Lac a la Sarcelle Fishing near La Tuque, Quebec

• Overview

  Mauricie, Quebec, is where Lac a la Sarcelle sits. Land around it is pine and birch. The nearest place of any size is La Tuque, 23 km away. Beyond it, Laurentides at 33 km and Sainte-Thècle at 64 km. Others worth noting: Lac au Canard within 1.2 km, Lac au Morillon at about 1.3 km, Lac Moir within 1.6 km, Lac Megan at about 1.7 km and Lac Cossette within 1.8 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Lac a la Sarcelle

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Mauricie cover northern pike, brook trout, walleye and yellow perch. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Anyone new to Lac a la Sarcelle should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 17°C, with January the cold end at about -16°C. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Average temperatures cross freezing around late April in spring and again near mid November in autumn. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lac a la Sarcelle.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Should this one be busy, Lac au Canard is 1.2 km off. Signs at Lac a la Sarcelle carry more weight than any list.