| North Shore Fishing Adventures |
Québec North Shore holds the promise of a hundred adventures to be lived. |
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NSFA & NSHA TRIP REPORT AND STORIES QUÉBEC AUX OUTARDES RIVER FISHING & HUNTING ADVENTURES Quebec North Shore A Destination To Consider Québec is one of the jewels in North America's outdoor crown, half a million square miles of nature, bigger than even Alaska. And the irony? Most Québécois lives in urban belt along the border with the New England States. Three quarters of this vast area is empty.
La Trinité Coule Toujours Sur LA Cote Nord Texte Jocelin LeBlanc & George Gagnon Photo Jocelin LEBlanc La rudesse de son relief, ses vallées érodées par les millénaires de son flot continu, la belle rivière de la Trinité coulera pour toujours dans les veines de tout pêcheur qui osera lui donner une chance. La rivière avec sa beauté naturelle et son cachet rustique, ses saumons atlantique ou ses nombreux ombles de fontaine anadromes vous feront apprécier une des plus belles petites rivières du Québec.
Historique Historiquement, la Compagnie Ste-Laurence Paper Ltée détenait les droits exclusifs de pêche sur les rivières Grande et Petite Trinité dans les années 30 jusqu'au début des années 60 où elle céda ses droits à la firme Domtar.
Jadis l'apanage de gens bien nantis, membres du club privé de la compagnie Domtar, la rivière fut libérée en mai 1976. Ainsi prenait fin 50 ans de bail exclusif où seul les dirigeants et leurs invités avaient l'occasion d'en profiter. En effet, suite aux pressions de la population de Baie - Trinité désireuse de pouvoir mieux participer à la gestion des ressources fauniques, récréatives et touristiques de son milieu, le M.L.C.P transigeait les propriétés, les installations et les droits exclusifs de la Compagnie à la Société d'Aménagement de Baie-Trinité inc. nouvellement formée. C'était là, l'aboutissement d'un processus unique à l'époque au Québec où une Société de gestion à but non lucratif se voyait déléguer un tel mandat de gérance pour des rivières à saumon. En 1978 dans la même vague, la réserve de chasse et pêche de Baie-Trinité fut donc créée par arrêté en conseil ajoutant aux deux réserves déjà existantes (Rivière Trinité et Petite Trinité) le territoire de 356 km2 carrés situé entre elles.
La rivière Trinité devient par la suite la Zec (Zone d'exploitation contrôlée) Rivière de la Trinité. En 1982, en raison de sa situation géographique, de son importance relative et de ses facilités (station de comptage et d'enregistrement de saumons) la rivière Grande Trinité fut jugée représentative pour la haute Côte-Nord et par conséquent devenait" Rivière Expérimentale" où les responsables de la recherche entreprirent un projet d'étude consacré au saumon. En bonne partie, ce projet est rendu possible grâce au bon fonctionnement de la passe migratoire à même le barrage de la rivière Grande Trinité. Ce projet permet à la Société qui gère la Rivière Grande-Trinité de s'assurer un potentiel élevé de saumon pour l'avenir. Cette grande histoire de cette belle rivière nous oblige à ne pas passer sous silence la contribution de ces gens qui ont fait partie des manifestations pour la libération de la rivière et des conseils d'administration de la Société d'Aménagement de Baie-Trinité. C’est à eux que nous devons ce joyau.
Présidents depuis la fondation : Jacques Landry, Louis C. Roussy, Richard Dion, George Gagnon, Denis Lejeune.
La Rivière La Rivière Trinité est une des nombreuses rivières qui coulent du nord vers le sud et qui s’est tracées un parcourt dans le plateau laurentien sur la rive nord du golfe du Saint-Laurent. Plus précisément, ce cours d’eau magnifique coule en direction du sud sur 74 kilomètres avant de se jeter dans le St Laurent à la hauteur du village de Baie-Trinité, à 95 kilomètres de Baie-Comeau. Cette rivière typique de la Côte-Nord coule lentement dans sa vallée sinueuse avec des sections formant des fosses peux profondes, parsemée de grosses roches éparpillées ici et là, pour arriver à une section plus rapide où la dénivellation est plus prononcée. À cet endroit, la rivière nous offre plusieurs rapides et autres petits sauts créant de merveilleuses fosses plus profondes que tous pêcheurs ne devraient pas laisser passer. La Trinité compte 67 fosses réparties dans deux secteurs, le contingenté et le non contingenté. La taille des fosses varie de petite à moyenne. On y pêche à gué seulement et une section pour la descente de canot de la fosse du 22 milles et la fosse du barrage est disponible. La rivière est facilement accessible par la route 138, étant donné que celle-ci longe le secteur 1 et une partie du secteur 2 sur une distance de 11 kilomètres. Un chemin forestier récemment aménagé au coût de 30000$ assure de manière carrossable l’accessibilité à l’autre partie du secteur 2 sur toute sa longueur jusqu’au pont du 22 milles. Bien sûr, le niveau d’eau de la rivière reste toujours entre les mains de dame nature. La Trinité augmente rapidement durant de forte pluies et peu descendre tout aussi facilement en dessous des moyennes normales en période de canicule.
Secteur 2 Le joyau de la rivière est certainement son secteur 2, cette section de rivière contient 52 fosses nommées et plusieurs autres qui ne le sont pas. Cependant, il ne faudrait certainement pas abandonner celles-ci car elles réservent bien souvent de belles surprises. Les fosses les plus populaires comme du Barrage, Du 9 Milles et la fosse Du Pont (22 milles) sont de loin les plus connues du secteur 2. L’aménagement de ces fosses permet aux pêcheurs de profiter de tables à pique-nique et sans aucun doute d’un excellent « shore lunch ». Cette section de la rivière contient aussi plusieurs fosses de rétention : Du Barrage, Du 9 Milles, Gobeil, De la Source, Rouge Gorge, Du Crique, Fafard et la toute dernière, la fosse Du Pont (22 milles). Dans ces 8 fosses, on y trouvera du saumon atlantique à partir du début juillet jusqu’à la toute fin de la saison. Pour pouvoir se rendre dans les fosses du secteur 2, la route 138 vous permettra d’accéder aux fosses 1 à 17 seulement et pour accéder aux fosses 18 à 23, le canot sera l’outil par excellence. Aucun sentier n’est disponible et seulement la rivière vous y donnera accès. Il faudra emprunter le chemin forestier de la ZEC Trinité pour arriver à la fosse Du 9 Milles puis entreprendre la descente en canot jusqu’à la fosse du barrage. La route forestière vous permettra d’accéder au reste des fosses soit de la fosse 23 (9 Miles) jusqu’à la toute dernière, la 52 (Du Pont).
Saumon Atlantique L’espèce de prédilection de la Rivière Trinité est sans doute le saumon atlantique, Ce poisson de grand intérêt pour le pêcheur sportif a toujours su faire déplacer les foules. Aujourd’hui la rivière Trinité attire encore des voyageurs à la recherche du combat ultime avec le roi de ces eaux. Encore de nos jours, la rivière se porte très bien, surtout lorsqu’on la compare avec les autres rivières de taille similaire de l’Amérique du Nord. Ses montaisons annuelles de 700 à 800 spécimens sont respectables. La Trinité saura vous offrir une réelle chance de leurrer un saumon atlantique à l’aide de votre mouche favorite.
Le matériel nécessaire pour affronter ce vaillant combattant est une bonne canne à mouche de qualité d’une longueur de 8 à 10 pieds, ligne 7 à 9 avec un bon moulinet rempli de ligne de réserve. Les mouches noyées les plus populaires sont les Rusty rat, Whale river rat, Blue charm, Lanctot, Jock Scott, Moise, Monroe killer et l’incontournable Fantôme (aussi connue sous le nom de black ghost). Pour les mouches sèches, on suggère les Green Machine, Bomber brun, Black Wulff, Trottinette et White Wulff.
Les meilleurs périodes (prime time) pour la pêche dans le secteur 2 débutent dans la deuxième semaine de Juillet et se prolongent jusqu à la fin du mois. Tous les saumons étant arrivés en rivière, il ne faudrait pas oublier le mois d’août. Ce mois tardif vous donnera certainement de très bons résultats.
Truite de mer La deuxième vedette de la rivière Trinité est sans doute l’omble de fontaine anadrome, mieux connue sous le nom de truite de mer. Durant les dernières années, la popularité et l’engouement pour cette espèce ne laisse aucun doute. Elle mérite donc autant d’honneurs que son grand frère Salmo salar. Cette truite, espèce auparavant négligée, constitue une grande valeur ajoutée à notre rivière et offre aux pêcheurs à la mouche un autre challenge qui ne devant pas être pris à la légère.
Tout comme Salar, une fois dans la rivière, les ombles de fontaine anadromes adultes ne se nourrissent pas sauf dans certains cas. En effet, les gros spécimens ne se gêneront pas pour gober de temps des souris s’ils en ont la chance. Généralement, la truite de mer tend à se concentrer dans les même fosses que les saumons mais à des endroits différents dans ces fosses. Pour les retrouver, les meilleurs endroits sont la queue des fosses, le long des berges de la rivière et même près des arbres et arbustes qui procurent des abris contre les prédateurs. Les premières truites arrivent dans la rivière vers la fin juin pour les géniteurs. Cette cohorte est habituellement composée principalement d’ombles de 1 .5 à 4 kg. Vers la mi-juillet les ombles de taille moyenne de 0,5 kg à 1,5 kg commencent leur migration suivies de près par les nombreuses truites bleues, nommées ainsi faisant référence à la teinte bleutée qui orne leurs flancs. Ces derniers spécimens sont généralement des ombles immatures de 8 à12 pouces.
Le matériel requis pour taquiner cette espèce est sans aucun doute une bonne canne à moucher de 8 à 10 pieds, soie de 5 à 7 avec un bon moulinet rempli de ligne de réserve accompagné d’un choix de ligne flottante, de ligne slow sink ou encore intermédiaire. Les mouches les plus populaires de la rivière sont surtout des streamers comme la Fantôme, Balou spécial, Hornberg spécial, Sparkled whore, Mudlapin, Souris, Magog smelt, North shore smelt, Wolly bugger, Egg sucking leech, imitation de chabot, Black nose dace et la fameuse Zonker rabbit strip muddler. Pour la sélection de mouches sèches, la Joliette hopper, les mouches de la série Wulff, les éphémères classiques, Elk hair caddis, Jassid, Delaware adams, Ambiguous, March brown, Spinners et la Katmai slider.
En conséquence, la popularité de la rivière Grande Trinité et de la Zec Trinité toute entière va en s'accroissant. Il apparaît désormais clair que Baie-Trinité a su s'implanter comme pôle d'attraction touristique sur la Côte-Nord pour ses facilités d'accueil, ses sites historiques, et plus particulièrement pour la qualité de la ressource du saumon atlantique et des ombles de fontaine anadromes disponible.
Service de Guide Service de guide : Jocelin LeBlanc 418 799 2131
North Shore Fishing Adventures June 2, 2008 to June 12, 2008 River Aux Outardes 30 miles West of Manic 5 Dam, Quebec CANADA
Gene Burmeister email flymodels@juno.com
Rural Québec: nothing to do but fish, eat and sleep
Link to the story http://www.waterfront-news.com/html/waypoint.htm
While fly fishing for Atlantic salmon, I hooked a mink by the tail and boy, was that mink mad. Swam right up to me, snarling and flaunting its teeth, as ready to fight as an enemy driver in Miami. Has a mink ever shown you its teeth? I’d sooner be bitten by a same-size barracuda. It’s an easy choice between puncture and amputation. You’re thinking, What? This guy went salmon fishing in faraway Québec and the first thing he mentions is foul-hooking a mink? It must be all downhill from here. No, the fishing was pretty good even though the catching wasn’t. Blame it on four days of rain and wind (out of five days’ fishing) that roiled and accelerated water flow on the Trinity River and washed the clay face of a cliff into the Pentecost – making it so muddy that our guide, Jocelin LeBlanc, cancelled plans to fish it.
So fishin’ buddy Gene Geppert and I spent all our time on the Trinity – Le Rivière Trinité if you parlez-vous francais. Who, me? Once I got past bon jour I’d stumble into a sub-Spanglish dialect that I call Miamese. Nobody understood a word of it. If you fish up here on your own, you’d better know fundamental French. Except for the fluently bilingual LeBlanc, who gets a lot of foreign clients, nobody needs to know English out here on the far edge of rural, about a 9-hour drive (if you aren’t caught) from Montreal.
LeBlanc calls his service North Shore Fishing Adventures because the rivers flow from the north side of the St. Lawrence River into the river and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. On a clear day, from a cabin overlooking a beach, you can see across the Gulf to the low mountains of the Gaspé Peninsula, about 30 miles away. The cabin is one of 14 in a campground run by the Trinité ZEC, which stands for “Zone d'Exploitation Controlé,” one of eight public fish and wildlife reserves in Québec. You can rent a fully equipped cabin (about $90 a day, Canadian) or a campsite for a trailer or tent. The ZEC controls access to the reserve at cabins where sports and their guides obtain permits, and where they are required to report each day’s catch.
There are 50-plus small lakes in the interior, with aluminum rowboats parked on eight of them. You can rent a boat at the campground, but you need your own outboard motor. Not wanting to kill two full days driving a rented car from Montréal, we flew from Fort Lauderdale to Montréal to Sept-Iles, a small city about an hour’s drive from Baie Trinité. LeBlanc picked us up there. He told us we’d have to do nothing but fish, eat and sleep. After quite a lot of info exchanges we had engaged him by e-mail and opted for his full American plan (US $1,478): five days of fishing, transportation, cabin, meals, the works. I get to take a trip once a year, maybe twice, so I look for maximum value. Dividing costs by the number of fishing days, LeBlanc’s fee averaged $295 and change per day for each of us. That’s a bargain in these times, when you have to search hard for anything less than $400. Canadian and U.S. dollars were nearly equal in early August, when we were there. In mid-September, the U.S. dollar was worth $1.06 Canadian.
They say you catch one Atlantic salmon on a fly for every five days of fishing. I caught my only salmon on day three and Gene Geppert caught his on day four. Both were swimming in Nine Mile Pool, a favorite spot of LeBlanc’s. It has boulders where watermarks give him lots of info about how fast the river is rising or falling and helps him reckon conditions on the 50-plus other designated pools. A pool on a fishing stream is called that because it’s deeper and calmer than sections with rapids. Nine Mile is called that because of its location, not its size, but it is fairly large — about half a mile long, I guessed. When we arrived there on the third afternoon, three local guys were fishing about 75 to 100 yards downstream from the access point at the head of the pool. We could tell they were together because there wasn’t as much space between them as courtesy would command for non-companions on such an uncrowded stream.
The river, fast and high, gave us only a few yards of safe wading upstream, so I told Gene to go fish while I took telephoto pictures of the other guys. Jocelin was watching them critically. “They’re too far downstream,” he said. “The fish are closer than that. See the big rock on the other side? That’s as far as you should go.” Pretty soon the other gents waded back toward us, ready to knock off for the day. In French, they told Jocelin they’d had only one bite among them and missed it. I began picking my way toward where they had been, casting a bushy dry fly the guide had given me. It’s called Mr. Rapidan, named after a Virginia trout stream by its inventor, Harry Murray, who intended it for size 12 and smaller hooks. This one was made on a 10, one size larger than 12. Unless you’re picky-picky about technical stuff, any dry fly that looks too big and bushy for trout is a salmon fly. Although neither Gene nor I had caught a salmon yet, we had been after them for most of three days so we had Jocelin’s fast-water technique pretty well in hand.
Cast as
far upstream and as far into the current as you can, preferably dropping the fly
over a line of submerged rocks. Fish are likely to be on the near, far or
downstream side, waiting to catch what they mistake for drifting bugs and forage
fish. As the fly passes you, throw some slack into the line to avoid dragging it
back to shore prematurely. Let it drift downstream until it runs out of slack.
Now watch it skate across the seam between the rapids and the water alongside.
Once the fly is straight downstream from you, bring it back in short wiggles and
twitches. Somewhere in that sequence, you’re supposed to get a bite, eventually.
Most of the time you won’t. The theory that you should average one salmon caught
for each five days fishing could be faulty but an average angler isn’t going to
catch one every average day.
The
three guys I replaced were still back at the access point, chatting with
Jocelin. I hollered on the salmon’s first leap, and all of them scrambled down
the bank to where I was. It was fun to know they were watching. No one had
to shout instructions. The fish and I both knew what to do. Her job was to
resist and to move away from shore, toward the deeper water and faster current
she could use for leverage. Mine was to pry her back to the shallow water where
I stood, in water a bit more than ankle deep. “Give it up already,” I
called to her in English. “I’ll let you go anyway.” “He spoke to the fish! What
did he say?” the local guys asked Jocelin in French. I didn’t catch his answer.
He grabbed the leader in water too shallow for swimming, the salmon lurched and
broke loose. That spared us the trouble of unhooking her—not an easy job,
as Gene discovered at almost exactly the same time the next day when the guide
netted his salmon. Using a 13-foot spey rod with a technique requiring no
backcast, Gene hooked up with a true salmon fly, a streamer designed by Leo
Ruelland who used to own a salmon lodge on the Gaspi. The fish was a hook-jawed
male, 62 centimeters, a few more than we guessed mine had measured. Keeping score: At the
end of each day as we drove out of the ZEC, we stopped at a checkpoint to report
our catch or lack of catches. On four days we learned there that nobody else had
caught a salmon. On one day, someone else did. That was Georges Gagnon, manager
of the ZEC, with a single fish. Gagnon’s bailiwick is a fish migration station
at one end of a dam on the Trinity, a short distance from the mouth of the
river. Fish migrating upstream to spawn can find only one route over the dam,
through a chute that leads them into a cage where they are detained temporarily
for inspection.
Uh-oh.
I almost forgot the rest of the mink story. It scrambled onto the
riverbank, darted by me and ducked under a pile of tree branches. LeBlanc
reached down there with Gene Geppert’s wading stick, prodding the mink against a
branch to hold it still while I kept its tail accessible with my taut fishing
line. My fly, a red and yellow streamer named Mickey Finn, was snagged in the
tip of the mink’s tail. LeBlanc snatched it by the bend of the hook and jerked
it free. An instant later the mink was back in the river. I could swear I heard
it utter a prayer of thanks for barbless hooks. Up close: English-speaking anglers with little to no knowledge of French may have an experience more adventurous than they want if they try far eastern Quebec on their own. In the Baie Triniti area there’s a small, new hotel (Place St. Laurent, about $100 Canadian), a pretty good restaurant (Chez Bouchard, inexpensive) and a co-op food market.It can be amusing to spend a lot of time driving, food shopping, cooking your own meals, reading complex fishing regulations and talking with people who can’t understand you. Serious fishing-doers far from home will prefer to fish instead. We engaged a do-it-all guide service, Jocelin LeBlanc’s North Shore Fishing Adventures. LeBlanc, the only fully bilingual guide in the area, has a comprehensive website: www.nsfa-adventures.com where you can look up rates and dates for a variety of fishing packages. Our two-man team went for the full American plan (U.S. $1,478) with five long days on the river. The guide woke us up each morning, made breakfast, took us to his favorite salmon pools, gave us lunch in the field, brought us back to the cabin and prepared a fine evening meal. The price included transportation to and from the airport at Sept-Iles. Many airlines fly to Montreal. Only Air Canada flies from there to Sept-Iles, and it makes you pay. Surcharges, airport taxes and other fees added 40 percent to what AC called our “fare.” Toying with the idea of another visit next year, we found a fare from Miami to Baie Comeau, Quebec, for less than $600 but that’s one way. Coming back would cost more than $900. Prices may come down if this year’s fuel crisis abates significantly, so we’re keeping tabs. By ARNOLD
MARKOWITZ FEB 24 2008 Aux Outardes River Pike
Located in Quebec's boreal forest 200 km north of Baie Comeau Quebec, flows a slow wide river called the Aux Outardes. The Aux Outardes river is a long river of more than 480 km or 300 miles from its source on the Otish Mountain to the outlet at the Saint Laurence river near the city of Baie Comeau. This river systems holds lots of good trophy fish opportunities from lake trout, brook trout, lake whitefish and of course World class trophy pike fishing on the fly.
We will be discussing the upper Outardes 4 reservoir for this report, located 60 miles West of the MANICOUAGAN 5 RESERVOIR (MANIC 5) The Aux OUTARDES River has approximately 60 miles of fishable pike water, the Outardes 4 reservoir below is about 120 miles long and 10 miles wide With about 120 islands, many secluded bays and beautiful shorelines, there is no end of great new fishing spots. The cold clear water offers fantastic trophy pike fishing.
This tremendous body of water offers lots of diversity of various underwater habitat ranging form rocky points, steep rock drop of to sandy beaches and countless calm bays. Water depth on the river system is from 4 to 25 feet and for the reservoir 35 to 250 feet. With all of its various structures and large population of whitefish and other baitfish will produce trophy pike not easily matched elsewhere in Quebec.
I have been fishing this river system for the last 15 years from early Mai to late October and have put a huge amount of time to unlock some of its best kept secrets. Who would of known that this fishery would have produced so many large pike of 40 + inches and this in a river system not a lake.
Equipements The gear needed for this fishery is quite basic compared to other fishery here in Quebec. Fly rods Anything from 7 to 9 weight is recommended, remember to bring the fly rod that best match the flies you will be using, smaller flies a 7 weight will do but you will be handicapped if you want to try to cast long streamers or various poppers and even large rabbit strip flies. That why I recommend a sturdy 9 to 10 foot 8 to 10 weight fly rod for the best choice to handle pike of all sizes and be able to cast all type of pike flies. My personal choice is a long Gatti FR 3PA 11 foot 8 weight and for a shorter rod the powerful FR 3PA 9 foot 9 weight
REELS
A good balanced fly reel that matches the rod with a good drag system and lots of backing is very important these pikes a fast runners and very strong fish. Many times these brutes will bring you deep into my backing we are not talking lake pike here but a stronger river dwelling pike with allot more power.
My personal choice are Gatti #3 ANTI REVERSE large arbor fly reel, STH Turbine Disc LA. Fly lines There are many type of fly line makers all are good for the job, the type that I prefer are rocket tapered lines in floating, intermediate sink tip lines. For deeper holding pike type 1 to 4 will do the job quite well. My personal choice are intermediate line for wet flies and WF floating lines for surface action flies
Leaders & Tippets Pike have lots of razor sharp teeth's and when targeting huge trophy pike I always suggest using some kind of steel wire of around 6 to 12 inch. The length of the leader should be around 8 to 10 feet on the floating lines for surface flies and around 7 to 9 on sinking flies or line. My personal choice are surfflon or tyger leader of 10 to 15 pounds Flies
Everyone knows that pike will hit almost any fly that you cast at them, but some are better than others depending of course of where you fish for them. My fly boxes are always filled with lots of large streamers, bunny strip flies, various diver patterns, clousers and deceivers. Hook size are from 1/0 to 8/0
My personal choice are large streamers like the red eye smelt series 4/0 to 8/0 FISHING SEASONS Spring Tactics Spring fishing usually start late May to mid June for river fishing and mid May to late to mid June for lake or reservoir fishing. We will concentrate here on the river aspects of this pike fishery which is a little different dans lake tactics.
This season usually starts 2 to 3 weeks after ice out (May 1 here will be used as the ice out date) If this dates varies in your location as a rule of thumb add or subtract the difference in dates to get a approximate idea of prime time and pike activities.
The river has allot more variable to look at when targeting large pike. We have to look at structures, flow, available food and cover. The best place to start in the searching is to locate area where the sun will warm up water temperatures, these will be found near shallow shoreline with large rocks sticking out of the water, grass line or even flooded river bank. Fish need to warm up to better metabolize. Also various bait fish will be present o get away from current and also feed because those area where the water is warmer more aquatic insect activities will occur which help to attract baitfish or other foraging fish that the pike will prey of. Also the spring is also known for the large sucker runs that head up the tributaries of all rivers to spawn and pike does eat lots of suckers. So outlet of small tributaries it a sure shot at a trophy.
During the sucker run large streamers should be used in the 4 to 8 inch range flies, water clarity should determine what colors to use. Purple and black flies for very murky water to bright colors with lots of flash in clear waters. Also oversize bunny flies in the vary popular chartreuse tu hot pink colors are some great choice for large trophies.
Sight fishing in the spring can also be quite popular with the flowing water being tea stained but often pretty clear that targeted fish are very visible and easy to find. A good pair of polarize sunglasses helps allot and should be part of every fisherman bag of tricks. Summer Tactics
Mid June to late July for the river and early June to mid July for the reservoir The Aux Outardes river being a slow moving water, it warms up a little slower than the surrounding reservoir bays so the trophy fish will stay longer and giving us great summer pike fishing. Most pike would move to deeper pools throughout the river system also cold springs and outlet of small cold tributaries should not be overlooked. A intermediate or slow sink line will help us in locating fish that are usually in the 6 to 15 foot range. Large floating flies like poppers, mice and frog patterns are also very good and pike this time of the season will explode out of nowhere and pound the surface fly many times for this you will need your WF floating fly line.
Fall Tactics Late July to Late October
Fall fishing especially late fall fishing if well known for very aggressive trophy pike on the prowl for forage fish. These large pike need all the calories they can get for the long Quebec winter months. This time of years the pike are hunting and can be found anywhere around structure or where you can find forage fish. Natural drop-offs should be fished carefully when a drop off as access to a weed bed or a large shallow surface and near there a deep section is available these should offer you lots of great fishing. CATCH & RELEASE I believe that C&R should be use and all mature pike over 28 inch and especially all trophy pike. In a time when angling pressure is increasing and exceeds the supply of fish, catch-and-release fishing is an important means of conserving fish resources. In order for catch-and-release fishing to be an effective management tool, the fish must survive after release. Angling ethics play an important role in the survival of released fish.
Jocelin LeBlanc
1/11/2008 QUEBEC NORTH SHORE A DESTINATION TO DISCOVER
BIENVENUE (FRANCAIS) NEW 2007 PHOTO'S 2007 QUEBEC MOOSE HUNTS
1/11/2008 TRINITÉ RIVER QUEBEC NORTH SHORE By Paul Marriner
It all looked the same to me—typical north-woods scrub birch and poplar mixed with the odd serious spruce, half the latter upright, half fallen. But, as I concentrated on the indicated spot along the shoreline of a Trinity River (Rivière De la Trinité) pool, Jocelin promised it wasn’t. So, while he worked the head of the pool, I bushwhacked to the intersection of a green-fleshed spruce with the gray bones of another. An on-site inspection failed to revise my opinion, it was just a small, moss-covered, soggy bit, a few feet from the river’s edge. The first flip of a few feet of line and the leader changed my mind. A one-pound sea-run brookie was quickly followed by a trio of fellow-travelers, the largest pushing the three-pound mark.
North Shore Bound Other than a short visit to the Godbout and Laval rivers nearly two decades ago, the north shore of the lower Saint Lawrence was, for me, unexplored territory. So when Jocelin LeBlanc, owner of North Shore Fishing Adventures, heard of my interest in sea-run brook trout (from hereon called simply sea-runs) and suggested we spend a few days on the Trinity River, I eagerly agreed.
The Trinity is one of more than fifty rivers gouged out of the Canadian Shield between the Saguenay and Blanc-Sablon by the great Wisconsin glacier as its northeastern corner retreated into the Laurentian highlands. Like many, but not all, of the smaller rivers, the lower section features slow pools studded with big boulders, while in the upper reaches one finds faster currents and typically a gravel substrate. Barring a deluge, most of the upriver pools are wadeable, but in some of the lower ones that first step could be a hat-floater. With the bank-side brush hard at one’s back, I found myself wishing for a light two-hander to reach a little further with Spey casts. Even though it’s a spate river and so subject to the vagaries of rainfall, the Trinity generally moves up and down in an orderly fashion and is thus seldom unfishable. Moreover, the general absence of human activity in the uplands keeps the rain from altering the colour of the normally tannin-tinged water.
An index river (Atlantic salmon) for the region, the Trinity boasts a counter that records every salmon and sea-run heading upriver. This eliminates reliance on estimates for up-to-the-minute run-strength information. Furthermore, as lengths are also recorded, any tendency to inflate the average or maximum size of the river’s fish is stifled.
Sea-runs Usually considered a nuisance by salmon anglers, and widely ignored by fisheries biologists, sea-runs are one of my favorite species. True, at times and/or in certain places they offer little in the way of challenge, however, tracking down and seducing trophies (in my book 5+ pounds) is never easy. The Trinity has recorded an 8-pound specimen, and when combined with an average annual run of 4500, ranks the river as a first-class sea-run destination. Each year a number of 26 - 28" trout pass through the counter and about 10% of the run is in the 24 - 28" bracket.
A majority of the larger sea-runs arrive in two groups, the first during the first two weeks of August, the second in early September. Exact timing of each varies from year to year and depends primarily on water levels. Near the end of August there is a run of what are generally called “blue trout.” These 12" trout are likely non-spawning juveniles which retain their silvery coloration for a longer period in the river.
On the
river we searched for holding lies based on the following criteria: 1) cover
extending out from the bank combined with some deeper-than-surrounding
water; 2) deep pools with a well defined tail-out; 3) current edges in large
pools created by underwater or above-surface points; or 4) holes associated
with feeder brooks or nearby springs. We experimented with a variety of flies with two, quite different, types being the most successful. Jocelin ties a series of marabou-winged streamers featuring bodies of Mylar tubing or plastic chenille. Those with white wings were consistent producers. My top fly was the MW Golden Shiner, a simple pattern made from Superfly Diamond Wing material.
That Sinking Feeling Absent a significant hatch, the best daytime trout-fishing hours surround sunrise and sunset—an observation which seems particularly true for sea-runs. Regardless, for a variety of reasons, I often find myself flogging pools during banker’s hours and under a blazing sun. Enticing sea-runs to take near-surface flies in these conditions is a challenge rarely met. At some point, to improve the odds, my floating line gets a make-over with a long sinking-leader or traded in for a sink-tip. Some folks prefer a full-sinking line to get down, not I. Once the need to get deeper than an intermediate or slow-sink line can reach, full sinkers will tangle in the near-shore rocks. To avoid this the angler begins to retrieve too quickly, before the fly has gotten deep enough. Perhaps you were asking yourself, “why not weight on the fly or leader?” The answer is, “not allowed, recall that this is an Atlantic salmon river.”
On one Trinity pool I began with a fast-sinking leader but, when it got too cozy with a boulder at the end of the swing, quickly changed to a medium sink. That proved to be a good match for the depth and current-speed of the pool. Virtually all the trout, and the number wasn’t embarrassing, took between the middle and tail-out of the pool. And although the first pass was the most productive, subsequent passes with a different fly generally generated additional hook-ups. During the next few days this rig, with appropriate leader adjustments to account for depth and current speed, proved itself on several occasions.
Atlantic Salmon Strange as it may seem for me, this trip Atlantics weren’t the target. So although a couple shook their tails enticingly in our direction, we resisted their charms. Like so many other salmon rivers, particularly those located in Quebec’s Zone 18 (North Shore), the Trinity has fallen on hard times. With runs reduced to about 25% of those in the late eighties, the success rate has fallen, but not as far as one might suppose due to a simultaneous reduction in angler rod-days. Given normal conditions, if such a thing exists with respect to Atlantic salmon fishing, the first two weeks of July is the preferred fortnight. Basic wet-fly selection includes the dark-river-bottom standards such as the Rat series (particularly the Rusty Rat), Cosseboom, Green Butt, and Green Highlander. When fishing for early arrivals in the lower pools, always include a Black Ghost as part of your probing strategy.
As stated at the outset, Quebec’s North Shore (Côte Nord) has an abundance of rivers. The attractiveness of the Trinity is the excellent population of sea-runs combined with easy and inexpensive access. Oh yes, and there are those pesky salmon as well. Non-fishing family members will appreciate the seaside location with access to a variety of activities. For these reasons, as part of an wider exploration of the region, it’s a standout.
Background and Management As is true of most of Quebec’s salmon rivers, the Trinity has only “recently” become publicly accessible. Prior to 1976 the river was privately controlled, first by the St. Lawrence Company and later Domtar. Today it’s managed by the SABT (Societé Amenagement de Baie Trinité). The river’s 58 pools are divided into two sectors. Sector 1, below the counting weir, consists of six “pools” (in reality each of these is a group of potholes). The Sector is limited to six rods, which can be reserved via a pre-season (November) draw. Any days not taken in the draw become available on a first-come, first-served basis. The 52 pools in Sector 2 have no rod-limit restrictions and are fished on a day-ticket basis.
Getting There It’s a long, but scenic, day’s drive from Quebec City north to Baie Trinité. From the Maritimes the fastest route is to take the ferry from Matane to Godbout. Those in a hurry can fly Air Labrador from Montreal or Quebec City to Sept Isles (less than an hour’s drive to the river).
PAUL MARRINER email Paul Marriner
TRINITY RIVER QUEBEC NORTH SHORE Come discover the Trinité River with its enchanting and picturesque sites on the North Shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Nestled between the seashore and majestic forests, the Trinité Rivers offers you a fly fishing and outdoor paradise that will take your breath away. The Trinité is a small river, only 74 KM in length from its head waters to the mouth at the town of Baie Trinité. This pristine river is one of my favorite sea-run brook trout rivers in Eastern Canada and features 67 pools scattered throughout its length. The area offers a variety of accommodations, large sea-run brook trout, Atlantic salmon and awesome scenery. All this makes it a superb fishing destination
The Trinité river, with all of it's accommodations, huge sea run brook trout UP TO 8 POUNDS, Atlantic Salmon and awesome sceneries make it one of the best fishing destination. Come and see the salmon fight it's way up the river at the outpost. Take a hike and discover diversified plant and animal life, whether in the forest or by the seashore. A professional staff is always on-hand to make sure that you and your family have a memorable time visiting us. «Wow! This is what outdoor is all about» Say most of our clientele. We have accommodations for all. You can stay in one of our log cabins located right on the seashore, choose a lot at the camping site either for your tent or your RV. All these sites offer a magnificent view of the sea and every night you can enjoy a beautiful bonfire on the beach ..
The Trinité River runs a distance of 74 kilometers (46 miles) to the town of Baie-Trinité, where it empties into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Managed by ZEC Trinité, the stream is comprised of 67 pools divided in two sectors: one provides unlimited access, while the other limits the number of rods. Wade fishing is the rule on this river, which features small to medium-sized pools. Route 138 provides access to all of sector 1 and parts of sector 2 (11 kilometers, or 7 miles). Access to the upper reaches of sector 2 to its limit at Mile 22 bridge is provided by a dirt road that runs along the river. River levels can change abruptly following a heavy rain, but rarely enough to stop the fishing. Quebec biologists have been using the Trinité as a witness river of salmon resources on the North Shore, which underscores the importance of this salmon stream.
Besides the Atlantic salmon, there are 7 other species of fish in the Trinité River: brook char, American eel, alewife, long nose sucker, three spine stickleback, five spine stickleback, nine spine stickleback, red char, and white sucker.
Historic Of the
River
In 1976, when Domtar's lease expired, the Trinité River finally became accessible to all Québec anglers. That year, management of the river was turned over to an organization whose membership was drawn from the angling community (SABT), ending 50 years of private club ownership of fishing rights to the river. On April 8, 1978, the Zec de la rivière Trinité was created, under the stewardship of the Société d'aménagement de Baie-Trinité (SABT).
HOW TO GET HERE
Ferry:
Matane–Godbout.
Getting to the River River Ethics Rules
of Conduct on the Trinité Rivers
It is understandable why the "½ Hour Rotation" system is mandatory, given that the goal is to respect all anglers' rights of access and provide them with the opportunity to try their luck on the river.
Read what people are saying about this great river
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