Fishing at Lac McTiernan, Laurentides, Quebec

• Overview

  Look for Lac McTiernan in the Laurentides part of Quebec. Land around it is taiga. Surface area runs to roughly 1.33 sq km, so plan for one area rather than the whole. The margin runs to about 9.5 km in total. On our Laurentides list it sits near the top for size. Supplies mean a trip to Ferme-Neuve, 63 km off. Then Mont-Laurier, 78 km, and Saint-Boniface, 84 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lac McTiernan

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Records held for Laurentides cover pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. The county list is broader than any single water. Lac McTiernan fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 17°C in July and bottom out at -16°C in January. The fishing year opens late and shuts early. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early May. The season between ice runs from about early May to mid November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. The season on Lac McTiernan follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is Lac Lacelle, 1.6 km out. Treat Lac McTiernan as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.