Lac Eric in Laurentides: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lac Eric sits in Laurentides, out in Quebec. Beyond the shoreline you have boreal forest. Nearest town is Manawan, 49 km off. Further out sit Rivière-Rouge (52 km) and Ferme-Neuve (53 km). Neighbouring water: Lac Nicole at 1.6 km, Lac Jean-Paul a touch under 1.6 km, Lac Fournier at 1.9 km, Lac Gabriel a touch under 2.4 km and Lac la Puce at 2.7 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lac Eric

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. 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. Public occurrence data for Laurentides names pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Work Lac Eric in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 17°C for July and -16°C for January. The fishing year opens late and shuts early. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early May. The season between ice runs from about early May to mid November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Eric.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. If the gate is shut, Lac Nicole at 1.6 km is the nearest alternative. Signs at Lac Eric carry more weight than any list.