Lac Bonneterre in Mauricie: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lac Bonneterre is one of the Mauricie listings for Quebec. Height above sea level is 363 metres. At 8 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. You are 14 km from Mandeville. The nearest city of size is Trois-Rivières, 63 km away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac Bonneterre

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Mauricie include northern pike, brook trout, walleye, yellow perch and white sucker. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Lac Bonneterre the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -14°C to 18°C. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. From about late April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Anyone fishing Lac Bonneterre regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Petit lac Bonneterre sits 0.6 km off and takes the overflow. Treat Lac Bonneterre as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.