Lac Bonte Fishing Guide, Mauricie, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Bonte is set in Mauricie, Quebec. The bank gives way to northern bush. Métabetchouan is the closest place, 54 km off. Saguenay is the closest city, 99 km away. Others worth noting: Lac Diamant lies 1.2 km on, Lac a Zoune a touch under 1.5 km, Lac aux Cailloux lies 1.7 km on, Lac Jean-Marie a touch under 2.4 km and Lac Rubis lies 2.8 km on. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lac Bonte

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Survey and observation records for Mauricie include northern pike, brook trout, walleye, yellow perch and white sucker. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Lac Bonte a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 17°C; the cold one sits at -16°C. Everything is compressed into the middle of the year. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early May. From about early May to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Lac Bonte runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Lac Diamant at 1.2 km is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Lac Bonte before loading the car.