Northern Pike in Northern Quebec
Every angler worth his tackle box dreams of a fishing trip to our Northern neighbor… Canada! The fishing opportunities there, for a number of species, are vast and varied; access is relatively easy; guides, outfitters, lodges and camping facilities are numerous, and almost anyone can afford a fishing trip there.
 Southern Ontario and Quebec offer fantastic Smallmouth Bass opportunities and good fishing for mid-sized and small Northern Pike, Walleye and Yellow Perch. Walleye are prevalent throughout the providences as are Yellow Perch and Trout of many species. There are literally thousands of lakes and rivers to explore in all of the eastern areas and fishing in most of them can be quite an experience. However, due to heavy fishing pressure by “freezer fishermen”, both American and Canadian, over the past decades, REAL trophy size fish of many species are becoming more and more rare. Most of the areas accessible by automobile have long since been reduced to the status of good fishing, not GREAT fishing. Fly-in lakes and those strictly managed as a “Trophy” fishery are your best bet for life-long memories of the big ones that DIDN’T get away.
The “growing season” in these areas is very short and Northern Pike that reach the real “Trophy” class can be as much as twenty to twenty-five years old and the numbers of these fish are steadily declining thanks to anglers who don’t know how to properly handle and release such fish; simply don’t care and want to get some great “bragging” pictures, or are just simply “meat” hungry. These big, old fish deserve our respect and admiration and deserve to live on, possibly giving other anglers the thrill of catching them. Eat the smaller fish and leave the bigger ones to grow and become even bigger. Who knows, YOU might be the one to catch him the next time.
 I get a BIG KICK out of seeing these “TV Anglers” holding up Northern Pike of ten or twelve pounds and calling them “Twenty”. I have boated HUNDREDS of Pike in the thirty-six inch to forty-four inch class and find that, ON AVERAGE, a good Pike needs to be forty-two inches or better to attain twenty pounds. Pre-spawn fish or extremely old fish may be the exception to this rule, but for the most part, you will find this observation accurate.
I started fishing Northern Quebec for real “Trophy” Northern Pike in 1988 after meeting up with Luc Rousseau, from “Luc Rousseau Outfitter”, at the “Northeastern Fishing, Camping, Boating and Outdoor Sports Show” held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, at the State Farm Show Complex every February. I booked a trip with him after a very strong and positive recommendation from a good friend of mine who owned a tackle shop in Redding, PA.
Luc owned a lodge located on and near several good Speckled Trout and Walleye lakes that were accessible by automobile or plane, and offered a “Fly-In” service to what was reportedly Northern Pike fishing paradise in more remote areas. My partner and I opted for the latter!
We decided to “drive-in” to the base camp and then “Fly-In” to one of the Trophy Pike Lakes offered by Luc. BIG MISTAKE! The sixty-some miles of “road” into base camp resembled a road in that it was dirt, it was there, it didn’t have any trees growing in the middle of it, and it went from “here” to “there”. My partner and I quickly dubbed it “Hell’s Highway” and for good reason. There were pot holes that could swallow a “full growed moose”; bridges that were little more than railroad ties across gulleys; washed out shoulders with tree branches marking them; and the remnants of boat trailers, exhaust systems, tires, and other sundry and assorted automobile parts strewn along the way. Every year after that first year, we “Flew-In” from one of the seaplane bases located closer to modern civilization and decent roads.
 The lake we chose for our first Northern Quebec fishing experience with “Luc Rousseau Outfitter” was named “Half Moon Lake” by virtue of a large crescent-moon shaped island located in the middle of the lake. The “Fly-In” was a memorable experience in itself aboard an older, radial engine “Beaver”, the “Cadillac” of bush planes, of which I am exceptionally fond of. The scenery, the dozens of “fishy looking” lakes we flew over, the wildlife we spotted and the vastness of the area was awe inspiring, even if we did spend forty-five minutes crammed into the plane with all of our gear and a pilot with the personality of broccoli. But we finally touched down on “Half Moon” and taxied to the dock at cabin number three and four. After introductions to the full time caretaker, Pierre LaVecc, we unloaded the plane and bid a fond farewell to the “Rude Baron”.
Pierre was a short, stocky French Canadian with a genuine sense of humor, curly blonde hair, a dog that only spoke French, a vast knowledge of the lake and an aim to make sure your stay at “Half Moon” was a memorable one. He also put on one of the BEST fish fries I have ever experienced. Over the years Pierre and I became great friends and I sincerely missed him after he found a better job, closer to his home.
 To make a LONG story shorter… I have fished “Half Moon” and some of the other lakes in that region with “Luc Rousseau Outfitter” every year since that first trip. I have boated hundreds of real “Trophy” Northern Pike there and was awarded seven “Fresh Water ‘Line Class’ World Records” for fish caught on these lakes. The Walleye fishing there is nothing short of PHENOMINAL, and days with seventy-five to one-hundred Walleye being boated by my partner and I are not uncommon. Our best day record for Walleye boated is one-hundred-eighty-seven.
The cabins are “First Rate”, roomy and comfortable, have running water and flush toilets, and normally have hot showers or shower houses nearby, a RARITY in the Canadian Northwoods. The lights, stove and refrigerator are all operated by Propane gas and there is a wood stove in each cabin for heat, if needed. Boats are big and stable fiberglass fishing boats with new and reliable outboards and you are furnished all of the gas you need. A full time caretaker is at your disposal and he will gladly fillet and freeze your Walleye for the trip home, gas-up your boat and change the propane tank on the cabin when needed. A real “First Class” operation!
NORTHERN QUEBEC – TRIP CHECK
Location: Northern Quebec, near the Gouin Reservoir, and northeast of Ottawa, Canada.
How to get there:
By Auto: Take I-81 North to the Canadian border. ( NOTE: Be sure to check regulations and rules for what you can and cannot take into Canada. You won’t need a passport, but a valid driver’s license or other form of photo ID is a must ) Go east on Canadian highway 401 to I-416 North to Ottawa and Hull. Follow a good map to Mont-Laurier, and from there to Mont-St-Michel. It is then 178km to Parent where you will turn right on the dirt road to Kawai Camp and then follow the signs to the main lodge or Half Moon Lake… About 75km. The dirt road from Parent to the lodge is much better than the Clova Road we use to travel. There are some beautiful streams and lakes along the way and it is actually a very scenic drive. Be sure your gas tank is full and that you have a good spare tire and the tools necessary to change a flat. A CB radio is also a good idea. Cell phones don’t work too well in the far north.
By Air:
From Parent by Cargair Air……………………………………. $125 per person
From Baskatong Reservoir…………………………….…………. $325 per person
From Wapus Lodge on the Clova Road (Hell’s Highway)………. $225 per person
NOTE: When you elect to “Fly-In” you are restricted to the 125lbs. of gear per person… THAT includes tackle, clothing, food, etc.
When to go: The Walleye fishing is best in May and June, but will remain GREAT all through the summer and into the fall. BIG Pike spawn right after “ice out” and remain in the shallows and weedbeds until mid-June. I prefer the “new moon” period of July or August for real “Trophy” Northern Pike fishing and there are far fewer anglers on the lake then also.
Where to fish:
For Northern Pike: Fish the weedbeds and shallow bays early in the season, and move to deeper water, especially rock piles, the mouths of bays and main lake points, later in the summer. Weedbeds along the edges of drop-offs are especially good spots to try.
For Walleye: You can catch Walleye all day long by trolling Nightcrawler harnesses, lures and jig and grub combos in twelve to fifteen feet of water. We do ALL of our Walleye fishing in the evenings, from about 7:00pm until about 9:00pm. We vertical jig a Cabin Creek “Pop-Eye” jig, tipped with a half Nightcrawler, in eight to ten feet of water on rocky points and drop-offs.
What to fish: During the recommended periods, you will want to take along…
For Northern Pike…
- Heddon Zara Spook and Excalibur Spook… My Numero-Uno lure for BIG Pike.
- Williams Wobbler Spoons… Silver and Gold… I don’t even OWN a red and white spoon.
- High Rider Buzz Baits… They drive BIG Pike wild.
- Spinnerbaits… ½ and ¾ oz models with BIG blades.
- Suspending Rogue Minnows… “Jerkbaiting” can be deadly for Pike.
- Floating Rogue Minnows… Twitched on the surface, they will also take BIG Walleye when it is raining or overcast.
- Johnson Silver Minnow… Assorted sizes and colors with four to six-inch white grub trailer.
NOTE: Live bait is not allowed in most of these northern lakes. Live minnows for Walleye and live chubs or shiners for Northern Pike are a definite NO-NO!
For Walleye…
- Cabin Creek “Pop-Eye” jigs… Use size 2 only and tip with Nightcrawler.
- Nightcrawler Harness… With beads and spinner blades.
- Small Shallow Crankbaits… For days with heavy overcast and/or rain.
- Small Top Water Lures… For days with heavy overcast and/or rain.
- Floating Rogue Minnows… For trolling.
- Walley Divers… For trolling.
Where to stay: “Luc Rousseau Outfitter” is highly recommended by me and all of the “Pro Staff” who have been fortunate enough to venture into Northern Quebec. Luc controls and has exclusive fishing rights to a vast area and many lakes. Half-Moon Lake and the “Main Lodge” at Gouin Reservoir are now accessible by automobile, but a “fly-in” is still preferred as the final access road from Parent is dirt and sand, bumpy, full of potholes, and about 75km long.
Where to eat: SORRY… All of you “Chow Hounds”… This is a strictly a “fix your own” food situation. I can HIGHLY recommend… Eat a GOOD, quick but hardy breakfast and have your BIG MEAL of the day for lunch around noon or one. We have steaks; fish fry; spaghetti and meatballs; salad, or whatever is on the menu that day. Take a little nap or work on tackle, then fish until dark, about 10pm in the summer, and eat a light snack or sandwich before going to bed. That way you are not wasting the best fishing of the day, morning and evening, fixing big meals and cleaning up. If you are doing a “Fly-In” you’ll want to conserve weight. Limit canned goods, and liquids. We use powdered milk with a half-pint of heavy cream added to each gallon; eat lots of cereal and pasta; use a Britta water filter for coffee and tea; and have sodas, beer, potatoes and onions flown in ahead of time.
I prepare and vacuum seal spaghetti sauce, chili, soups and other foods at home, and simply place the pouch in boiling water to heat. Saves prep time AND clean-up time too. There is no electricity, so take along one, or better yet two, of those bread toasters you use on a stove or campfire.
FORGET a radio! There is only ONE station (sometimes none)… And it is in FRENCH! A little, portable tape or CD player with some good music is a welcome addition to meal time for me. Good flashlights and a good camp axe are recommended and I DON’T recommend you sleep outside… And keep the cabin door secured. BEARS! And WOLVES! You know?
Other Good Stuff:
If you are a hunter, Luc Rousseau Outfitter also provides excellent Black Bear and Moose hunts in the fall and has exclusive rights over some of the best territory in the province.
Luc also rents out “Houseboats” out of Marmette Bay, on the HUGE Guoin Reservoir. You can tow your fishing boats along, anchor in any of the coves, and fish a given area. The next day you can elect to stay in that area or move on to another. Quite an adventure in itself!
CONTACT: For more information and reservations…………
Luc Rousseau Outfitter
PO Box 129
Maniwaki, Quebec J9E 384
PHONE: Office...........… 819-449-3386
May to October..................… 819-974-1705
Fax.............................… 819-449-7204
Reservations....................… 1-800-567-1265
E-Mail: pourvoiries-rousseau@ireseau.com
Web Site: www.pourvoires-rousseau.com
Look for Luc: At many of the major outdoor shows around the country, i.e… Harrisburg, Pittsburg, Philadelphia, Montreal, etc.
Plan a Northern Pike or Walleye fishing trip to Northern Quebec. You will be surprised at how reasonable the price is. How exciting it is! How GOOD the fishing is! And the memories? PRICELESS!
Tight Lines,
Will Whitehead
"Pro Staff" Director
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