Lac de l'Epinette Rouge near Gaspé: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Lac de l'Epinette Rouge is one of the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine listings for Quebec. The bank gives way to mixed forest. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Quebec listings. The closest town, Gaspé, is 23 km away. The big place round here is Sydney, 457 km distant. Not far off: Deuxieme Lac about 0.9 km, Premier Lac 1.1 km away, Troisieme Lac about 1.2 km, Quatrieme Lac 1.3 km away and Cinquieme Lac about 1.3 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac de l'Epinette Rouge

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fish documented in Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine include Atlantic cod, American eel, Pacific cod and striped bass. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Fish Lac de l'Epinette Rouge to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -12°C in January and 16°C in July. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Look for the thaw near early May; the fishing lifts straight after. Ice clears near early May and comes back about late November in a typical year. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac de l'Epinette Rouge.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Parking sits 1.4 km out, which makes for a walk with tackle. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. The nearest alternative is Deuxieme Lac, 0.9 km out. What applies at Lac de l'Epinette Rouge may have changed since it was mapped.