Fishing at Lac Vivier, Mauricie, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Vivier lies within the bounds of Mauricie, Quebec. This is boreal forest country. The water covers some 45 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The whole outline is near 4.6 km, and most of it is walkable. On our Mauricie list it sits near the top for size. Supplies mean a trip to Chapais, 73 km off. Further out sit Chibougamau (97 km) and Leblanc (105 km). This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lac Vivier

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. County-wide records name northern pike, brook trout and walleye. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Lac Vivier the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 16°C in July and bottoms out near -19°C in January. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early May. Ice clears near early May and comes back about mid November in a typical year. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lac Vivier.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Lac Melesan is 2.1 km distant. Treat access at Lac Vivier as something to verify.