Fishing Petit lac Carignan in Mauricie, Quebec

• Overview

  Out in Mauricie, Quebec, sits Petit lac Carignan. The land about it is rolling bush. Supplies mean a trip to La Tuque, 29 km off. Laurentides lies 43 km off, Sainte-Thècle another 48 km. Near neighbours include: Lac Dery the better part of 1.2 km, Lac Foy 2.6 km away, Lac Lamontagne the better part of 7 km, Lac Monteil 7.2 km away and Lac du Gros-Bec the better part of 7.4 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Petit lac Carignan

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Mauricie cover northern pike, brook trout and walleye. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The near bank of Petit lac Carignan is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 18°C for July and -15°C for January. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. The water is typically free of ice between late April and late November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Petit lac Carignan fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. There is camping recorded roughly 1 km off. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. The nearest alternative is Lac Dery, 1.2 km out. Check the position on Petit lac Carignan before loading the car.