Fishing Lac Surprise in Mauricie, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Surprise is a Mauricie water, in Quebec. It stands 343 metres above sea level. Small at around 6 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. La Tuque sits 56 km from here and is the nearest stop. It is 123 km to Saguenay, the nearest city. Neighbouring water: Lac Gingras (1.6 km), Etang Oblong about 1.7 km, Lac aux Deux Sources (2.1 km), Lac La Gerniere about 2.1 km and Lac Armstrong (2.2 km). Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Lac Surprise

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Across Mauricie, recorded fish include northern pike, brook trout, walleye, yellow perch and white sucker. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Lac Surprise the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 17°C and January about -16°C. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Winter locks it down, and early May brings it back. Ice usually gives way near early May, and forms again about mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Surprise.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Lac Gingras at 1.6 km is the sensible second choice. Confirm access to Lac Surprise locally before you travel.