CAMP BONAVENTURE
Camp Bonaventure, the sister lodge to Salmon Lodge is described by many as one of the best fishing lodges in North America.
Location
Quebec, Canada
Fish
Atlantic Salmon
Season
June to September
Information
Ideally sitting on the lower banks of the river Bonaventure; it gives the angler the perfect opportunity to fish the Bonaventure, Petite- and Grand Cascapedia. Built in 1993, it is a perfect place for both comfort and tranqulity and offers some of the best Atlantic Salmon fishing in the world.
ACCOMODATION
Camp Bonaventure can accommodate 12 rods. The main lodge has a spacious, open concept living and dining room area with four double occupancy bedrooms with double beds, private baths and screened porches. The nearby private guest house has two double occupancy bedrooms with double beds, private baths and screened porches. There is a private living room with a fireplace and bar area. Evenings are spent around the fireplace watching the photos from the day’s fishing or outside on the veranda enjoying a nightcap and telling the tale of the fish that got away. Queen beds are standard throughout. Breakfast is served in the dining room and lunch is generally served riverside by the guides.
The rod room is a minute’s walk from the main lodge and is large enough to keep all your fishing gear safe and dry, ready for the next day’s fishing. There is also a tackle shop where you will be able to buy the fly that guide will have recommended to you. The Rod Room always has fresh coffee in the morning and refreshing drinks for your return from the river. It is where you will meet your guide and anticipate the days of fishing to come
Before a day’s fishing; you will be offered breakfast served typically from 06.00 where you will be offered different options every day. The chefs will make a picnic including soup, sandwiches, salads, fruit, snacks and cold drinks to enjoy either riverside or back at the lodge together with your guide. In the evenings, dinner starts with hors d’ouevres served in the sitting room – perfect for catching up with the other anglers over a cold drink and hearing of the tales from the day as you watch highlights on the large tv of photos the guides have taken during the week. A 3 course meal is served in the dining room including fresh lobster, seafood and steak from the area, whilst ensuring dietary requirements are met. Wine is included with dinner and guests are welcome to bring their own spirits.
Non-Angling Activities and Options
Although fly fishing for Atlantic salmon is the main activity, the Lodge can help with non-fishing activities for the non-fishing guest. There is everything from hiking, birding and biking. There’s even an excellent 18 hole, par 72 golf course nearby. The bioparc is only a few minutes drive from the lodge and is recommended.
Internet / Communications
For your convenience, the Camp Bonaventure also offers free high-speed wireless access. A computer for checking e-mail or sending fish bragging photos is also available for your use in the main Lodge.
FISHING
The fishing schedule at Camp Bonaventure is typically 9 hours split between a morning and an afternoon session. After breakfast, your guide will take you to the beat that you will be fishing on for the morning session. Fishing is normally by wading, but when water levels are higher – typically in June and early July, the traditional 26 foot canoes may be used to access some of the beats and place you on the hot spot. After lunch you will continue fishing until around 5pm and return to the lodge for dinner and drinks with your fellow anglers.
The guides are all qualified instructors and speak both English and French, committed to the sport, and will do everything they can to provide the best chances of landing that dream fish and with their expertise and knowledge of the river systems, will help choose your flies and tactics for that pool. Even the most experienced angler will learn something.
Based on which river you are fishing that day, it pays to have a single handed rod with you for dry fly fishing and a switch or short two handed rod for wet flies. Only the Grand Cascapedia is a wide river where a larger rod can come in handy, but even then a 12 foot rod with a floating line and possibly a slow sinking tip is sufficient. All rivers are fed by mountain streams and brooks with cold water which helps keep the rivers cooler than other rivers in the area.
The 112km Grand Cascapedia holds the largest fish and we believe that if someone had designed the perfect salmon river, they would have used the Grand as a template. The river is crystal clear but due to logging in the 18 and 1900s, the river has a slight brown ting. To us, it may look tea coloured, but to the salmon looking up, it is crystal clear.
The Petite Cascapedia may be smaller, but holds the same broad shouldered strain of Atlantic salmon as the Grand. It is a much more intimate river but crystal clear. We like to think of the Petite as a mix of the Grand and Bonaventure.
The Bonaventure is deemed to be one of the clearest rivers in the world. Here you will see guides using a periscope to spot fish in the river – even possible in turbulent waters. The river is renowned for its dry fly fishing and to see a fish rise from the deeps to take the fly from the surface will most certainly have your heart in your mouth. Fishing here is best from a canoe and due to the water, this is possible most of the season.
We highly recommend getting in touch with us to gain a better understanding of the three rivers.
Fishing in the Gaspe is a mix of private waters, public waters and the lottery allocated. Each river is different with regards to this but together with Camp Bonaventure we will do our utmost to give you the best chances of prime waters. Even if you do not win in the lottery, you will still fish pristine waters. We highly recommend to have booked by 1st of November to have the best odds by entering the grand lotteries, however, there are still the 48h lotteries held each day through the season and so should not be considered as an absolute must.
TRAVEL
Camp Bonaventure is a two and a half hour drive from Bathurst airport. Gaspé is served by daily flights from Montreal, and Bathurst from Quebec. It’s also possible to take the overnight train from Montreal to Campbelton which runs 3 times a week and is one hour from the lodge. Driving from Montreal takes approximately 9-10 hours and is a simple drive.
When is the best time to visit?
The season starts in late June and ends in September with the early runs holding the largest salmon and fishing done from the canoe with a wet fly. Fresh fish will enter the rivers all the way up to August. As the rivers drop wading will become more common. A quick thunderstorm can easily lead to the rivers being high enough through the summer to be able to fish from a canoe. As the water warms up, dry fly fishing becomes more prevalent.
Typical Length of Stay
The typical length of stay at the Camp Bonaventure is seven (7) nights with six (6) days of fishing, but shorter stays are possible.
Typical Itinerary
Saturday: Depart home
Saturday: Arrive Montreal and overnight
Sunday: Fly from Montreal to Bathurst and transfer to the lodge
Monday – Sunday: Seven days of guided fishing
Sunday: Depart the lodge. Fly from Bathurst to Montreal
Monday: Depart for home
Documents Required
Documents Required
Valid passport. Citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK, and other Western European nations do not need a visa for tourist trips of up to ninety days.
Travel Insurance
Prior to booking, please ensure that your travel insurance covers for travelling to remote areas and for the type of activities you are planning. We highly recommend also considering a Global Rescue Membership
BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE
We have worked hard to be able to provide you with the best prices possible. If you are quoted a lower price we will endeavour to beat it.
