Etang Laurent in Côte-Nord: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Etang Laurent in the Côte-Nord part of Quebec. The surface lies 545 metres up. It sits higher than most water we list in Quebec. Forestville at 102 km is the nearest place to stop. Saint-Honoré is 107 km and Saint-Fulgence 107 km. Nearby, in order: Etang Claude at about 0.5 km, Etang Andre lies 0.7 km on, Etang Marcel at about 0.9 km, Lac a Ghis lies 1.2 km on and Lac Corine at about 1.7 km. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Etang Laurent

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Species logged across Côte-Nord include logperch. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Etang Laurent the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -19°C to 15°C. Open water is the exception rather than the rule here. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid May. In an average year the thaw lands around mid May and the freeze near early November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Etang Laurent fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Perch take small lures and worms fished near the bottom close to structure. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Etang Claude at 0.5 km is the nearest alternative. Rules at Etang Laurent are worth checking on the day.