Lac Gerard Fishing near La Tuque, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Gerard lies in Mauricie, Quebec. It sits at 370 metres above sea level. It measures about 11 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. With about 1.8 km of edge, you can try several depths in one session. La Tuque sits 51 km from the bank. Weymontachie is 57 km and Manawan 74 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lac Gerard

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Mauricie cover northern pike, brook trout and walleye. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Work Lac Gerard in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -16°C to 17°C. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Ice usually gives way near late April, and forms again about mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Lac Gerard runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Lac Mado at 0.4 km is the sensible second choice. Rules at Lac Gerard are worth checking on the day.