit lac Jean fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Lac Beland at 0.2 km is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Petit lac Jean before loading the car.