Lac Bordeleau in Mauricie: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Quebec, Lac Bordeleau falls inside Mauricie. Around the bank it is pine and birch. It covers about 6 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. For supplies, La Tuque is 25 km out. Laurentides is 71 km away, with Weymontachie at 72 km. Within easy reach: Lac Baxter at 1.3 km, Petit lac Baxter a shade over 2.9 km, Lac Sinueux at 3.1 km, Lac du Muet a shade over 3.2 km and Lac Albert at 3.5 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lac Bordeleau

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name northern pike, brook trout and walleye. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Fish Lac Bordeleau where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -16°C in January to roughly 17°C in July. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Time your trip to Lac Bordeleau by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. If the gate is shut, Lac Baxter at 1.3 km is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to Lac Bordeleau locally before you travel.