Fishing at Lac Sainte-Marthe, Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec

• Overview

  In Quebec, Lac Sainte-Marthe falls inside Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine. It sits in mixed forest country. The water covers some 22 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Shoreline comes to about 2.1 km, small enough to learn in a day. It ranks high for size among our Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine listings. Sainte-Anne-des-Monts at 20 km is the nearest place to stop. Cap-Chat follows at 34 km, then Matane at 99 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Lac Sainte-Marthe

  Our records hold no depth for this water. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine records list American eel, striped bass and alewife among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. The shape of Lac Sainte-Marthe decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 15°C; the cold one sits at -15°C. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid May. In an average year the thaw lands around mid May and the freeze near mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Lac Sainte-Marthe fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. 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. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Lac de la Savane at 1 km is the nearest alternative. Ask locally about Lac Sainte-Marthe if anything is unclear.