Salmon Lodge on the Grand Cascapedia, QC

From the moment you arrive there's a special feeling that you've been swept back in time, and for good reason. Salmon Lodge has graced the banks of the Grand Cascapedia river for more than 100 years.

Our lodge hosts up to eight fishing guests and four non-fishing in complete comfort. Well-appointed and comfortable bedrooms, all with a private bathroom, an inviting living room and spacious dining room, both with their original fireplaces, create a relaxing and cozy atmosphere. A highlight of staying at Salmon Lodge is the spectacular view from our deck and cigar-friendly screened porch, where a century's worth of fishing tales have been told. For your convenience, we offer free high-speed wireless access to all our guests. A computer for checking e-mail or sending fish bragging photos is available for our guests to use.

The rod room, located in a separate building, is the ideal place to keep all your fishing equipment during your visit. The place you'll meet your guide in the morning, it features include individual storage areas for each guest and a large rod rack. The rod room always has fresh coffee in the morning and cool drinks at the end of the day.

Food & Drink

Our guests often tell us that even if the fishing wasn't great, they'd still come just for the food. Everyday a different menu prepared by our resident chef will tempt your pallet. Homemade breads and jams along with all your morning favourites will have you ready for your day on the river. Enjoy a wonderful lunch either at the lodge or on the river. Evenings at the lodge begin with hors d'oeuvres served in front of a blazing fire or on the deck overlooking the Grand Cascapedia. Mouth-watering meals served in our dining room begin with fresh salads, soups, appetizers. Main courses include fresh lobster, local seafood, and sizzling steaks off the grill, just to mention a few.

Wine is included with lunch and dinner. Alcohol is not included, however, guests are welcome to bring their own. At our bar area we supply all ice, mix, and necessary ingredients for the perfect drink. We are a short distance from a very well-stocked liquor store.

We also cater to guests with special dietary requirements.

Typical Itinerary:

Guests arrive the afternoon before fishing in time for hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and evening dinner. Departure is after the last full day of fishing. We are pleased to assist in hotel arrangements on your departure day. If we have availability at the lodge guests you are welcome to stay.

Schools and seminars:

Salmon Lodge hosts annual salmon fishing schools and casting seminars each summer. Learn the art and science of fly fishing for Atlantic salmon on the river from some of the most successful and respected salmon anglers in the sport today. Our fishing school covers all the bases to make you a successful Atlantic salmon angler. Topics include: salmon biology, fly tying, fly selection, casting, reading water, locating fish, catch and release, and much more. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned angler looking to perfect your skills, our "on the river" casting seminars for both single-handed and spey casting are very informative. Your time spent with some of the most talented and respected casting instructors in the sport will make you a better caster and a more successful Atlantic salmon angler.

Onsite Orvis Fly and Tackle Shop:

Fully-stocked with the right gear and clothing for the job. We carry a diverse selection of the newest Orvis rods, reels, and waders. A varied choice of rods from the new Helios, the world's lightest fly rod, to the complete Clearwater II outfit for beginners.

Having the right flies are always important, we have a huge selection of both wet and dry flies for all water conditions. Tied by our guides, they are a must for your fly box. With a varied choice of gear, clothing, and equipment we are sure to have what you are looking for. Special orders prior to your visit are welcome; just let us know what you need. We would be pleased to ship it to your home or have it at the lodge upon your arrival. We are also pleased to assist you and lend our advice.For a nominal fee to allow us to provide this service, our fly shop offers a full line of rental equipment including rods, reels and waders.

Gear Recommendations:

Having the proper clothing and equipment is an essential ingredient for a successful trip. We have put together a list on our web site that we hope will assist you in preparing for your holiday. Having the right gear will make your trip much more enjoyable. If you have any questions on what you should bring, just ask us.

Clothing and accessories:

• Long- and short-sleeved shirts
• Long and short pants
• Sweater or pullover
• Polar fleece jacket or vest for mornings and evenings
• Leggings and insulated socks to be worn under waders
• Your favorite fishing hat
• A good quality rain jacket
• Short boots for getting in and out of boats
• Sunscreen
• Camera

Fishing equipment:

• Fly rods 9' 8-9 wt., medium to fast action; 9' 7 wt., fast action
• Spey rod (if preferred), we do however recommend a singled-handed rod as well
• Reel with an adequate drag system, capable of holding 150 yards of 20 lb. backing
• Floating weight, forward fly line
• Intermediate sink tip fly line for early and late season (optional)
• Breathable waders
• Felt-soled wading boots (no studded soles please)
• Wading belt
• Polarized sunglasses
• Fishing vest, chest or fanny pack
• Leader material, we recommend a selection of 8-12 lb. test
• Fly boxes with a selection of wet and dry flies

Equipment, clothing, and gear orders prior to your visit are welcome. Just let us know what you need. We can have it here for your arrival or have it shipped to your home. We are always available to give our advice and suggestions.

What to Bring:

Please feel free to contact us regarding any special requests.

Season:

The Atlantic salmon fishing season opens on June 1st and continues until September 30.

Species:

Our target species is Atlantic Salmon. Our rivers are regarded as the clearest Atlantic salmon rivers in the world. Anglers have the unique opportunity to sight-cast to salmon ranging from 4 to over 40 pounds!

Dry-fly fishing is second to none on miles of pristine river.

Region/Terrain:

There's nothing quite like casting your fly to a fresh-run Atlantic salmon, except, of course, when you are sight fishing! Salmon Lodge provides its guests the opportunity to fish three of the Gaspe Peninsula's best and clearest Atlantic salmon rivers. The Grand Cascapedia, renowned for producing some of the largest salmon in the world, the Petite Cascapedia, while during a float trip you will fish miles of some of the most productive salmon and brook trout water anywhere and the gin-clear Bonaventure, where sight fishing for Atlantic salmon was born.

Mountain streams and spring-fed brooks supply our rivers with cold water throughout the entire summer, keeping them cool and clear. Great fishing conditions remain consistent all season long.

Our team of Orvis-Endorsed guides are knowledgeable, friendly, and dedicated. Seasoned salmon fishermen themselves, they are among the most respected and sought-after in the sport and one of the reasons our guests return year after year.

Typical Weather:

The weather on Quebec's, Gaspe peninsula is very similar to that of the Northeast United Sates. Summer temperatures may vary from 18-30 Celsius (65 to 85 Fahrenheit), June and September being the cooler months. Water temperatures vary from 10 to 15 C (50 to 60 F). We don't experience many rainy days but we do have showers and thunder showers from time to time. It's always best to be prepared.

We offer three, four and seven day packages.

A three-day package would include an arrival on a Sunday, fish Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday or an arrival on Thursday and fish Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 3 days $3750

A four-day package would be an arrival on Sunday, fish Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday or an arrival on Wednesday and fish Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 4 days $5000

A seven-day package runs from Sunday to Sunday, Wednesday to Wednesday or Thursday to Thursday. 7 days $8750

What is Provided:

Our packages include:

• Lodging and dining, snacks
• Fishing, professional guides
• Transportation while at the lodge
• Plus, many other amenities.

Rates are based per person on double occupancy. Maximum capacity is 8 fishing guests and 4 non-fishing guests.

Please visit our web site at www.thesalmonlodge.com or call us toll-free at 1-800-737-2740. We are always pleased to answer any questions you may have.

Additional Activities:

The Gaspe Peninsula is rich in culture, heritage, and natural beauty and offers many activities for the non-angler. This special region of Quebec has its own identity and its warm, proud people readily share their enthusiasm for life with visitors. The original settlers of the region were of both French and English descent and nearby historical sites depict the lives of these early settlers. Both languages are now commonly used throughout the region. Camp Bonaventure is ideally situated, about midway along the south coast of the peninsula, for visiting many of its attractions.

Hiking and mountain bike trails are located within a half-mile from the Lodge and mountain bikes are available. For golfers, we are ten minutes from a wonderful 18- hole, par 72 golf course.

The Gaspe is famous for its local artisans, many of whom have shops and galleries to visit along the coast. World-famous wildlife painter, John Wiseman, has a gallery near the town of Perce. Some of his works are displayed at our camp. The town of Perce is a busy village which offers charm and spectacular scenery. Here the Appalachian Mountain Range plunges into the Atlantic Ocean, forming the famous Perce Rock. The resulting geology is very impressive. A day trip to Perce is a definite must.

This coastline is also a haven to many forms of wildlife. A variety of sea birds are found along the coast and the Provincial Bird Sanctuary on Bonaventure Island hosts the world's largest population of nesting gannets and many other sea birds. Trips to the island for bird watching are available. During the summer months, the waters surrounding the Gaspe are frequented by a number of species of whales, minkes, grays, and the enormous blues are commonly seen. Whale watching tours are closely regulated so as not to disturb these magnificent creatures, but allow excellent opportunities to observe them.

The coastline also offers many beaches and refreshing swimming. Fossils are often found on most of the beaches along the coast and beachcombing for fossils is becoming popular.

In the center of the peninsula, the terrain is very mountainous, The Park de la Gasp'sie is a provincial park within these very old Chic-Choc Mountains. This park has many hiking, biking, and driving trails, as well as guided tours. Mount Jacques Cartier, located within the park, is the highest peak in Canada east of the Rockies. The park offers the opportunity to observe Arctic flora, caribou, moose, beavers, salmon and numerous species of birds. The Gite du Mont-Albert is an inn located in the park which has a highly-regarded restaurant offering gastronomic regional cuisine, an ideal place for lunch or a drink.

For relaxation of the spirit, mind, and body, the Park Inn is a highly-regarded spa specializing in Thalassotherapy. It is located approximately 20 minutes from the Lodge and is housed in an early 18th-century mansion overlooking the ocean, surrounded by beautiful grounds. The spa offers a vast range of up-to-date facilities and a professionally trained staff. Single or multiple day treatment sessions can be arranged, but must be booked in advance.

The towns and villages along the coast have many shops and boutiques, the larger towns have shopping centers, drug stores, photo shops, etc.The staff at Camp Bonaventure is happy to assist in arranging outings for any of our guests. Some guests like to explore on their own and there is lots to discover, others prefer some guided assistance and we are able to help with this as well.