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163-acre lake near Québec. The lake tops out around 72 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
The outline encloses 163 acres, worked by 3.5 miles of shoreline. With a 1.9 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. About 15% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. The basin spans about 1.6 mi end to end and 0.3 mi across at its widest. It sits in La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau MRC. Its nearest charted neighbour, Lac à la Truite, is 10 mi to the west.
Carte de pêche interactive gratuite — Lac du Cardinal, Québec : courbes de profondeur issues de relevés bathymétriques réels jusqu'à 22 m (72 pi), et les meilleurs sites pour touladi, truite arc-en-ciel, truite brune et plus. Les profondeurs proviennent de la Géobase des bathymétries de lac du Québec (MELCCFP) lorsque disponibles.
Come spring, look for lake trout tight to the bank in 10 to 40 ft. Expect a summer slide to 22 to 72 ft, then a winter hold in 18 to 72 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 72 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning. A white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger is the honest summer answer here.
| Saison | Profondeur | Meilleure fenêtre | Commencer à | Leurres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Printemps | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (12 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Été | 22 to 72 ft | dawn | Deep basin (72 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Automne | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Secondary point (12 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Hiver | 18 to 72 ft | dawn | Deep basin (72 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Early season rainbow trout use the shallows, holding in 5 to 20 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 8 to 40 ft. Put Main-lake point first on the milk run — a point near 9 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon and you're in the game.
| Saison | Profondeur | Meilleure fenêtre | Commencer à | Leurres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Printemps | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Été | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Automne | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (12 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Hiver | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | open water | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Spring puts brown trout in skinny water — 3 to 25 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 25 to 60 ft; cold water stacks them in 5 to 35 ft. Main-lake point is the standout, a point at roughly 9 ft, rated prime for spring brown trout. Plan around after dark and early morning in the warm months. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) covers the summer program.
| Saison | Profondeur | Meilleure fenêtre | Commencer à | Leurres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Printemps | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Été | 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Deep basin (72 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Automne | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Hiver | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | open water | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: arctic char in 4 to 15 ft. As the season builds they drop to 20 to 60 ft, wintering in 10 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 72 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a jigging spoon vertical or a tube jig (smelt) gets it done.
| Saison | Profondeur | Meilleure fenêtre | Commencer à | Leurres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Printemps | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Back-bay flat (14 ft) | Small casting spoon (silver/orange), Jerkbait (small) |
| Été | 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (72 ft) | Jigging spoon vertical, Tube jig (smelt) |
| Automne | 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | open water | Casting spoon (orange/gold), Beadhead streamer |
| Hiver | 10 to 40 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (72 ft) | Jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + plastic |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: lake whitefish in 15 to 45 ft. As the season builds they drop to 22 to 72 ft, wintering in 25 to 70 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 72 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon gets it done.
| Saison | Profondeur | Meilleure fenêtre | Commencer à | Leurres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Printemps | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (16 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Été | 22 to 72 ft | dawn | Deep basin (72 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Automne | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Hiver | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (72 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Spring puts walleye in skinny water — 4 to 15 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 15 to 35 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 40 ft. Secondary point is the standout, a point at roughly 12 ft, rated prime for fall walleye. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Saison | Profondeur | Meilleure fenêtre | Commencer à | Leurres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Printemps | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (9 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Été | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Secondary point (12 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Automne | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Secondary point (12 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Hiver | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (72 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Lac du Cardinal also holds yellow perch (10 to 30 ft in summer), northern pike (8 to 20 ft in summer), muskellunge (8 to 25 ft in summer), smallmouth bass (10 to 30 ft in summer), largemouth bass (8 to 20 ft in summer), rock bass (5 to 20 ft in summer), crappie (10 to 25 ft in summer), pumpkinseed (2 to 10 ft in summer), brown bullhead (3 to 12 ft in summer), channel catfish (8 to 25 ft in summer), burbot (22 to 72 ft in summer), longnose gar (1 to 12 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 5 structure features on Lac du Cardinal; the deepest is Deep basin at about 72 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Québec waters are set by the Québec sport fishing rules (MELCCFP) — and special regulations can apply to Lac du Cardinal specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Québec fishing regulations →
Lac du Cardinal is about 72 ft (22 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Lac du Cardinal atteint environ 22 m (72 pi) à son point le plus profond. Les profondeurs proviennent de relevés bathymétriques réels.
Anglers target lake trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, arctic char, lake whitefish, walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, muskellunge, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, rock bass, crappie, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead, channel catfish, burbot, longnose gar on Lac du Cardinal. This species list is an informed estimate from Québec's provincial fish-range maps (bounded by each lake's depth and habitat), not a per-lake fish survey — Québec doesn't publish per-lake species records.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 72 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For lake trout, the summer bite is best in early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Lac du Cardinal is regulated by the Québec sport fishing rules (MELCCFP). Check the official Québec regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Lac à la Truite 10 mi · Lac Bernard 11 mi · Lac du Poisson Blanc 11 mi · Lac de l'Argile 11 mi · Lac du Brochet 14 mi · Lac Pemichangan 14 mi · Lac Heney 14 mi · Lac Gauvreau 16 mi · Lac Bigelow 16 mi · Lac Écho 17 mi · Lac Mayo 17 mi · Lac Sinclair 18 mi
See how Lac du Cardinal stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Québec · best smallmouth bass lakes in Québec · best walleye lakes in Québec · best northern pike lakes in Québec
More water nearby: La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau MRC fishing maps (74 charts). Browse all Québec fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.