Petit lac Trottier Fishing Guide, Mauricie, Quebec

• Overview

  Quebec holds Petit lac Trottier, in Mauricie. The bank is 296 metres above sea level. Surface area runs to about 4 hectares — small enough to read in one session. On size it sits at the modest end of our Mauricie list. The nearest place of any size is La Tuque, 14 km away. Trois-Rivières is the closest city, 111 km away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Petit lac Trottier

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. 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. County-wide records name northern pike, brook trout, walleye and yellow perch. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Petit lac Trottier fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 18°C in July and bottom out at -16°C in January. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. Open water usually runs from late April until about late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Plan around that when you fish Petit lac Trottier.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Lac Virgin sits 0.9 km off and takes the overflow. Signs at Petit lac Trottier carry more weight than any list.