Lac de la Marmotte near Manawan: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Lac de la Marmotte lies within the bounds of Lanaudière, Quebec. It stands 504 metres above sea level. It covers about 2 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Most waters listed here for Lanaudière are larger. The closest town, Manawan, is 32 km distant. After that come Saint-Michel-des-Saints at 44 km and Saint-Donat-de-Montcalm at 69 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac de la Marmotte

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Fish documented in Lanaudière include pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass and brook trout. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Lac de la Marmotte the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 17°C and January about -16°C. This far north the hard season runs and runs. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early May. The water is typically free of ice between early May and mid November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. On Lac de la Marmotte that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Lac Mie at 0.9 km is the sensible second choice. Ask locally about Lac de la Marmotte if anything is unclear.