Fishing at Lac Franc, Mauricie, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Franc is one of the Mauricie waters in Quebec. It sits in boreal forest. At about 12 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The edge runs 2.3 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Start from Weymontachie, 57 km down the road. The big place round here is Saguenay, 154 km distant. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lac Franc

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Mauricie cover northern pike, brook trout and walleye. The county list is broader than any single water. On Lac Franc the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -17°C and July at about 17°C, the water has a wide range to work through. This far north the hard season runs and runs. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early May. Climate figures give an open season running early May to mid November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Plan around that when you fish Lac Franc.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Lac Pouliot is 1.9 km distant. Confirm access to Lac Franc locally before you travel.