Fishing Lac Bouchard in Mauricie, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Bouchard belongs to Mauricie, Quebec. It stands 339 metres above sea level. 27 km away sits La Tuque, the nearest town. After that come Laurentides at 57 km and Sainte-Thècle at 62 km. Others close at hand: Lac Gilles roughly 0.9 km, Lac Baton Rouge a shade over 0.9 km, Lac Acarie roughly 2.9 km, Lac aux Pierres a shade over 3 km and Lac Dumoine roughly 3.6 km. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac Bouchard

  Our records hold no depth for this water. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Fish documented in 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. Lac Bouchard fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 18°C; by January the average is down near -15°C. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near late November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. The season on Lac Bouchard rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Lac Gilles, 0.9 km away. Where Lac Bouchard is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.