Fishing Lac Maurice in Lanaudière, Quebec

• Overview

  Set in Lanaudière, Quebec, this is Lac Maurice. It lies 433 metres above sea level. Surface area is around 32 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. A shoreline of some 3.0 km keeps the choices simple. Size puts it in the front rank of our Lanaudière list. Supplies mean a trip to Saint-Michel-des-Saints, 36 km off. The nearest city of size is Trois-Rivières, 107 km away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lac Maurice

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Lanaudière cover pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass and brook trout. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Lac Maurice responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 17°C, while January sits near -16°C. This is a two-season water: locked, then wide open. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early May. Climate figures give an open season running early May to mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Maurice.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Lac Sacha at 1 km is the nearest alternative. The position on Lac Maurice is worth confirming on the day.