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| While eastern Canada is blessed with many great quality salmon rivers in a number of the provinces such as Labrador / Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, strong argument can be made that the best salmon fishing, and certainly the largest of Canada's Atlantic salmon is to be found in "La Belle Province", Quebec. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The two rivers that stand out for producing the largest fish are the incomparable Restigouche River and the Grand Cascapedia. But other rivers on the Gaspe Peninsula among the best, the beautiful Bonaventure and the Petite Caspcapedia Rivers are also capable of producing trophy size salmon as well as impressive numbers. And compared with | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| the arduous travel necessary to reach some other provinces, the Restigouche and the Gaspe rivers are easily reachable by car from the northeast states, or by service into nearby airports. |  |
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| Much of the water on these rivers (particularly the Restigouche and the Grand) is private water and public access is limited. The best public venue and the largest tract of exclusive water (5-miles of private pools) is found at the beautiful Red Pine Mountain Lodge on the Restigouche, one of the finest salmon lodges in Canada. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Red Pine Mountain Lodge is situated approximately 30 miles upstream from Campbellton, New Brunswick on one of the world's most renowned big salmon rivers, the Restigouche. The rivers' unique strain of wild salmon, known for their exceptional fighting ability, often reach weights of 30 pounds, and several fish estimated at over 60 pounds have been released in recent years. Salmon begin entering the river in late May and the average weight for June fish in recent years is well over 18 pounds with better than 10% over 30 pounds. June is for trophy seekers. It is a quality, not quantity fishery when a good week's catch rate may be 3 - 5 large fish per rod. The grilse |
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| run usually begins the last week of June and is in full swing by the second week of July. The catch rate can increase to 1 fish per rod day or better with the grilse to salmon ratio increasing to 3-1 or 4-1 by month's end. By August, most of the catch is grilse but large fish show up in the catch as well, and small runs of fresh, late run fish, 10-20 pounds are possible, particularly after a rise of water. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fishing at Red Pine is in the traditional
Gaspe manner from 26-foot canoes, each with a guide and two anglers. Anglers either alternate "drops"
in the canoe, or the pools may be fished by wading. The daily fishing periods are from 8:00 am - 12:00 noon and
5:30 - 9:30, the peak taking times of the day The 80-year old camp is in an idyllic wilderness setting in the spectacular Restigouche Valley, overlooking the river and flanked by lush green mountains and craggy rock cliffs. This is one of Eastern Canada's finest lodges and if you long to catch large Atlantic salmon, this is one of the world's best venues. Camp Bonaventure is one of Quebec's newer salmon lodges. Built in the early 1990's, this elegant contemporary lodge is located on the banks of one of Canada's premier dry fly rivers, the gin clear Bonaventure River, and offers access to trophy waters on the famed Grand Cascapedia as well as the crystalline Petite Cascapedia. Camp Bonaventure's recently acquired sister lodge is The Salmon Lodge on the Grand Cascapedia. Built in the 1800's, this historic Lodge brings anglers back to the era of salmon fishing in the"Grand Old Style". Like her sister, The Salmon Lodge fishes the Grand and the Petite Cascapedias as well as the clear water of the Bonaventure. |
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| Situated on the Petite Cascapedia, Camp Brule is another top operation for Atlantic salmon anglers. Camp Brule offers 3 ½ miles of private pools on the beautiful Petite, as well as access to ZEC waters on the Grande & Bonaventure. Brule combines the charm of the original rustic feel from the beginnings in the 1880's, four-star accommodations, and excellent fishing for Atlantic salmon. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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