Fishing at Lac au Raton, Mauricie, Quebec

• Overview

  The Mauricie end of Quebec holds Lac au Raton. The ground round it is pine and birch. At roughly 9 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. The nearest place of any size is Saint-Michel-des-Saints, 56 km away. La Tuque follows at 65 km, then Manawan at 71 km. Round about: Lac Clelan lies 1.8 km on, Lac du Nenuphar at about 1.8 km, Lac Cecile lies 2.6 km on, Lac du Camp at about 2.8 km and Lac Lucie lies 2.8 km on. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lac au Raton

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Open biodiversity records for Mauricie list northern pike, brook trout, walleye, yellow perch and white sucker. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Work Lac au Raton in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 17°C on average, January about -16°C. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early May. Break-up sits around early May on average, with the water closing again about mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. On Lac au Raton the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Lac Clelan at 1.8 km is the sensible second choice. Nothing here settles the position at Lac au Raton for certain.