Lac de l'Interieur, Quebec: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Mauricie end of Quebec holds Lac de l'Interieur. The water sits 502 metres up. Roughly 77 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. There is roughly 8.4 km of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. Few waters listed in Mauricie are bigger. Leblanc at 47 km is the nearest place to stop. The nearest city of size is Saguenay, 198 km away. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lac de l'Interieur

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Records held for Mauricie cover northern pike, brook trout, walleye and yellow perch. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The shape of Lac de l'Interieur rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -18°C in January and 16°C in July. The window is narrow, and fish feed hard while it lasts. Look for the thaw near early May; the fishing lifts straight after. Ice clears near early May and comes back about mid November in a typical year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That is the shape of the year on Lac de l'Interieur.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Lac Parent at 3.7 km is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to Lac de l'Interieur locally before you travel.