Lac Welch Fishing Guide, Mauricie, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Welch lies within the bounds of Mauricie, Quebec. It sits at 334 metres above sea level. Laurentides lies 20 km from the water. Then Sainte-Thècle, 24 km, and Saint-Tite, 34 km. Neighbouring water: Lac Lefebvre at 1 km, Lac du Cap the better part of 1.3 km, Lac a la Mousse at 1.6 km, Lac a l'Orignal the better part of 1.8 km and Lac Petit at 1.9 km. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lac Welch

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. 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. County-wide records name northern pike, brook trout and walleye. The county list is broader than any single water. At Lac Welch light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -15°C in January up to 18°C in July. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Count the season from break-up, usually late April. Averages place the thaw at late April and the freeze at late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Lac Welch fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Lac Lefebvre, 1 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Rules at Lac Welch are worth checking on the day.