Fishing at Petit lac Saint-Laurent, Mauricie, Quebec

• Overview

  Within Mauricie, Quebec, you have Petit lac Saint-Laurent. Country round the bank runs to mixed forest. This is a pocket water of some 4 hectares, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. On size it sits at the modest end of our Mauricie list. Supplies mean a trip to Sainte-Thècle, 20 km off. Laurentides is 20 km away, with Saint-Ubalde at 25 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Petit lac Saint-Laurent

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Mauricie: northern pike, brook trout, walleye, yellow perch and white sucker. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. The shape of Petit lac Saint-Laurent rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 18°C, while January sits near -15°C. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late April. The water is typically free of ice between late April and late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. The season on Petit lac Saint-Laurent rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. 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. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Petit lac des Iles, 0.8 km away. Confirm access to Petit lac Saint-Laurent locally before you travel.