Lac la Marche in Laurentides: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Laurentides in Quebec is where Lac la Marche sits. The country round it is mixed forest from end to end. Small at around 2 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Most waters listed here for Laurentides are larger. The nearest place of any size is La Minerve, 25 km away. Rivière-Rouge is 25 km and Mont-Laurier 30 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lac la Marche

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Laurentides: pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, brook trout and rock bass. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. The near bank of Lac la Marche is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 18°C on average, January about -15°C. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Lac la Marche runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. If the gate is shut, Lac du Chemin at 0.7 km is the nearest alternative. None of that is settled for Lac la Marche in what we hold.