For fishing fanatics like Howard Johnson of Newport, there are few pleasures in life comparable to a week in the Quebec wilderness in pursuit of big pike and walleyes. Over the last 40 years He has fished all over Quebec and knows the difference between good fishing and great fishing.

As Howie puts it, "Today more than ever, you have to know where to go."

Quebec has a well-deserved reputation for exceptional fishing, with literally thousands of wilderness lakes and rivers, many of which seldom see a boat. This lack of fishing pressure means fish have an opportunity to grow old and big.

The best fishing is in the central part of the province with most destinations 10 hours or less from the Vermont border. For those familiar with the region, Lake Kipawa, Gouin Reservoir, Cabonga Reservoir, Lake Mistassini and others have been long recognized for wilderness fishing excitement. Today however, lesser-known bodies of water both large and small often offer equal or better opportunities for trophy walleye and northern pike. There is a consensus among local fishermen like Eric Ristau of Williamstown who ventures north with a bunch of his fishing buddies annually, "You will not find the same quality of fishing everywhere, as many of the province's better known and more accessible lakes had, in the past, been subject to over-fishing."

The problem stems from a quantity based fishing mentality. Historically Quebec fishermen who came home from a walleye/pike expedition without a couple of cooler's worth of fish were labeled "unsuccessful". As a result many of the province's best lakes were fished without concern for the impact on fish populations and of course, the biggest catches were nearly always brought back for the wall. This situation has been reversed over the last decade as outfitters with the help of the Quebec government have set limits and standards for maintaining healthy fish populations.

The key therefore is to choose destinations that are so remote that their populations of mature fish are naturally balanced or to hook up with an outfitter who has a history of monitoring the quantity and quality of fish being taken by his clients.
Does this mean that the only good fishing is at the more expensive fly-in operations? No, although lakes accessible only by float plane usually have great fishing, there are many quality drive-to outfits that do as well.

When planning a fishing vacation there are several key factors that will ultimately determine your opportunities for heavy bellied walleye and monster northern pike. Outfitter selection and location, as always, is a priority. Camps and lodges accessible by car (as opposed to float plane) are going to be less expensive but at these destinations timing is everything. The best fishing is going to be early in the season; end of May into the first two weeks of June, or late in the season; after mid August. The cooler water temps in combination with spawning habits and baitfish availability are important elements impacting an angler's success. During these more productive times big pike are in the weed beds and walleye hover around bottom structure. Mid-summer's warmer temperatures drive fish deeper and constrict feeding activity. Outfitter's whose camps are only accessible by plane often provide fish in good numbers and size throughout the summer because of population density-more fish.

An obvious criterion for selecting a destination is cost. Most outfits offer a variety of packages and will often customize trips around your preferences. Going American plan with your accommodations, meals and guide services included is ultimately more convenient with prices ranging from $550 to $1100 at drive-to locations and $1000 to $1500 for camps where plane access is required. But for both Howie and Eric who generally choose the more remote outfits, costs are minimized by going European plan and bringing their own food and essentials. In fact, whether your ultimate destination is accessed by car or plane, the outpost camp option is considerably less money, starting around $350 per person, per week. This is a particularly attractive choice for fishing families where food planning is part of daily life anyway and many outfits have special family pricing including a clean camp with sleeping quarters for 4 to 6 people and a fully equipped kitchen. Virtually all packages include boat, motor and gas for every three anglers.

At either fly-in or drive-to lakes your odds can be improved by hiring a guide who can teach you time tested methods for taking big fish under a variety of climate and water conditions. Most importantly, you will receive instruction specific to the body of water you will be fishing for the week. Although prices vary, guide service is typically available for around $100 per day.

A week in the Quebec wilderness with stringers full of big fish and walleye shore lunches is an affordable and fun vacation for the addicted angler. It's close, and there is lots of really great fishing as long as you know where to go.