Fishing at Lac Handard, Mauricie, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Handard is one of the Mauricie waters in Quebec. Country round the bank runs to northern bush. Around 44 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. At about 5.0 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. On our Mauricie list it sits near the top for size. 23 km away sits Weymontachie, the nearest town. Beyond it, Leblanc at 42 km and Manawan at 106 km. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac Handard

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open biodiversity records for Mauricie list northern pike, brook trout and walleye. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Read Lac Handard for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 16°C in July and bottoms out near -17°C in January. Water stays cold even at the height of the year. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early May. Averages suggest open water from about early May through to roughly mid November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Expect Lac Handard to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Lac McCarthy is 3.2 km distant. Check the position at Lac Handard before loading the car.