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What are the elements
of a superb fishing travel destination?
Here are mine:
- Lots of big fish.
- Exclusive fishing rights.
- Excellent wading conditions
- Experienced guides with long experience on the water, who are determined to give the maximum in service.
- An immaculately clean, handsome, comfortable lodge with private rooms.
- A comfortable dining room with a chef and wait staff that know how to prepare and present meals that are memorable.
- An owner/operator on the premises who stands ready to solve any problems that come.
Hey, I’ve just described Malbaie River Outfitters perfectly. How good is Malbaie when it comes to Atlantic salmon fishing? Here are two items that should convince you of it’s worth out of hand. They are an Orvis-endorsed destination and experienced salmon anglers from all over the world travel to Malbaie.
Malbaie is located up at the top end of the east side of the Gaspe Peninsula and if there are more beautiful rivers or more magnificent scenery anywhere in Eastern North America I’ve yet to find it, and I’ve been looking for it. Imagine sand beaches that stretch for miles with hardly anyone occupying them and then picture hundred-foot high cliffs where gannets plunge into the water in formation. That’s just for starters.
The eight rivers fished by Malbaie are startlingly beautiful. In the shallows they run so clear you can every pebble on the bottom. In the deep runs they are the same cobalt blue/green you find in the Caribbean.
And the fish … Omigosh! The Fish! The biggest Atlantic salmon I’ve ever seen — a fish I’m sure exceeded 50 pounds and was about six-feet long — was in the Dartmouth River. The number of 30- to 35-pound fish will set your heart to pounding, especially since you can so often see them hold in the clear depths. In the fall, sometimes 500 salmon crowd into a single pool and if that sight doesn’t set your heart to fluttering, better hang up your fishing rod.
Here’s something important too. Malbaie Proprietor Bill Greiner has developed a large system of river watchers who keep him informed of both where the fish are and just as importantly aren’t. There’s nothing more frustrating in Atlantic salmon fishing than to know you are casting over fishless water. Bill and his crew work hard to make sure that doesn’t happen. And when these folks give you a suggestion, better take it. They know which flies are producing and just how it should be presented too.
Okay, I love Atlantic salmon. I love the Gaspe rivers. I love Malbaie River Outfitters too. Give them a try and you’ll end up loving it all too.
Be sure to tell Bill that Harry sent you and said to treat you right.