Lac Rabbit in Mauricie: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Quebec holds Lac Rabbit, in Mauricie. It stands 450 metres above sea level. It covers about 6 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Nearest place of any size is Weymontachie, 22 km away. Beyond it, Leblanc at 52 km and Manawan at 73 km. Water in the same corner: Lac Musqua at 1.9 km, Lac Dear a shade over 2.5 km, Lac Philip at 3.3 km, Lac la Tuque a shade over 3.5 km and Lac Lost at 3.5 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac Rabbit

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. County-wide records name northern pike, brook trout, walleye and yellow perch. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Lac Rabbit a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -17°C and July at about 16°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Open water arrives late and leaves early, which concentrates the fishing. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early May. Climate averages put the opening at about early May and the closing near mid November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Time your trip to Lac Rabbit by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Lac Musqua is 1.9 km distant. Confirm before you fish Lac Rabbit.