Why a Remote Quebec Fishing Camp Beats a Roadside One

Youfeelthedoubtsomewherearoundthesecondhourwhendrivingonthegravel.A remoteQuebecfishingcampputsrealdistancebetweenyouandthelasttown,andthe roadturnsroughlongbeforeyouarriveatthedestination.Youwatchthetreesclosein,and youstarttowonderwhetherthefishingwillpayyoubackforthelongdrive.Thatworryis normal.It’salsothereasonthefishingisgood.

Theshortversionissimple.AremoteQuebecfishingcampkeepsitswaterawayfromthe weekendcrowd,andthisquietwaterholdsmorefish. Aroadsidecampsitsnearahighwayandapubliclaunch.Anyonewithatrailerandafree morningcanreachit.Easywatergetshithard,andhard-hitwatergivesupitsfishfast.You paidforthetripeitherway,sotherealquestioniswhatyougetattheendofit.

OnOgascanan,thereisonelodge,onefamilyofowners,andnopublicboatlaunch.No cottagessitalongtheshore.Nootheroutfittersharesthelake.Thewalleyeyourelease todayswimsfortheguestwhoarrivesnextweek.

Thatsinglefactshapeseverythingyoufeelonthewater.You’renotracinganyonetothe spot.Nobodytrailersinovernighttoworkitbeforeyourise.Youwakeup,youeat,andyou gofishingonalakethatbelongstothepeoplestayingonit.

TheSlotLawThatKeepstheWalleyeComing

Mostcampsaskyoutoreleasebigfishandhopeyoulisten.Quebec’sfishingregulationssetalength limitonwalleye,andtheprovinceenforcesit.Youputbackeverywalleyebetween14.5and21 inches,bylaw,notbyasignonthewall.Winterfishingonthelakestaysclosedtoo.

Hereiswhythatmatterstoyou.Ahouserulebendsthemomentaguestpushesback.Aprovincial lawdoesn’tbendatall.Thefishinthatprotectedrangearethebreeders,theonesthatkeepthelake fullyearafteryear.Becausetheruleholds,thefishingyoufindnextseasonlookslikethefishingyou foundthisseason.

ANaturallyReproducingFishery,NoHatcheryTruck

ThenameOgascanancomesfromanativewordforfishhatchery,andthelakeearnsit.Walleye, northernpike,andlaketroutspawnhereontheirown.Nobodydumpsstockedfishoffatrucktoprop upaslowseason.

Alakethatreproduceswithouthelptellsyouthewaterishealthyandthepressurestayslow.Plentyof easy-accesslakesleanonstockingtostayworththetrip.Thisonehasneverneededthecrutch.

WhattheLongDriveActuallyBuysYou

Picturethefishing,notthemarketing.Walleyeinthe14-to21-inchrangearetheeveryday fish,theonesthatfillanafternoonwithsteadyaction.Mostofthemgobackundertheslot rule,andafewsmalleronesmaketheshorelunch.

Pikerun24to32inchesmostdays,andbiggeronesshowup,somepast40.Laketrout comeupinseasonandgobackafteraquickfight.Thephotogalleryonthesitedates eachfishbymonthandyearforareason.Youseewhatguestscaughtthisseason,nota luckydayfromfiveyearsback.

Somedaysyoucatchplenty.Somedaysthefishsulkandyouworkforeverybite.Nobody sellsyouaguaranteehere.Whatyougetishonestwaterwitharealchanceatabigfish andasteadychanceatplentyofgoodones.Thathonestyiswhyguestsbookthesame weekagain,andwhythedrivestopsfeelinglongonceyou’reonthelake.

RoomfortheAnglersandtheFamilyToo

Thedriverewardsmorethanthehardcorerod-and-reelcrowd.MainCampsitsatthe southendwiththreehousekeepingcabinsandthelodge.Eachcabinhasathree-piece bathroom,apropanestoveandfridge,awoodstoveforheat,andelectriclightafterdark. Outpostcampssitdeeperonthelakewithhotshowers,andtheIslandOutpostholdsa largerprivategroupacrossthreecabins.

PlanningtheDriveNorth

Crosstheborder,clearQuebec,andfollowtheloggingroadpastthelasttownforabout60 miles(100km).Packasleepingbag,atowel,yourlicence,andyourtackle.Whenyou land,yougetaboat,amotor,andalakeorientation.Thencoachingrunsthroughtheweek, andashorelunchwaitsonasandybeachwhenthebiteslows.

Thechoicecomesdowntowhatyouwantwaitingattheendoftheroad.Ashortdriveand sharedwater,oralongeroneandalakethatstaysfulloffish.Chancesareyoualready knowwhichpullisstronger.Seethisseason’scatchphotosorbookyourweekat ogascanan.com.

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