Lac Van Allen in Mauricie: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  You will find Lac Van Allen in Mauricie, Quebec. Taiga runs right down to the water. With some 20 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Bank access stretches around 2.3 km in total. Supplies mean a trip to Leblanc, 21 km off. The big place round here is Saguenay, 222 km distant. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac Van Allen

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Records held for Mauricie cover northern pike, brook trout, walleye and yellow perch. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The shape of Lac Van Allen rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 16°C and January near -17°C on the long-run figures. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. Break-up comes around early May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Climate figures give an open season running early May to mid November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Van Allen.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. For a change of water, Lac Herman is 1.5 km distant. Confirm access to Lac Van Allen locally before you travel.