Lac Murray Fishing Guide, Outaouais, Quebec

• Overview

  Set in Outaouais, Quebec, this is Lac Murray. It stands 266 metres above sea level. It covers about 7 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Wakefield is the closest town at 13 km. The nearest city of size is Gatineau, 33 km away. Also within reach: Lac Paquin roughly 0.5 km, Lac Waters at 1.2 km, Lac Blueberry roughly 1.2 km, Lac Gauvin at 1.7 km and Lac de l'Aigle roughly 2.2 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lac Murray

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Outaouais: pumpkinseed, yellow perch, smallmouth bass and rainbow smelt. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Lac Murray gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 19°C for July and -13°C for January. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near early December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Plan around that when you fish Lac Murray.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Lac Paquin sits 0.5 km off and takes the overflow. For Lac Murray, the notice at the access point is the final word.