Fishing at Lac Noel, Mauricie, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Noel is one of the Mauricie waters in Quebec. Country round the bank runs to mixed forest. At about 32 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. A shoreline of some 3.6 km keeps the choices simple. The nearest place of any size is Mandeville, 21 km away. Saint-Gabriel follows at 27 km, then Saint-Jean-de-Matha at 34 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lac Noel

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Mauricie include northern pike, brook trout, walleye, yellow perch and white sucker. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Read Lac Noel before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -15°C in January and 18°C in July. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Ice-out usually falls in late April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Noel.

• 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. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. The nearest alternative is Lac Felix, 0.7 km out. Treat access at Lac Noel as something to verify.