Lac au Rat Fishing near La Tuque, Quebec

• Overview

  The Mauricie entry here is Lac au Rat, in Quebec. The land about it is rolling bush. Small at around 4 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Our Mauricie list holds plenty of bigger water. La Tuque sits 32 km from the bank. It is 154 km to Trois-Rivières, the nearest city. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac au Rat

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Fish documented in Mauricie include northern pike, brook trout, walleye and yellow perch. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The shape of Lac au Rat rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -16°C in January to roughly 17°C in July. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near mid November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Plan around that when you fish Lac au Rat.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Petit lac au Rat, 1.3 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Rules at Lac au Rat are worth checking on the day.