Fishing at Lac Cliff, Mauricie, Quebec

• Overview

  The Mauricie entry here is Lac Cliff, in Quebec. The surface lies 429 metres up. Small at around 4 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Our Mauricie list holds plenty of bigger water. For a base, Weymontachie sits 51 km out. The big place round here is Saguenay, 160 km distant. Nearby alternatives: Lac Carmen a touch under 1 km, Lac Sauve just 1.6 km, Lac Donald a touch under 1.6 km, Lac Beaute just 1.6 km and Lac Cook a touch under 1.8 km. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Lac Cliff

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Open biodiversity records for Mauricie list northern pike, brook trout, walleye, yellow perch and white sucker. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Read Lac Cliff before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 16°C, while January sits near -17°C. The season is measured in weeks rather than months. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early May. The lid tends to go about early May and return around mid November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. At Lac Cliff the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave 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. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Lac Carmen, 1 km away. Treat Lac Cliff as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.