Lac Maurice Fishing near Rivière-Rouge, Quebec

• Overview

  Out in Laurentides, Quebec, sits Lac Maurice. Boreal forest runs right down to the water. Surface area runs to about 5 hectares — small enough to read in one session. The closest town, Ferme-Neuve, is 48 km away. Saint-Louis-de-Terrebonne is the closest city, 153 km away. Close by you have: 1.2 km away is Lac Tache, Lac Lee at about 1.4 km, 2.2 km away is Lac Mona, Etang Roger at about 2.6 km and 2.7 km away is Lac Gabriel. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lac Maurice

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Open biodiversity records for Laurentides list pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, brook trout and rock bass. The county list is broader than any single water. Fish Lac Maurice where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 17°C and January about -16°C. Cold dominates the calendar on water this far north. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early May. Climate averages put the opening at about early May and the closing near mid November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. On Lac Maurice that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. A platform or pier sits within 90 m. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Lac Tache at 1.2 km is the sensible second choice. The position on Lac Maurice is worth confirming on the day.