I was at Malbaie River Outfitters near Gaspe', Quebec, last week and had a really great time. I have gone there the last three years and it just keeps geting better.
They have a great lodge, guides and a staff the really takes care of anything you need. Bill thinks I come there to fish ... but really I only come for Lola's cookies.
Of course I tell my friends the rivers are so beautiful you would fish them even if there were no fish in them ... ahhh ... but there are fish ... big fish!
I caught a 30 pound male in the York River, Keg pool and my fishing partner for the, Joe, caught a nice 12 pound Salmon at the same time ... a double! We had our guide, Tony Patterson, running back and forth across the river ... land one fish, take pictures and back across the river to land the other fish. Really fun!!!
That is one beautiful fish. Way to go. And I am sure the lodge you stayed at is a nice enough place. However, I would make a suggestion to make your next trip to the Gaspe even better. In looking at the distance you traveled from that lodge you stayed at to get to Zone 9 I would estimate it took you over 2 hours to get there. That’s a 4 hour round trip in the car every day. Not my idea of a fun time especially if you are paying $500.00 to $600.00 a day to stay in the lodge.
Next trip you should stay in the town of Gaspe, about 10 minutes from the river, or at the Gourmet lodge which is actually on the York river and has the only private water on the York. I had a chance to fish it a few years back and it was fantastic. Home pool at the lodge is easily the biggest pool on the river and held hundreds of fish. Boy did I have a good week! And it was supposed to be Lee Wulff’s favorite lodge. That has to say something for it in itself. And the rates for staying there when I went were cheaper when compared to other lodges.
To get a booking there you can contact a place called Quebec Sporting, they are also a fly Fishing Forum sponsor, and they can take care of you. They can also book you in the town of Gaspe and have you fish out of there (even cheaper). And they have a reputation for having the best guides on the river. Just think of all the fish you could catch with an extra 4 hours a day to fish! And you have to admit, that 30lb bright fish you got was worth way more than a bunch of cookies! :hihi:
You are right; the Gaspe and its rivers are fantastic.
Stephen:
I am glad you enjoyed the trip. We look forward to having you back next year. Having you in camp is enjoyable for everyone; I am glad you took the "risk" to come up a few years ago.
Next year we will again have some excellent zec water in June when you are in camp; that is certainly a benefit of being an outfitter in Quebec. See you in the spring and maybe, just maybe I can do some steelhead fishing with you then. I am always game to go after new fish.
Bill
You should have said
"were at one time excellent ZEC water."With your guide Tonie Patterson blasting across AND then re-crossing Keg doesn't spell "world class fishing" for ANYONE putting a fly on THAT pool afterwords. As a profesional ,Patterson should've had Steven and his buddy stay on the road side and rotate through the pool respectfully leaving it relatively unspooked for the anglers that would be fishing the pool in the evening.
This unselfish act is really uncalled for on our Qc.Salmon rivers.
Steven
Nice pic ,my son !! Your smile is almost as big as the fish 30 lbs. eaah ? Keg is certainly a fine pool ,and will produce all year round and all day as long at it remains relatively undesturbed.
Juro
Glad you liked Gaspe .Which rivers did ya fish ?
I fished the Bonnie, Salmon Fk and Grand Cascapedia in public water - magnificent (there are pics somewhere down this section). I have fished some great waters in the pacific northwest and the Gaspe is no less magical of a place.
Like those emerald Gaspe pools let's try to keep the turbulence down on these threads please
Juro
Cool waters
IMHO The Bonaventure's public are as good as some reserved sectors on other rivers. ya gotta know which pools, and where on them to hit though.
An excellent (has to be the best) gentleman guide for the Bonnie is Claude Bernard. I have the utmost respect for this person and have had the pleasure to share the Bonnie with him. An no ,I've never used him as a guide (he wasn't available when I did have need of one ) .
Turbulence ??????? :-o
Will comply .
Steve,
I agree with you totally. The Gaspe Rivers are spectacular; Malbaie's operation is terrific; the fish are awesome; the anglers one meets on the rivers are friendly and hlepful.
The ZEC's employees in town and on the river are courteous and helpful, and most importantly to one steeped in the neglected enforcement environment of the west coast, welcome daily sights on the rivers.
Hanging around Malbaie's big fireplace I estimated the group of anglers to have between one and two centuries of Atlantic salmon experience--a treasure of knowledge for me, new to this fishing.
Glad you liked your trip. I never asked either of you to post here but I appreciate you wading into this perpetual merry go round of jealousy and bitterness.
For the record, all of my guides (including Tony who has nearly 30 years of guiding experience on the York; before the zec was created and before anyone on this board ever fished Gaspe) is professional. None has ever been charged with a wildlife violation; each wears a uniform, and each gives 100% and respects the rivers, resource, and other anglers.
For the record, the cookie lady that big belly and others have an issue with was at a funeral today. Her nephew (20)killed himself a few days ago. Like all of my employees she frequents this site to see what might be next in the land of crap and jealousy. I am sure she will be happy to see this great thread (didn't want to mention this to you Stephen when you emailed me your picture).
You guys are real brave sitting behind your computers taking pot shots. Do your employers know? Is it on company time? I suspect we soon will find out.
Enough is enough and the chips and responsibility will fall where they may.
Billg pretty well ruined the board at SAO with his rants and raves toward others who had nothing but the truth to say........now he is stirring the pot here on this board. I guess the truth hurts a bit eh?........
Thank you, you make a good point about the advertising. Buckbug also makes a great point. I used to love SAO before it was destroyed by censorship by you know who. I like this web site. Don’t let it happen here.
Please refrain from any sort of derrogatory posts about anyone you may disapprove of on this site, meaning both sides of any such debates.
I have to thank all for being so considerate in the past! Whenever something flares up all we've had to do is ask and you've stopped and often even led the way for others. The examples are easy to find, even in recent posts. Thank you!
It's unfortunate that other websites have suffered a worse fate. The key to avoiding that here is to maintain composure and abide by the truth. There is no need for harsh words because truth speaks for itself.
People are never going to agree completely on such passionate topics as salmon fishing. Although these opposing views do not necessarily reflect the views of the Flyfishing Forum, let's accept each other and continue to debate and discuss things but only in a way that does not compromise our mutual respect for our fellow anglers.
Please do not take this advice lightly as (1) I will not allow the site to suffer because people can not control themselves and (2) the use of this site is a privilege provided to you by the work of the Forum team, not a field for grinding personal axes or posting thin-skinned threats.
The Flyfishing Forum retains the right to refuse it's free service to anyone as it sees fit, and will act in order to serve the greater good of the general readership and for the sake of those who are burdened with running and maintaining the site. These decisions will be made solely at the discretion of the Flyfishing Forum as it sees fit.
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