Québec water, by name

St. Lawrence River

The biggest water we fish and the most varied: smallmouth and largemouth bass, pike, walleye and carp, often minutes from home. The weed beds and shallow flats of the slower stretches fish very well on a fly.

Châteauguay River

A Montérégie river rising in New York State before emptying into Lac Saint-Louis. Warmwater along most of its length: bass, pike and walleye.

Richelieu River

From Lake Champlain down to Sorel, a large, slow, fertile river. Smallmouth bass, pike, walleye and carp — and the Chambly rapids are their own kind of water.

Yamaska Nord River

Smaller and more intimate than the others, running through the Waterloo and Granby area. The upper reaches hold cooler water and trout.

Jacques-Cartier River

A fast, clear freestone river known for brook trout and the return of Atlantic salmon. The water is cold and well oxygenated: heavy nymphs earn their keep in spring, dries take over for the evening hatch in summer.

Nicolet River

Draining the Appalachians toward Lac Saint-Pierre. The upper branches are trout water; the lower river warms and gives up bass.

Matapédia River

One of Québec's great salmon rivers, famous for gin-clear water and long holding pools. Water that asks for careful presentation and flies tied to hold up.

Rivière Rouge

Further north and wilder, as well known for its whitewater as its fishing. Brown and brook trout in the cooler stretches, bass and walleye toward the mouth.

Rivière du Nord

The Laurentian river running through Saint-Jérôme and Prévost before joining the Ottawa. Trout in the cooler stretches, bass further down.

Sainte-Anne River

Deep pools separated by short rapids — a river that rewards covering water. The late-summer caddis hatches here are among the best in the region.