Lacs Robidoux
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Salmon Fishing
At Robidoux Lakes Outfitter it is...

“The rivers are beautiful, the fishing is great, and the food and hospitality at the lodge are outstanding.”

John McCormick MD, USA

We are a small German family of Berlin: the parents Géraldine and Frank and our eight-year-old daughter Lucia. For years we dreamed in our apartment in the center of Berlin in full city to go on holiday in Canada, we made Web searches, read of the tourist guides, interviewee of the friends who were already in Quebec.
On a web site finally we find the photos of Robidoux Lakes Outfitter. We did not even know the meaning of the word " Pourvoirie " but photos and explanations on the very good site facilitated us the decision: our first steps in Canada, our first steps in Quebec and our first steps in Gaspésie lead us in Robidoux Lakes Outfitter !
What a welcome for three Berliners coming by train of the airport up to New Richmond! Gérard Gonzalez who comes to look for us at the station and who accompanies us at first in a Quebecois supermarket: Culinary intercultural discovery, we take care for week in the forest (not enough finally, four days later, thanks to the kindness of the team of Outfitter we are handed on to the supermarket). And after we take forest roads to arrive in an enchanted place two lakes clearly and peaces, the forest, the air spawn and silence!!!
Our quite comfortable chalet, really in three meters fifty of the lakeside with a terrace and a view on the nature which makes that we do not look at the nature but we make left the nature … The first two days we spent hours only sat on the staircase of the terrace with a cup of coffee in the hand by inhaling this nature …
And our daughter?? She bursts! She makes of the boat on the lake, she swims, she makes discoveries in the forest. Once, we made on foot the tour of the big lake, it’s a trail full of delight, we would not be amazed if on one of the clearings suddenly appears one A sylph / one elf or a sprite / Kobold
Conveniently "urban": in Robidoux Lakes Outfitter, in height of forest we proposed us Wireless Lan, we were very amazed and "on-line" when we had to send messages, photos to our friends in Germany and in France and to communicate via Skype with our family.
But the biggest «discovered intercultural» (I ask for forgiveness to the Quebecker) it is the fishing to the Salmon! Grace to the team of Outfitter, - Jacky who guides our boat with of quiet and the same elegance as a real gondolier on the waves of the Bonaventure river (one of the clearest and most appropriate(clean) rivers of the world) and the incredible patience of Gérard which explains and re-explains to this urban Berliner the secrets of the fly fishing - we discover a fishing which looks like for us rather a dialogue between a fish and a man and which often ends with the fact that the fish keeps " the last word ". What a surprising, deserving, intelligent fish! And I believe it was this day there that really made us arrive in this nature which asks for admiration but also for a lot of respect.
Today brought in Germany, our thoughts often walk towards these days of tranquillities and full of discoveries in Outfitter. And if we speak about the warm kindness of all the team of Outfitter, it’s necessary to speak about Mado, who is the soul of the house with its smile and its big hospitality. Thanks to you all!

Frank Morawietz, Germany

By crossing the New Brunswick, I noticed that rivers were quite very low, and my experience of fisherman of grilses in Ireland led me to think that these three days of fishing on Bonaventure would especially make for me progress in Spey casting … I was not apparently prepared for what was going to follow: a river low but filled with salmons, a sight fishing so much waters are transparent, Gérard a patient guide and who knows his river on the fingertips, the fantastic landscapes, and at the end three bigger salmons of my pad of fishing …

Denis Bonnet, USA

Our wish to return the next year is in itself a testimony
of the quality of services offered by you even and all your team during
our stay in July of this year!
Let us not speak about the beauty of the landscapes in a protected nature it’s one
evidence and which is worth being even lived in itself.
The professionalism of the team treating all the fishermen on the same foot about is added is their level. Rivers are magnificent, belligerent fishes, food and excellent hotel services.
That's why we shall see again each other next year!

Jean-Pierre Lebrette, France

It’s the first time when I make holidays in Canada with all my family. Being in love with big quiet and wild spaces and practising the fly fishing in Switzerland, I wanted to confront with king of the Canadian rivers.
In lack of experience and having never fished for the salmon, I left with a fly rod for the trout. Before coming to Robidoux, I made four days in another outfitter on another river for salmon.
I regretted a lot four lost days, because Gérard and Jacky who work on the Robidoux Lakes Outfitter are not avaricious of very good advice and make the maximum to supply a matchless service.
As guides, they know all the pebbles of this beautiful river and make that your stay becomes a dream.
The salmons of Bonaventure are many and of beautiful size, because the graciation is respected so that this river remains the best river in salmons any azimuth.
The cook Mado is for the small care with us and her cooking is excellent. This lady and of a kindness except pair.
While I fished, my wife and my two children were able to visit the region which conceals real treasures.
I thank this winning trio which made me cross unforgettable holidays to me and my family.
I shall come back to Robidoux Lakes Outfitter because it’s a magnificent place and because Gérard, Jacky and Mado know how to receive you.
Still thanks to you all for this stay and if you move in Switzerland, know that the door of my house is wide open you.

Olivier Perriraz, Suisse

After a long drive down a dusty gravel road, my 3 friends and I were quite surprised to come upon the pourvoirie, a nice neat cluster of lodges and cabins on the edge of a beautiful pristine lake. Our accommodations in the main lodge were quite comfortable and our meals, crafted by the cook, Mado, were nicely presented and were delicious. We were booked for only two days, but we fished both the Grand and Petite Cascapedia Rivers with great success. Many salmon were hooked and played and 3 were landed. One salmon, a 32 pounder caught on the Grand Cascapedia, was our largest in several years fishing the Gaspe peninsula. Gerard and Jacky are both fantastic guides who know where the salmon are and consistently put you over fish. In the off hours we were happy to find the lake to be full of beautiful native brook trout that readily came to the fly. In fact, one morning, before breakfast, I had a half hour stretch where I can honestly say that I caught fish on almost every cast. We all agreed that next year we will have to come and stay a few days longer and fish the crystal clear Bonaventure as well.

James Kuryloski, Pensylvania, USA

I had a great time. Gerard's lodge is rustic and spotless. The food was good and plentiful. The surroundings beautiful. I was there for salmon and there were plenty in all three rivers and each is unique in it's own way. Give yourself enough time to try each one. Gerard and Jacky will do their best for a great fishing experience.

Bob Rost USA

We are European (Belgian) immigrants to Canada in the search of an opportunity to relax for a week in the summer. Fishing in Canada was one of our objectives mainly in Quebec (we have occasionally fished in other countries, namely in Africa).
Our first experience of fishing in Canada was extraordinary. We asked for Robidoux Lakes Outfitters, discovered by Internet, to organize and experience fishing salmon. Everything was organized by telephone and fax without problems.
We then rented one of their cottages by the lake which was very enjoyable. The outfitters furnished the fly fishing rental equipment.
First impression, the site was incredible: the calmness, the people, the environment, all was well managed.
Second impression : the « Team » who works at the outfitters seem real capable and happy, a plus for the clients.
Third impression: dinners at the inn, after a hard day of fishing were good quality.
And also, the salmon fishing, a discovery for us, was really enjoyable. We had over a course of 4 days salmon fishing, seen the beautiful shorelines of the Bonaventure River and the small Cascapedia River. For me, the preference was the Bonaventure River, it is also where I caught my first « large » salmon !
After 3 days of fishing we spent a day at Perce, browsing a beautiful coast and exploring Bonaventure Island. A nice day excursion which permitted our arms to rest from fly fishing. Then another day of great fishing and a day of rain spent in the cottage and visiting the shoreline of the outfitter’s lake – beautiful mushrooms and lots of flowers
In conclusion, a week of active vacation and magnificence in the wilderness setting and a first rate experience in salmon and fly fishing = to redo. Thank you Gérard, Jacky et Mado !

Marie-Chantal & Henry DEFALQUE - MONTRÉAL

 

Firstly, there is this French speaking Quebec, which brings us a few of these adventurers with Champlain, at the time of Henry IV and Richelieu, with a dozen crossings of the Atlantic, sailed up the St. Lawrence based trading posts and called them the Bernaches des Outardes.
Following there is Robidoux Lakes Outfitter, its yellow, green and red cottages along the edge of the lake filled with native trout. It is the Gaspe, deep in the middle of the forest, the impressive silence, far from the tourism of Bay of Chaleur, the whales and the Perce rock. Here you drive on forest roads, with « deer », and « partridge» on the road in front of the GMC, and occasionally, a porcupine, once a black bear, a moose next to the water.
Finally there is the hospitality of Gérard, the owner of this place for years. French Provencal, with his indispensible sense of the water, a real guide who respects his art, as comfortable as a salmon in water. He views the fish that arrives in the pool and those that are the reddest for some time, he observes their position, their behaviour and with his precious « total observation», this reverse periscope, « bathyscope » for those purists.
With him, his friend Jacky, their exhaust for the great fish dream, you fish on the three waterways which are the two Cascapédia, the large and small and the crystalline Bonaventure. These three coastal rivers fascinate the biggest of salmon fishermen in North and South America and Europe. I think of the three of them together in one photo:
Paul Boyer, author known for French fishing magazines,
Lucien Bonnenfant, who held my right hand for my first fly fishing casts, at Gave d’Oloron,
And Guy Chaumont, author of the recent book « Planète saumon », with photos of anthology.
If the books are worth the detour, the voyage also, with its grilses and its great salmon, its failures and successes and the unforgettable poetry of the authentic. In other words, we never fish in the two same places on a river…

Dr Pierre Sabourin - FRANCE

 

After all that is said by the fishermen who frequented Robidoux Lake Outfitter, the stories of their adventures are unanimous: whether it is the quality of the fishing or the quality of the water with its exceptional clarity. You have the possibility to fish 3 areas with big salmon and not least: salmon, sea trout and brook trout.
The site is well kept, in an area where nature is still wild, one can’t imagine a more fantastic place. It is a real paradise for fly fishing!!

Jean-Marc Chignard – JMC Mouches De Charette - FRANCE

 

I spent a week at Robidoux Lakes Outfitter with my family (my wife and my two children). In the middle of nature and by the lakes, we adored sleeping in the Rondins cottage. My children appreciated life in the outdoors and the possibility to observe a number of animals that live in this environment (Virginia deer, American hare, coyote, wolves, otters, moose, geese and osprey).
When fishing, one may practice a course of fly fishing in the lakes, along the edge in rowboats which are at your disposal; then, like I did, one can seek an outing of fly fishing on the rivers Bonaventure, the small and large Cascapédia, assisted by Gérard who knows his rivers well and who can advise you how to optimize your chances of catching a « large salmon ». For my part, that is what happened.
I look at it not only as a good souvenir of my fishing trip but overall a good reason to return.
I haven’t fished yet in the Large Cascapédia, the rivers in this region are really beautiful.
I would like to again thank Gérard for his advice, in his capacity as a fly fishing guide, but also for his responsible regard for a Gaspé nature still untouched and authentic.

Pascal PRIME - FRANCE

 

Robidoux Lakes Outfitter allowed me to realize a childhood dream – to go to Canada, precisely Quebec- and to practice my two passions: hunting woodchuck and fly fishing (with the discovery of SALMON fishing...!). Gérard concocted a mixed vacation on the last week of September 2007 : 3 days of fishing on Bonaventure River, and 3 days of hunting in the area of the outfitters.
Upon arrival and travelling alone, I really appreciated the take charge logistics, with the reservations (A/R), the train and air tickets from Toulouse to New Richmond, the greeting at the train station, then directly to the outfitters. A very nice rural site, (with a lake view from the dining area, very relaxing...) with good food, great service conducive to an unforgettable experience. Secondly and most importantly, my dreams were fulfilled in these 2 activities.
Whether at the water’s edge with Gérard, the manager of the outfitters, this attentive fishing guide does all to ensure ”success ». Full of unforgettable souvenirs from the pools of the Bonaventure, especially this memorable day at "Dobble Crossing", with the key being my 3 FIRST Salmon (okay then 2 small grizzles, and the 3rd, the prettiest, poorly handled and broken!!! 3 salmon in the same pool!!!) With a bonus, a swimming hare and moose!!!What happiness! It was worth getting up early, taking the 4x4 and Quad!!! Well done Gérard and thanks again!!!!
The same with hunting, in the alder woods with Francois (from Saguenay!!!) and Ozzy, his companion (American Breton Spaniel...!) on all fours, who provided some wonderful emotions, a quest, sharing, friendliness, in this beautiful and gentle biotope that borders the Bay of Chaleur...I fired (not bad) and missed (lots!) woodcock and also some grouse...whatever, I was overwhelmed, mostly, this "drizzly" Friday in the sector of "New Carlisle": 1 stop every 10 minutes!!! Then the day before and after?...Mystery and magic of the hunt…
Briefly, if I could redo the experience (it would be great to take a big one and to not leave my French Braque dog Unouk, the next time!) I will not look for another place.

Michel Lafage - FRANCE

 

I wanted to be taught to fish for salmon with Pierre, my 12 year old son. What chance to have chosen the outfitter Gérard Gonzalez. A huge and passionate expert, he helped us to discover and share the passion of salmon and the art of fly fishing in sites of spellbinding and wild Cascapédia and Bonaventure rivers. And after a day of concentrating on our casts while fighting the currents what fun to find the accommodations, the comfort and the calm of the outfitters on the shore of its quiet lake! We dream of returning.

Pierre-André MARTEL
Paris, FRANCE

 

"The Gaspe is probably the mecca of Atlantic Salmon fishing in Quebec. In the of the Chics-Choc Mountains, the Robidoux Lakes outfitter is one destination choice that puts you in the heart of the action. In immediate proximity of the incredible Bonaventure River, the legendary large Cascapedia and the seductive little Cascapedia, the choice never misses an attempt to seduce the king salmon. And that is not all! The fly fisherman will have the occasion to track the sea trout, alias brook trout migrators that return to these bodies of water. These real trophies are captured by the angler who knows how to approach with finesse. And if these migrators are being sulky, never mind, you also have the chance to fish for speckled trout in the exclusive lakes of the outfitters. Briefly, a dream destination for the serious fly fisherman."

Thibaut MILLET – Photographe & Rédacteur du Guide des rivières à saumons du Québec

 

Thursday June 19 2008. Marseille Airport Provence (France).
Liftoff for the close direction of Montreal. The bags have been ready for many days and this desire, this appeal for the water that never ends. I am finally going get a taste fly fishing for the first time. After a stop of 2 days in Quebec City, where my fishing companion (experienced fly fisherman) advised me to purchase a rod, together we left for the Gaspe on a beautiful sunny Sunday. On the road, we make a stop to restore ourselves and observe the first salmon fishermen that we saw.
After 800km of driving we arrive safely at the Robidoux Lakes Outfitter. The site is very beautiful and corresponds to the photos we saw and what we expected for an atmosphere of fishing.
After practice casting on grass in Quebec, then at the outfitters, Monday morning: this time it’s for real. Our direction, a first loop on a large lake onboard a canoe… After some hours, the progress was there, the gesture improves.
For 3 days, the good weather changes, and the trout dried up in the morning and the evening became the exceptional time. I caught some trout that I carefully returned to the water, the No Kill is the choice we made. During the 4 days that followed, a change of decor and change of casting: this time its salmon in the river. In this season the fishing is with a sinking fly because of the level of the water and the current relatively strong. I am a beginner and the technique is really not easy. The weather was not a summer party, and I haven’t got the salmon touch. But it’s nothing, I learned a lot by trying to apply the advice of Gérard our guide. This progress will benefit for the next time. I will return to tease the salmon!! And this time later in the season for dryer fishing. During our stay the accommodations were very nice. An excellent and very caring cook. The person who does the logistics for the outfitters, the care and the monitoring of the fishermen is very involved and seeks to best meet the customers’ needs. We really appreciated the humour !!
Here in a few lines, a stay that left many souvenirs…

Thierry BELABAL - FRANCE

Fishing with Gerard for sea-run brookies and Atlantic salmon is one of the best fly fishing experiences I've had so far! From expert advice and guidance to stunning rivers, scenery and fish, booking a trip with these guys is definitely worth it!".
Thanks so much again for everything Gerard!

NICK PUJIC – Directeur du Marketing & des ventes – « Magazine The Canadian Fly Fisher »

The Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) commends Robidoux Lakes Outfitter for their commitment to conserving wild Atlantic salmon through promoting catch and release. ASF welcomed Robidoux Lakes Outfitter into its Live Release Rewards and Recognition Program in 2007. The camp has been recognized for:
• Encouraging their guests to release both salmon and grilse
• Promoting live release angling in their literature (brochures, web sites, signs, etc.)
• Showing only live salmon on their web site, in their literature and advertisements
• Sending guides to ASF's guide education program
• Promoting the sale of live release licenses
• Teaching anglers how to safely release angled salmon and grilse

Sue Scott, Vice President, Communications Atlantic Salmon Federation

After having seen the fourth film from Henrik Mortensen, "The Scandinavian Spey Cast", the enchanting landscape of the Gaspé Peninsula, where the action of the film was taking place, continued haunting me. I then absolutely had to get to the Bonaventure, Grand Cascapedia and Petit Cascapedia rivers to witness myself their majesty. In particular, the promising pictures of the salmons from the Grand Cascapedia weighing an average of 8 kg (!) – believe it or not – have led my friend Peter Timm and myself to be picked up by Gérard Gonzalez from the "Pourvoirie des Lacs Robidoux" (Robidoux Lakes Outfitter) at the Mont Joli Airport on July 2008.

Amongst all the outfitters that I had contacted, Gérard, from the Robidoux Lakes Outfitting, offered us the most interesting and whorthwile package. Moreover, he answered in a very nice and friendly way my exhaustive list of questions regarding fishing equipment, flies, permits, travelling alternatives, and fishing pools, whether by Email or telephone. After that, he planned carefully every detail of our trip, in order for us to enjoy 9 days of carefree salmon fishing on the wonderful Bonaventure, Grand Cascapedia and Petit Cascapedia rivers. As a result, we had nothing else to worry about than to cast with our Spey Rods and to fully concentrate on the fishing. What else could a fisherman dream of?

We flew first from Munich to Montreal, and then boarded a flight to Mont Joli Airport where Gérard was waiting for us. After a three-hour trip along one of the nicest salmon rivers in the Gaspé Peninsula – where you find a total of 115 salmon rivers –, we arrived to the Camp Pourvoirie des Lacs Robidoux only to be greeted by the outstandingly friendly personnel, among which is Jacky, who works with Gérard, happens to be an experienced fisherman and hunter, and has traveled a lot.

The lodge is located at the beautiful Robidoux Lake, where local chars and trouts are found, and which is, in Canadian terms, very close to the Bonaventure River and some 30 km from the next town named after it. Here, you may rest assured that the sunsets come with jumping fish and active great northern divers. These views make such a trip really unforgettable, as well as the superb cuisine at the lodge. Incidentally, one of our compliments regarding how delicious the Boeuf Bourgnignon was resulted in an promise to have our bycatch – sea chars – prepared in an especially delicious way by the chef the next night. The accommmodation in the lodge is functional and fulfills all wishes a fisherman may secretly carry in his heart; you may also rent a cottage and have your meals in the lodge. After the sunset, my friend Peter and I were attentively tying the promising flies that Gérard suggested to use the next day, sitting under the light of a gas lamp and sipping a good drink, hoping that all of that would enrich our knowledge and make us master the art of salmon fishing.

Gérard was most devoted to our service. He was always there to give us a wise advice and explain to us the paths for wading, the pools and in particular, the ideal places from where to cast. He was expertly checking if there were salmons in the pools not only by surveying the action above the water line, but mostly by observing the action under the water line with a Lookido (?). But one thing in particular that I will never forget is the way Gérard was handling the fish that we hooked, while only with such a guide who expertly practices Catch and Release could we develop a passion for salmon flyfishing and carry on our fishing experiences.

I managed to strike my first salmon the first day of our trip on the Bonaventure river. It was weighing, according to Gérard, around 7 or 8 kg, and was the sign of a promising fishing on the magnificent and cristal clear Bonaventure. Unfortunately, I lost him after I a have played him for 13 minutes. As Mortensen said in his DVD: "You got the take".

On the third day, I lost once more a bigger sample of the Salmo Salar species while trying to bring it out, when my reel whispered to me... "you got the Take"... and when I had one of Gérard’s recommended flies on my line.

I knew already that I would fish on the Cascapedia with such so called bombers, and Gérard gave us also some flies of his own creation to try out. One of them thrones now in my personal Hall of Fame, as it allowed me to strike a beautiful salmon close to the surface, as well as to experience a spectacular drill.

In the meantime, my friend Peter was practising speycasting, which was nice watching. He was busy until dark on the Bonaventure, and, as a result of his state of the art casting, he caught there a beautiful salmon that Gérard skillfully released.

On the last day, we reached the upper Bonaventure with the quad. On a trail too small for a car, we reached by foot wonderful pools, where the catching of a grilse rewarded us from these plangent last hours of our stay.

At night, the team from the Pourvoirie des Lacs Robidoux had prepared a very special surprise for us, but I will not tell you what it was, because I hope that you are as moved and overwhelmed as we were then....

To conclude, we must once more sincerely thank Gérard and the team from the Pourvoirie des Lacs Robidoux for these memorable wonderful days. Everybody there, but especially Gérard, has contributed to transform this trip into an unforgettable experience in life. We are convinced that anybody dreaming to live such an experience would choose to go to the Pourvoirie des Lacs Robidoux to have the opportunity, like we had, to discover with the help of the personnel of the Pourvoirie des Lacs Robidoux the wonderful Bonaventure, Grand Cascapedia and Petit Cascapedia Rivers, all three fishing paradises.

We will be back.

Andreas Fink & Peter Timm (Germany)