Lac Murray, Quebec: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Lac Murray lies in Outaouais, Quebec. The surface lies 186 metres up. About 3.11 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. The perimeter runs near 14 km, so plan the walk before you start. Size puts it in the front rank of our Outaouais list. For supplies, Maniwaki is 13 km out. The big place round here is Gatineau, 108 km distant. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac Murray

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. 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. County-wide records name pumpkinseed, yellow perch, smallmouth bass and rainbow smelt. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Treat Lac Murray as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 18°C and January about -14°C. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. On Lac Murray the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Lac Hogan at 1.6 km is the nearest alternative. Ask locally about Lac Murray if anything is unclear.