Fishing at Lac Deschenes, Mauricie, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Deschenes lies within the bounds of Mauricie, Quebec. The surface lies 293 metres up. La Tuque is the closest town at 36 km. It is 136 km to Saguenay, the nearest city. Others within reach: Lac Poincon some 1.7 km off, Lac Paul-Emile about 1.9 km, Lac Guy some 2.1 km off, Petit lac Deschenes about 2.3 km and Lac Jacques some 2.5 km off. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lac Deschenes

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Mauricie cover northern pike, brook trout and walleye. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Lac Deschenes the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 17°C, while January sits near -16°C. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly mid November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Plan any trip to Lac Deschenes around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Lac Poincon sits 1.7 km off and takes the overflow. The position on Lac Deschenes is worth confirming on the day.