Lac Ward, Quebec: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Mauricie in Quebec is where Lac Ward sits. The bank is 502 metres above sea level. It runs to roughly 16 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Shoreline comes to about 3.5 km, small enough to learn in a day. Nearest town is Weymontachie, 51 km off. Further out sit Manawan (54 km) and Leblanc (63 km). The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac Ward

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Fish documented in Mauricie include northern pike, brook trout, walleye and yellow perch. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. The near bank of Lac Ward is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 16°C in July and bottom out at -17°C in January. This far north the hard season runs and runs. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early May. Expect the water usable from around early May until roughly mid November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Ward.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Lac Paconsigane at 1.9 km is the sensible second choice. Signs at Lac Ward carry more weight than any list.