Lac Austin in Mauricie: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Quebec holds Lac Austin, in Mauricie. It lies 479 metres above sea level. Roughly 53 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The outline measures near 5.5 km, so local knowledge counts. On our Mauricie list it sits near the top for size. Leblanc sits 72 km from here and is the nearest stop. The nearest city of size is Saguenay, 235 km away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lac Austin

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Mauricie, recorded fish include northern pike, brook trout, walleye, yellow perch and white sucker. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Lac Austin gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -18°C in January to roughly 16°C in July. Open water is the exception rather than the rule here. Look for the thaw near early May; the fishing lifts straight after. Climate averages put the opening at about early May and the closing near mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. That is the shape of the year on Lac Austin.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. 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. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Lac Maclas at 0.8 km is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Lac Austin before loading the car.