Fishing Premier lac Besson in Lanaudière, Quebec

• Overview

  Out in Lanaudière, Quebec, sits Premier lac Besson. Elevation runs to 398 metres. With some 18 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The bank runs about 2.7 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Some 33 km away sits Saint-Michel-des-Saints, the nearest settlement. Further out sit Manawan (60 km) and Mandeville (69 km). No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Premier lac Besson

  Depth figures are not published for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Open biodiversity records for Lanaudière list pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The shape of Premier lac Besson rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -16°C and July at about 17°C, the water has a wide range to work through. The ice season is long here and the open one short. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early May. Climate figures give an open season running early May to mid November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Expect Premier lac Besson to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Deuxieme lac Besson, 0.9 km out. Rules at Premier lac Besson are worth checking on the day.