Satellite Depth Map
Click the map to enlarge. A single deep basin runs the length of the lake and bottoms out past 100 m; the public boat launch at the south end (Lac-Simon village) is marked.
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 Simon
Lac Simon is one of the largest lakes in the Petite-Nation country of the Outaouais, shared between the municipalities of Lac-Simon (south end) and Duhamel, in the MRC de Papineau. It stretches about 12 km and is fed from the north by the Rivière de la Petite Nation, which carries the outflow of Lac Gagnon down into it — so the two lakes share a watershed and a fishery story.
For its size it is strikingly deep: the central basin drops to about 110 m (360 ft), cold-water habitat that holds touladi (lake trout, locally "truite grise") and introduced ouananiche (landlocked salmon), both feeding on the lake's lake whitefish (corégone) and smelt. Up on the rock — the points, the island shoals and the drop-offs — Lac Simon has a strong reputation for smallmouth bass, and also holds northern pike, muskellunge, brook trout and yellow perch.
It's an easy lake to get on. There are public boat launches at both ends — the municipal wharf in Lac-Simon village to the south and the Centre Nautique at Chénéville to the north — plus the SEPAQ Centre touristique du Lac-Simon near Duhamel, with a 2 km sand beach and a large campground (see Access). Motorboats are allowed, but boats over 30 ft are not.
- RegionOutaouais (Zone 10)
- VillagesLac-Simon (S), Chénéville (N), Duhamel (NE)
- From Ottawa~1h30 drive
- Length~12 km
- Max depth110 m (360 ft)
- Public launchesLac-Simon wharf (S, 45.907, −75.092); Centre Nautique, Chénéville (N)
- BoatsMotors OK; boats over 30 ft not allowed
- CampingSEPAQ Centre touristique (sand beach); municipal camping
- Fish speciesLake trout, ouananiche, whitefish, smallmouth, pike, muskie, brook trout, perch
- InflowLac Gagnon → Rivière de la Petite Nation
Fishing Regulations
Québec Zone 10 (Outaouais) · Source: Zone 10 sport-fishing summary. Limits and seasons change — always confirm the current Zone 10 rules before you fish.
⚠️ Lake trout (touladi) here are a declining population. Lac Simon is one of the Outaouais lakes — with neighbouring Lac Gagnon — where the touladi have lost ground (see Touladi below). The lake-trout season runs April 23 – September 15, the daily limit is 1 fish, and kept fish must be 55 cm (22 in) or longer — a stricter minimum than the 45 cm general Zone 10 limit.
| 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. Wild, declining population (see Touladi below); consider catch-and-release. Angling only. |
| Ouananiche (landlocked salmon) | Apr 23 – Sep 15 | 3 | Angling only. Introduced; reproduces in the lake. Shares the whitefish/smelt forage with the touladi. |
| Smallmouth Bass (achigan à petite bouche) | Jun 15 – Dec 19 | 6 | The lake's signature warm-water fishery — rocky points, shoals and island drop-offs. |
| Lake Whitefish (corégone) | Apr 1 – Dec 19 | 5 | Abundant deep-water forage and a fine eating fish. |
| Northern Pike (grand brochet) | May 15 – Dec 19 | 6 | |
| Muskellunge (maskinongé) | Jun 15 – Nov 30 | 1 | Reported in the lake. Angling only. |
| Yellow Perch (perchaude) | Apr 1 – Dec 19 | 50 |
Limits are daily catch & possession for the 2026–27 season (Apr 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2027), reflecting Lac Simon'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.
Touladi: Status & Conservation
Why the lake-trout deserve a careful hand on Lac Simon.
Lac Simon's touladi are a wild population, and like several deep lakes in the Petite-Nation they have been losing ground. Regional wildlife reporting has grouped Lac Simon with Lac Gagnon — and with lacs Montjoie and Sept Frères in the nearby Papineau-Labelle reserve — as waters where lake-trout numbers have dropped.
A leading suspect is competition with the introduced ouananiche, which now shares the lake and feeds on the same cold-water forage as the touladi. Because lake trout are slow-growing and spawn late, heavy harvest can thin a population faster than it rebuilds — which is why managers have been re-examining the touladi fishery across these lakes.
The practical takeaway for anglers: treat the lakers gently. Consider catch-and-release, handle deep-caught fish carefully, follow any size limit, and check whether the touladi season or limit has been tightened this year. (See the regional reporting in Le Droit, 2021.)
Access, Launches & Camping
Two public launches, a SEPAQ beach campground, and a 30-ft boat limit.
Lac Simon is an open, road-accessible lake — no reservation needed to fish it. The most-used public launch is the municipal wharf (débarcadère) in Lac-Simon village at the south end (≈ 45.907, −75.092), beside the marina, with trailer parking. There's a small fee for the sewage pump-out for non-residents. At the north end, the Centre Nautique Lac Simon at Chénéville (111 rue Principale) has a launch ramp as well. Motorboats are allowed, but boats over 30 ft are not, and wade fishing is not permitted.
For camping, the SEPAQ Centre touristique du Lac-Simon near Duhamel is the big draw: a 2 km sand beach on the lake and a large forested campground with serviced and semi-serviced sites, ready-to-camp tents and cabins. The municipality of Lac-Simon also runs a plage municipale and rustic camping at the south end. Boat inspection, launching and seasonal mooring on the lake are handled by the local marinas and outfitters.
Lac Simon sits in Québec fishing Zone 10, so the general Outaouais regulations apply — but with the touladi under pressure, the lake-trout rules can be stricter than the rest of the zone. Confirm the current season and limits before you launch.
- AccessOpen lake — no reservation to fish
- South launchMunicipal wharf, Lac-Simon village (45.907, −75.092)
- North launchCentre Nautique Lac Simon, Chénéville
- BoatsMotors OK; over 30 ft not allowed; no wade fishing
- CampingSEPAQ Centre touristique du Lac-Simon (sand beach); municipal camping
- SEPAQ reservations1 800 665-6527 · 819 428-7931
- LicenceValid Québec fishing licence required
- Plan aheadsepaq.com — Centre touristique du Lac-Simon
Trip Tips
🎣 Deep for trout, rock for bass
Troll the long central basin and the deep drop-offs for touladi and ouananiche — they follow the whitefish and smelt down through summer. Then work the rocky points, island shoals and shoreline ledges for smallmouth.
🐟 Go easy on the lakers
The touladi here are a declining, slow-growing population. Consider releasing your fish — especially the big ones — handle deep-caught trout carefully, and check whether the season or limit has been tightened this year.
🚤 Two launches, 30-ft limit
Use the municipal wharf at the south end (Lac-Simon village) or the Centre Nautique ramp at Chénéville in the north. Motors are fine, but boats over 30 ft aren't allowed, and there's no wade fishing.
📋 Check Zone 10 regs
Lac Simon is in Québec fishing Zone 10. Verify seasons, limits and size rules — especially for lake trout — before you go.
Getting There
From Ottawa–Gatineau, take Autoroute 50 east to Thurso, then Route 317/321 north up the Petite-Nation valley. Chénéville (north end) and the village of Lac-Simon (south end) are both about 1h30 away. The most-used public launch is the municipal wharf in Lac-Simon village (≈ 45.907, −75.092) at the south end; the SEPAQ Centre touristique du Lac-Simon campground and beach are signed near Duhamel on the lake's east side.