Fishing at Petit lac Buade, Mauricie, Quebec

• Overview

  Out in Mauricie, Quebec, sits Petit lac Buade. Land around it is taiga. At 2.34 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. Around 24 km of bank, which is a long day on foot. Few waters listed in Mauricie are bigger. Leblanc sits 79 km from here and is the nearest stop. Further out sit Chapais (101 km) and Chibougamau (106 km). It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Petit lac Buade

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name northern pike, brook trout, walleye, yellow perch and white sucker. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Petit lac Buade a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 16°C, while January sits near -18°C. Open water is the exception rather than the rule here. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early May. From about early May to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Petit lac Buade fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. 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. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Should this one be busy, Lac des Epervieres is 1.2 km off. Ask locally about Petit lac Buade if anything is unclear.