The Quebec 2006 Fish-In (part 1 of 4) By Chris Chin, Jonquiere, Quebec, Canada
Well, school has started up again. The nights are cooling
off and the juvenile sea run Brookies are starting to come
into the river. Lots of stuff is getting back to “normal.”
Jim and Deanna are back at it. The Board is back to its old
familiar color. Time to finally get down on “paper” highlights
of the Quebec 2006 Fish-In, (before I start forgetting too much
stuff).
I started bouncing the idea off Jim before Christmas in '05…
mostly in the Saturday evening weekend roundup in the Chat Room.
After the Christmas holidays, we started to get serious.
Initial interest was fairly good, but as with any plan,… even
the best intentions can get sidetracked by a myriad of events.
In the end, the only ones from the FAOL community who could make
it were Deanna, Jim as well as Faruk Ekich.
In the days before the Fish-In I changed apartments and the
Internet and Phone didn’t get hooked up in time. I sent a few
messages off to Deanna to nail down when and where we would
meet. On her first message back, she replies that they are
flying into OTTAWA! (over 10 hours from here). Panic.
A quick flurry of e-mails and we get it straightened out and
set up a meet at the same spot I meet all my out of town visitors.
So there I am, catching up in my Journals by the road side.
A rented car pulls in and honks. Jim and Deanna pile out…
severely jet lagged from a marathon week on getting the server
back up, setting up two weeks of articles, numerous flight
transfers, then the two and a half hour drive up from Quebec City.
Hand shakes and hugs. What else is there to do.
The next order of the day is to get out of town and find
some food for these two. We stop off at a diner at the
last village coming out of town. Jim and Deeget a first
glimpse of a Quebec speciality when I order up for myself
a Poutine. (French fries and fresh cheddar
cheese curds, smothered in gravy).
Snacking here, I soon realize just how dependant these two
are on COFFEE! The ever present travel mug seems bottomless.
From there it’s a 30 minute drive down the regional highway
before we drop down into the Ste-Marguerite River valley. We
stop at an observatory on Glass pool to spot some salmon and
chat. A brief shower chases us into the picnic shelter where
we continue to chat.
As we’re going over some details and just plain having a ball,
finally meeting after exchanging mail etc for the past two
years, the Head Warden pulls up to his camp. Yvon Marie Gauthier
has been on the river for the past several decades (37 years
I think). He comes over to say hello and introductions are
exchanged.
Yvon and I step over to his truck as I have some supplies for
him. As we are catching up on reports, Deanna steps out of
the picnic shelter and wanders back onto the observatory.
Yvon: “Just who are those two anyway?”
Me: “Oh…just some friends from Washington…they run a Web
site on fly fishing and used to teach 'n Guide a bit. Why ?”
Yvon: “Well, they are a real class act. When she came out of
the shelter, she stopped and picked up a cigarette butt off
of the ground. It wasn’t even hers.”
Me: “Yeah,…I know that.”
(So one just never knows who’s watching huh…We are
all ambassadors for our sport.)
Back on the observatory, we decide that these two need rest
so we move off to the #38 (Bardsville) on the way downstream
towards their lodging.
As on most Atlantic Salmon rivers in Quebec, one needs to
procure a salmon license as well as daily rod fees. At the
River Association office there at the #38, we get things
all lined up. We shove off to hit one last observatory before
settling these two road warriors for the night.
At the #23 pool (Alan’s Arm), we meet a couple anglers who
will be fishing the next day too in another zone. There is
a lone angler fishing in the pool. We help her with her drift,
lengthening and lightening her tippet too. No luck,…the salmon
just don’t want to cooperate. As we’ll be fishing in this same
zone tomorrow, I decide that Deanna and Jim are too tired to
“tour the property” this evening.
A quick 10 minute drive and we’re checking them into the “Farm.”
The 5 Star Farm (Ferme 5 étoile) is a fairly nice set up. I’ve
never stayed there personally, so I’ll let Deanna and Jim give
their comments if they wish.
I do credit Deanna for her self control. There is an Internet
access station right there in the lobby of the motel reception.
I believe she didn’t even move towards it.
It’s nearly 21h00 so supper is in order and we dine at the Farm
(to not take the car again today). Over supper, we discuss
strategy for the week and decide to take things pretty mellow.
Jim and Deanna (me too) have had quite a summer. In July, when
I figured out that they were the only ones who could make it
for the Fish-In, I was a bit relieved. This would be an excellent
opportunity for them to relax on an almost real vacation before
the big Michigan Fish-In.
After supper, back in their room, I left them some coffee and
filters for the next day. We chatted for quite a while. Set up
a meet for the next day around 9 o’clock. I promised them that
the coffee would be ready.
I drove back up to the #23 where I would “borrow” the prospector’s
tent for the night.
Delighted at finally meeting these two and praying that the
salmon and trout would cooperate this week…I finally nodded
off around 01h30.
Tomorrow is another day. ~ Chris Chin, Jonquiere Quebec
About Chris:
Chris Chin is originally from Kamloops,
British Columbia. He has been fly fishing
on and off ever since he was 10 years old.
Chris became serious about the sport within
the last 10 years.
“I’m a forest engineer by day and part time
guide on the Ste-Marguerite River here in
central Quebec. I’ve been fishing this river
for about 10 years now and started guiding
about 5 years ago when the local guide’s
association sort of stopped functioning.”
Chris guides mostly for sea run brook trout
and about 30% of the time for Atlantic Salmon.
“I often don’t even charge service fees, as
I’m more interested in promoting the river
than making cash. I like to get new comers
to realize that salmon fishing is REALLY for
anyone who cares to try it. Tradition around
here makes some of the old clan see Salmon
fishing as a sport for the rich. Today our
shore lunches are less on the cucumber sandwich
side and more toward chicken pot pie and Jack
Daniel’s.”
Chris is 42 years old as of this writing. He
is of Chinese origin although his parents were
born and raised in Jamaica. He has a girlfriend,
René. “She and her 12 year old son Vincent
started fly fishing with me in October 2002.”
To learn more about the Ste-Marguerite River,
visit Christopher’s [image no longer available] https://pages.videotron.com/fcch/.
The Quebec 2006 Fish-In (part 2 of 4) By Chris Chin, Jonquiere, Quebec, Canada
I always (usually) wake up a few minutes before the
alarm clock goes off. This morning is no exception.
It’s 05h30,…Day 2 of the Quebec FishIn. I’m pretty
excited.
Actually, as only Jim and Deanna could make it, we
have decided to make this a more of a vacation. We
have all had a pretty hectic summer so far, so a week
off for chatting and fishing is well deserved rest.
After a marathon week of preparations and a flight
itinerary from hell,…Jim and Deanna are due for
breakfast only at 09h00. Fine by me,…gives me some
time to fish.
I gather up my stuff and peek my head out of the tent.
Good, the weather will hold. The water is low and clear.
I decide to try for some trout in the #23 (Alan’s Arm).
A few casts of a white hybrid between a woolly and a
worm and small trout are chasing the offering. A 10
inch trout takes the fly and dives for cover. I strip
it in quickly and release it. As I’m trying to untangle
the line from the reel seat extension, I look down at
my feet, the trout has taken the fly again! This time
badly. Oh well, Jim and Deanna will just have to have
some trout with their breakfast.
Back up at the camp, I prepare coffee, clean the trout,
get the bacon crisped (and change the front rear tire
on the truck which is almost flat).
At 08h56, Jim and Deanna pull in. Laughing, I explain
that breakfast isn’t quite ready, because they’re 4
minutes early.
Over coffee, French toast, some trout and bacon, we chat
and go over the game plan for the day. While I quickly
clean up the dishes, Jim and Deanna start laying out rods.
It is amazing how well organized their bags are. There are
many rods in the travel bag. Even more have been sent on
forward to Michigan for the following week.
Jim shows me a few “tricks” for teaching people how to cast.
The first of MANY pointers I will learn this week. I also
see for the first time “the Broom.”
As there are already a couple of anglers in the #23, we move
upstream to the #28 (The Spruce). The water level is low. Jim
and Deanna don’t even need to suit up.
We try for salmon, then for trout, no cooperation from the
fish. We decide to move up to the #38 so I can show them
the Bardsville site and a few more pools. Jim can also show
me some more “tricks”. Deanna shows me why my double haul
is not really effective (after over 30 years of doing it
wrong!)
As we’re casting to some holding lies out behind the
old cottages, we hear a calm stranger hail, “Hello Deanna”…
Faruk Ekich has come over to visit. We chat a while with
Faruk on the beach then decide to return to the #23 for
lunch and continue our chat with Faruk there.
A fascinating person, we (actually, I just listen, ABSORBING
information) exchange ideas on topics ranging from C&R in a
blood sport, to tube flies, to graphite blank mandrills to
double haul techniques. Oh oh,…Double hauling,…out comes
the Broom. We all give it a try. A pretty weird experience,
but it does get the point across. We dry land cast a Gatti
too. Surprising rod. I guess I’m just too over anxious though
to really appreciate it.
Faruk bids us good day after promising to arrange a day on the
salt Friday for Deanna and Jim (I have clients booked). Heading
downstream, the Birkholms and I move into the #8 (Little Rock)
to try our luck.
The air is cooling off and we end the day there. We continue
our way downstream and back to their lodging. Supper in the
village and another several hours of discussions in the hotel
room.
We agree to meet at 09h00 the following day up at the #38.
We’ll probably fish in the #4 Zone tomorrow, seriously
looking for salmon. I head back to the #23 to bed down
around 00h30. ~ Chris Chin, Jonquiere Quebec
About Chris:
Chris Chin is originally from Kamloops,
British Columbia. He has been fly fishing
on and off ever since he was 10 years old.
Chris became serious about the sport within
the last 10 years.
“I’m a forest engineer by day and part time
guide on the Ste-Marguerite River here in
central Quebec. I’ve been fishing this river
for about 10 years now and started guiding
about 5 years ago when the local guide’s
association sort of stopped functioning.”
Chris guides mostly for sea run brook trout
and about 30% of the time for Atlantic Salmon.
“I often don’t even charge service fees, as
I’m more interested in promoting the river
than making cash. I like to get new comers
to realize that salmon fishing is REALLY for
anyone who cares to try it. Tradition around
here makes some of the old clan see Salmon
fishing as a sport for the rich. Today our
shore lunches are less on the cucumber sandwich
side and more toward chicken pot pie and Jack
Daniel’s.”
Chris is 42 years old as of this writing. He
is of Chinese origin although his parents were
born and raised in Jamaica. He has a girlfriend,
René. “She and her 12 year old son Vincent
started fly fishing with me in October 2002.”
To learn more about the Ste-Marguerite River,
visit Christopher’s [image no longer available] https://pages.videotron.com/fcch/.
Originally published September 4th, 2006 on Fly Anglers Online by Chris Chin. Combined from 2 parts.