Lac Laurier in Mauricie: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lac Laurier lies within the bounds of Mauricie, Quebec. It stands 334 metres above sea level. At 2.77 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. With 24 km or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. It ranks high for size among our Mauricie listings. Laurentides sits 27 km from the bank. Beyond it, La Tuque at 38 km and Saint-Raymond at 64 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Lac Laurier

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Public occurrence data for Mauricie names northern pike, brook trout, walleye and yellow perch. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Read Lac Laurier before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 17°C for July and -16°C for January. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Ice-out usually falls in early May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Break-up near early May, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Laurier.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Lac aux Tetards is 1.5 km off. For Lac Laurier, the notice at the access point is the final word.