Lac Alphonse Fishing near La Tuque, Quebec

• Overview

  Set in Mauricie, Quebec, this is Lac Alphonse. Height above sea level is 317 metres. About 2 hectares of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Our Mauricie list holds plenty of bigger water. La Tuque is the closest town at 25 km. Laurentides lies 72 km off, Weymontachie another 75 km. Close by you have: Lac Rond out at 1 km, Lac Michel 1 km away, Lac a Foin out at 1.3 km, Lac Carre 1.5 km away and Lac Armand out at 1.5 km. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lac Alphonse

  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. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Mauricie cover northern pike, brook trout, walleye and yellow perch. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The shape of Lac Alphonse rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 17°C and January about -16°C. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It holds true on Lac Alphonse more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Lac Rond, 1 km away. Treat Lac Alphonse as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.