SALMON LODGE Grand Cascapedia River Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec Salmon Lodge is a 100 plus year old fishing lodge offering magnificent views from its lofty perch high above the world famous Grand Cascapedia River.

The lodge accommodates 12-guests in well appointed rooms with double and/or single beds, three fireplaces, a cozy and charming living room and inviting dining room. The view from the front deck is truly spectacular.

Our combination of home-cooked Gaspesian and French cuisine is always highlight with our guests. Salmon Lodge is ideally located to allow the opportunity to fish three great Atlantic Salmon rivers from early June through late September.

All three rivers are capable of yielding a world class 40 pound Atlantic Salmon. The Bonaventure, legendary for its sight casting opportunities, the Petit Cascapedia known for its clear picturesque pools holding big salmon and huge brookies, and the storied Grand Cascapedia where salmon get to be as big as anywhere in the world, This part of the Gaspé Peninsula is also one of Canada’s most popular tourist destinations.

Guests at Salmon Lodge can choose from a wide range of non-fishing activities including museum visits, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, boutique shopping, whale watching, horseback riding, and golf. Salmon Lodge is located 300 miles west of Quebec City and 600 miles north of Boston.

Autumn fishing for the Giant Atlantic Salmon

Home of the 40-pounders, the Cascapedia River or "Grand" as it also known is recognized as one of the finest Atlantic salmon rivers in the world. This majestic river cascades down through the Chic-Choc mountain range in a southerly direction, skipping behind patches of alder and spruce forests on its parallel journey, before emptying into the Bay of Chaleurs some 70-miles down river.

Lax-á would like to invite you to share in a very special angling experience on the Cascapedia River. Come and witness the pallet of vibrant autumn colors that fill the mountains of the majestic Cascapedia Valley. Cast your fly to some of the largest Atlantic salmon in the world during one of their most active periods of the year! Witness, what some anglers consider to be, "the most beautiful, and most productive time of year to fish the Gaspé Peninsula".
Over the last 5-years our guests have enjoyed , catching and releasing a good number of large wild fish during the month of September, the majority of these released salmon were in the 20-30 lb. plus range. For the past five years our anglers have taken over a half dozen 40-pound salmon each year.

The average size salmon is over 24lbs!
We can accommodate up to 8-anglers a day on 4-beats during the months of August and September. In September , when water levels are right we often fish from 26-foot cedar strip canoes. Pool structure varies from deep, well-defined ledge pools to swifter moving runs. The upper reaches of the Cascapedia are divided into two branches, the Salmon and Lake Branch. These branches are considerably smaller than the main river but still hold very big fish throughout the summer and can be real hot in September! All of our September guests will stay at Salmon Lodge on the Cascapedia River, where they will enjoy excellent meals and well appointed rooms. Give us a call for more information about our special September packages on the Cascapedia.

In the following page you will find suggestions, based on our different angling seasons, as to what sort of equipment you should pack for your upcoming visit to the Gaspe Peninsula. I sincerely hope that my suggestions will help you as you prepare for your angling experience on our lovely rivers. See you this summer!

During the month of June we generally use larger flies in the (# 2 – 3/0 range, so bigger rods and heavier line weights are recommended in order to turn over these large flies. If you have a two handed, or, Spey rod, bring it along, as they can also give you a great advantage in the early season.

Dry fly specialists may want to think about bringing a fast action rod that can handle larger – fluffy dry flies. Keep in mind that you may be getting into some good batches of big sea-run brook trout at this time of the year, so - a lighter rod - say a 6-7wt, can come in real handy if you want to mix some trout with some salmon fishing. The lighter line weights are also good for smaller salmon and grilse, which start to hit our rivers around the first part of July and continue to run on into late August. Grilse are between 4-7 pounds and are fun on a lighter rod!

8' to 10' for 7- 8 or 9wt. * Spey rods can also be a great asset at this time of year.

In September I suggest using a 7wt or an 8wt rod throughout most of the month. The only time that you want a bigger rod is when you are fishing the Cascapedia River and will be casting big 1/0 to 3/0 flies. This happens quite a bit so be prepared to have at least one big rod that can handle these flies.

You should always have a reel that can handle at least 100-150 yards of 20-lb backing. Reel choice is up to you but I would suggest something with a decent drag system, especially in the early season. Later in the year I often use a reel with no drag (I like to be scared when a fish is on!) but for the most part, lots of backing and a good brake are essential to fighting and landing big fish. The choice of brand is up to you, but the most important thing to remember is that your reel should balance well with your rod and line choices. A well balanced rod and reel combination will allow you to fish all day without getting tired.

You can choose to bring along a complete kit of leader including 35-30-25-20-15-12-10-8 and 6-pound test and make your own leaders, or, you can simply choose to bring along a few 9’ and 12’ pre-made leaders with some extra tippet material. The only time that I use shorter and heavier leaders is in the early season, and this is in order to be able to turn over bigger flies. Later in the season, I switch back to longer leaders 9’-12’ when using smaller flies.

I highly recommend using Fluro-Carbon leader materiel, however if you prefer mono, and are comfortable with it, then bring that! I have been using FC materiel since it came out on the market and think it does make a difference, especially in lower water but have no real proof of this.

Fly Lines

I suggest that you all bring at least one floating, one full sink and one sink-tip line. Floating lines are used most of the time but it is always good to have a full-sinking and sink tip just in case!

Waders and wading shoes

I suggest using breathable waders while fishing our rivers throughout most of the summer, especially from mid-June through the end of August, but if you get cold easily, you may want to bring along a pair of 3mm neoprene waders while fishing early June and late September, as the water and air temps are generally much colder then.

The most important thing to remember is that your waders MUST HAVE FELT SOLES! The rocks here can be tricky at times, so felt soles are absolutely essential while wading our rivers. I do not recommend crampons or spikes and will allow them in our canoes!

Raingear / Additional clothing / Sunscreen

You should bring along a good waterproof rain, or, wading jacket, one that has a few big front pockets to put fly boxes and tippet materiel into. I usually have two different jackets with me; one is a thin rain jacket that I can carry on my chest pack, or, in my gear bag in case of a sudden passing shower, and the second is the full wading jacket for those rainy days when I know I will be wearing it all day long. If you can, try to get a rain-jacket that breathes. They are a lot more comfortable.

Daily temperatures can vary considerably here on the Peninsula, so be prepared! You should definitely have a fleece jacket or vest to put on in the early morning and evenings, when temperatures are around the 50-60 F mark. I would also suggest wearing breathable - light fleece underwear under your waders, as jeans do not breathe well at all! Last thing you want is to feel sticky and damp at the end of the day when you take off your waders!

As most of your time will be spent on the water, you should definitely bring along a good hat that will protect the back of your neck and ears. You should also bring along some good waterproof sunscreen for extra protection while on the river. The sun reflecting off of the river can cause some pretty good burns so be sure to re-apply sunscreen regularly while wading, or, fishing out of the canoe.

Gear bags / Vests / Chest-packs

You should have a good gear bag that is waterproof to store your valuables in the canoe. In addition to the gear bag, it is a good idea to have a chest pack, or, fishing vest for wading situations. Bring a gear-bag that is big enough to store all of your fishing gear plus the extra clothing you will need.

Eyewear

Make sure that you bring along a good pair of polarized sunglasses with you. Not only will they protect your eyes from errant hooks, but you will also be able to spot fish a whole lot better while fishing! As for lens choice, it is really up to you, but I prefer an amber polarized lens, over a grey lens while fishing our rivers. Again, this is based on personal preference. Note: It is mandatory that all of our guests wear glasses for safety reasons.

Final thoughts?

It is my sincere hope that the information I have provided here will prove useful while you prepare for your adventure with us. We will be happy to suggest rods, reels, or waders, if you need or any help choosing the right gear.

Pattern and suggested sizes: