Lac Beauchene, Quebec fishing lodge, brook trout, smallmouth bass, walleye,

La Reserve Beauchene is truly a fisherman's paradise. With over 36 lakes spread out across more than 50,000 acres of untouched Canadian wilderness, your most difficult decision will probably be where to begin. With 6 major gamefish species to choose from, including Brook Trout, Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Walleye, Smallmouth Bass and Splake, and with Lake Whitefish and Yellow Perch as well, it is best to stay flexible. You will want to adapt to the types of fishing that are best at the time of your stay. Happily, there is always one or more of our species having its "turn in the sun".

The Reserve also offers specialized fishing opportunities for flyfishing enthusiasts, who have exclusive access to several smaller lakes containing Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike or Brook Trout. Of course, no matter how good the fishing is, you can bet that a little preparation will go a long way toward making your fishing trip more successful. So contained in these pages are few pointers that will help you plan for the treasures that Beauchene has to offer.

La Reserve has 17 brookie lakes, eight of which are for fly fishing only. The Brook Trout is certainly the most popular early season sportfish at Beauchene. Immediately after ice out, Brook Trout will be up shallow and can be taken casting or trolling in and adjacent to shoreline structure areas. As the season progresses and the waters begin reaching the high 60's to mid 70's (F) the Brook Trout begin moving deeper or suspending in open water. Because their attention has been directed to other species, relatively few anglers fish for Brook Trout during mid-summer, although they are still very catchable if you're willing to modify your presentation.

Our Smallmouth Bass are certainly one of the main attractions at Beauchene. As any seasoned Smallmouth Bass fisherman will agree, for their size (which on Beauchene, regularly tops 4 lbs and occasionally 7lbs), there are few other freshwater gamefish that can match their spectacular jumps and determined fight.

When it comes to reliability, the Lake Trout is without question the most reliable biting fish at the Reserve. Found in 6 of the Reserve's lakes, the deep cold waters of the larger lakes are ideal for Lake Trout and their primary forage, ie; Ciscoes, otherwise known as Lake Herring. It is not at all uncommon to see Lake Trout actually chasing Ciscoes on the surface, literally all over the lake, especially early in the morning when the water is calm. Beauchene's Lakers generally run between 3 and 7 lbs, but there are plenty of bigger trophies, the biggest which in the last year or two weighed in at 33 lbs.

Although few of our guests concentrate on them, Beauch�ne has a healthy population of Northern Pike in several of its lakes. Prime time for big fish is the spring when knowledgeable pike anglers will focus their attentions on the shallow back bays and mouths of tributary streams. These larger fish (some go well over 20 lbs.) move deeper in the summer months, but there is rarely any shortage of smaller 2 to 5 pounders hiding among the few shallow weedbeds and under fallen timber along the shoreline.

This Brook Trout male - Lake Trout female fertile hybrid has been introduced to several of our lakes with great success. Generally close to a Brookie in appearance, they add size faster than either parent. Splake combine the best fighting characteristics of both parents and are a spirited

- as well as tasty - quarry. They now reach over 30 inches in length and grow above 9 lbs in weight at Beauch�ne.

Of all of Beauchene's sportfish, the Walleye remains the most challenging to catch consistently. Although there are healthy populations that exist in several of the R�serve's lakes, the clear water and largely oligotrophic environments offer a suitable challenge for the angler bent on catching "old marble eyes".

Beauchene's large population of Lake White Fish is a virtually untapped but wonderful resource. Seldom especially targeted, they are almost always caught by accident. "What have I got?", is the immediate question generally asked after hooking into one of these dogged, surprisingly strong fighters. Running 3 to 6 lbs, only at boatside will you be able to say for sure "That's not a Walleye - it's not a Laker - it's not a Bass - it's a White Fish! Be sure to bring it in. Many say that it's the finest dinner fare, even better than Walleye or Trout!

When the nights turn cold, the hills break into colour and the loons raft up out on our big lakes, Beauchene's vastness is turned over to the hunter. Although white tailed deer are seen quite frequently, there is no open season, this now being prime moose, wolf and bear territory. Over the long term, deer and moose alternate in their predominance but right now the moose are the favourite quarry for our guests. The mixed hardwood and coniferous forests and the many beaver ponds and small marshes along some of the waterways provide excellent hunting terrain for these big animals.

The Main Lodge

Lac Beauch�ne, Quebec fishing lodge, brook trout, smallmouth bass, walleye,

This gracious columned southern colonial style Lodge on the shore of Lac Beauchene is the centre of our American Plan facilities. Its architectural style seems surprisingly but pleasingly out of place in the "bush" and gives away the origin of old "Club Beauchene" (a Kentucky distillery fortune).

The White House houses Beauchene's central diningroom-lounge with a large stone fireplace, has three triple bedrooms and two double bedrooms, each with a three-piece bathroom. It has an ice-maker and, like each of the other American Plan facilities, a refrigerator for our guests' beverages. Coffee, tea and snacks are always freely available.

Cabins

FOX and OTTER CABINS - These two connecting (but very private) log cabins, each with its own entrance, porch, well furnished sitting area, log burning stove, refrigerator and three-piece bathroom, are available separately for two to three persons each, or together for groups to six.

BEAR CABIN - This one-storey log cabin has two bedrooms, three-piece bathroom and a comfortable sitting room with log burning stove and bath. It is great for groups of four to six and is especially popular with families.

MOOSE CABIN - This handsome, well furnished, two-storey log cabin has three large bedrooms with a total of ten beds, and three full bathrooms. A granite fireplace centres a large open-concept living-dining area and the cabin includes a large fully equipped kitchen for snacks. Because it so comfortably accommodates groups of six to ten guests, Moose is especially popular with business groups and offers privacy, complete facilities and a comfortable setting for meetings.

BIRD CABINS - Each of our handsome, industry leading "Bird Cabins" offers absolutely deluxe accommodation accessible by automobile. Each is located on its own private waterfront with its own dock. Five of the cabins (Heron, Hawk, Kingfisher, Loon and Raven) each will accommodate a party of four. Each of these have two bedrooms, bathrooms, large livingroom/diningroom open area, log burning fireplace, fully equipped kitchen, large porch overlooking Lac Beauch�ne, gas barbecue and everything else that you need for an outstanding stay. Osprey and Owl cabins are similarly equipped and beautifully furnished but both have three bedrooms, two bathrooms, two sitting areas and two fireplaces. Guests staying at a Bird Cabin generally take their meals at the White House, a short walk, drive or boat trip away, although some prefer to arrange to do their own cooking.

La Reserve Beauchene
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