Lac Fertans in Mauricie: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lac Fertans is a Mauricie water, in Quebec. Elevation runs to 450 metres. The water measures roughly 2 hectares, so nothing here is far from anything else. It is a small entry by Mauricie standards. Nearest town is Leblanc, 78 km off. Chapais is 98 km away, with Chibougamau at 105 km. Not far off: Lac Hatley 1 km away, Lac Valcourt about 1.4 km, Lac des Rats 1.8 km away, Lac Cenon about 1.8 km and Petit lac Cenon 2 km away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lac Fertans

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Species logged across Mauricie include northern pike, brook trout, walleye, yellow perch and white sucker. The county list is broader than any single water. On Lac Fertans a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 16°C; the cold one sits at -18°C. Open water arrives late and leaves early, which concentrates the fishing. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early May. Ice usually gives way near early May, and forms again about mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lac Fertans.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Lac Hatley is 1 km off. Check the position on Lac Fertans before loading the car.