Satellite Depth Map
Click the map to enlarge. The deepest water — around 50 m — sits in the broad eastern basin; the long bays and channels between the islands stay much shallower. The public boat launch at Point Comfort is marked at the north end.
Depth shown in metres and feet (see on-map legend). Bathymetry: Géobase des bathymétries de lac du Québec (MELCCFP), via Données Québec. Satellite: Esri World Imagery.
About Lac Pemichangan
Lac Pemichangan sits in the Gatineau Hills just east of Gracefield, in the Vallée-de-la-Gatineau country of the Outaouais. Its name comes from an Algonquin word meaning "clear water," and the lake lives up to it — cold, clean and transparent, the kind of water lake trout need. It's about a 1h30 drive north of Ottawa.
The lake is roughly 8 km (5 mi) long, but its winding, deeply indented shoreline runs close to 100 km, wrapping around a maze of bays, points and islands. That structure gives up plenty of quiet water, while the broad eastern basin drops to about 50 m (164 ft) — the cold, deep habitat that holds touladi (lake trout).
Pemichangan is regarded as one of the better clear-water lake-trout lakes in the region, and it also gives up smallmouth bass around its rocky shoals and islands. A local landmark is the rock shoal off the big central island: it draws both bass and lakers and drops off fast into deep water. There's a public boat launch at Point Comfort, at the north end — but note that a mandatory boat-wash applies before launching (see below).
- RegionOutaouais (Zone 10)
- Nearest townGracefield, QC
- From Ottawa~1h30 drive
- Length~8 km (5 mi)
- Max depth50 m (164 ft)
- Public launchPoint Comfort / Northfield (46.078, −75.856)
- Launch accessMandatory boat-wash (anti-invasive)
- CampingLakeside cottages & area rentals
- Fish speciesLake trout, smallmouth bass
Fishing Regulations
Québec Zone 10 (Outaouais) · Source: Québec sport-fishing regulations. Limits and seasons change — always confirm the current Zone 10 rules before you fish.
⚠️ Mandatory boat-wash before launching. Gracefield requires every boat, kayak, canoe and paddleboard to be washed and certified before it goes in Lac Pemichangan, to keep zebra mussels and other invasive species out of this calcium-rich lake. Wash stations operate in the area (Lac-Sainte-Marie, Kazabazua and Gracefield); launching without proof of a wash can bring a fine. Confirm the current procedure with the municipality before you tow a boat up.
| Species | Season (Zone 10) | Daily Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Trout (Touladi) | Apr 23 – Sep 15 | 1 | Minimum length 55 cm (22 in) — stricter than the 45 cm general zone limit. Angling only. |
| Smallmouth Bass (achigan à petite bouche) | Jun 15 – Nov 30 | 6 | Combined limit for bass species. |
| Walleye & Sauger (doré) | May 15 – Nov 30 | 6 | Keep only walleye 37–53 cm; no size limit on sauger. Angling only. |
| Northern Pike (grand brochet) | May 15 – Nov 30 | 6 | |
| Lake Whitefish (corégone) | Apr 23 – Nov 30 | 5 | |
| Yellow Perch (perchaude) | Apr 23 – Nov 30 | 50 |
Limits are daily catch & possession for the 2026–27 season (Apr 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2027), reflecting Lac Pemichangan's exceptions within Zone 10. A general Québec fishing licence is required; "angling only" means line-and-hook fishing. Seasons and limits change year to year — confirm them in the official summary before keeping fish.
Clear Water & Conservation
Why the boat-wash and the lake-trout habitat matter on Pemichangan.
Lake trout are a cold-water, clear-water fish: they need deep, well-oxygenated basins and clean water to thrive. Pemichangan's transparency and depth are exactly what make it a good touladi lake — and exactly what's at risk if the water chemistry or clarity changes.
The lake association has worked with RAPPEL and secured funding from the Fondation de la faune du Québec for a study of lake-trout habitat quality in Lac Pemichangan — the kind of baseline work that guides how a sensitive fishery is managed. At the same time, the lake's high calcium content makes it a prime candidate for a zebra-mussel invasion, which is why the mandatory boat-wash exists.
The practical takeaway for anglers: wash your boat, drain every well and bilge, and never move bait or water between lakes. Handle deep-caught lakers carefully and consider catch-and-release on the bigger fish — clear-water lake trout grow slowly and don't bounce back quickly from heavy harvest.
Lac Pemichangan on Video
See the lake and the area before you make the drive.
Trip Tips
🎣 Find the lakers
Work the deep eastern basin and the rock shoal off the big central island, where the bottom drops fast toward 100 ft. Troll large circles around the structure with downriggers and electronics; the same shoals hold smallmouth.
🚿 Wash your boat first
A boat-wash is mandatory before launching at Pemichangan — it keeps zebra mussels out of the calcium-rich water. Get washed and certified at a station in Lac-Sainte-Marie, Kazabazua or Gracefield before you reach the ramp.
🚤 Launch at Point Comfort
The public ramp is at Point Comfort / Northfield, at the north end, right beside the road — it helps to have a spotter. Buy your fishing licence at the dépanneur in Point Comfort or Marché Ami in Lac-Sainte-Marie.
📋 Check Zone 10 regs
Pemichangan is in Québec fishing Zone 10. The lake-trout season usually opens in late April — verify seasons, limits and size rules before you go.
Getting There
From Ottawa–Gatineau, take Highway 5 then Highway 105 north up the Gatineau Valley to Gracefield (about 1h15–1h30). A few kilometres north of town, watch for Chemin du Calumet on the right; follow it as it becomes Chemin de la Pointe-à-Comfort to the dépanneur at Point Comfort. The public boat launch (≈ 46.078, −75.856) is on the right, close to the road, at the lake's north end. Stop at a boat-wash station on the way up — a wash is required, and parking at the ramp is limited.