Fishing the

Petit-Saguenay River

From mountains to fjord

In brief

Petit-Saguenay River

The 77-kilometre Petit-Saguenay River rises at an altitude of 625 metres from a series of lakes in Réserve faunique des Laurentides. It flows eastward to the Sagard territory, then northward through the village of Petit-Saguenay, before finally emptying into the Saguenay Fjord. There, it forms a small cove partially enclosed by a jetty. In all, 13 of the 77 kilometers are open to salmon fishing, including one on the Rivière Portage, a tributary of the Petit-Saguenay.

In the 19th century, lumberman William Price, one of the fathers of the Saguenay, held the rights to fish for salmon in the Petit-Saguenay River. Subsequently, these rights passed into the hands of several other wealthy English-speaking Canadians and Americans, before being granted to clubs and associations. The territory is now established as a controlled harvesting zone, and the Association de la rivière Petit-Saguenay has been managing sport fishing since 1966.

The riverbed is made up of pebbles, gravel and sand, all of which color the water light brown. The current is brisk, with an average flow of 16 cubic meters per second. For salmon fishing, the river has 24 pools divided into three quota-access sectors and one non-quota-access sector (21 pools). The pools are generally easy to spot and less than 30 meters long. You'll have access to a range of accommodation options on a century-old site featuring heritage cottages, a yurt and a campground.

Services offered

  • Guide

  • Equipment rental

  • Camping

  • Cottage

  • Companion

Conditions

River manager

Association de la rivière Petit-Saguenay inc.

Lenght

13 kilometers open for fishnig

Type of fishing possible

Wading

Fishing season

June 1st to September 15

Sectors and pools

24 pools in 3 restricted draw sectors and 1 public sector

Daily catch limit per angler

https://www.quebec.ca/tourisme-et-loisirs/activites-sportives-et-de-plein-air/peche-sportive/

Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean

Carte - Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean

Access to the region

Route 175 is the main road link between Saguenay and Lac-Saint-Jean and the rest of Quebec. The region is also accessible by air, rail and sea.

Majestic scenery

Four salmon rivers, sometimes fast-moving, sometimes slow-flowing, run alongside the rugged mountains of the majestic Saguenay Fjord and through picturesque villages. These majestic waterways criss-cross valleys in the heart of breathtaking scenery and are easily accessible, as they are never far from towns and regional tourist destinations.

The water features ochre, red earth and brown reflections, and offers varied fishing conditions from river to river. Beginners can try their hand at wading in low-flow areas, ideal for an introductory fly fishing day. As for initiates and experienced anglers, they'll need a good dose of daring to tackle the salmon in sectors where the water is livelier.

Some of the region's rivers are renowned for anadromous brook trout fishing. Anglers will also appreciate Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean's wide range of tourist attractions, from accommodations and fine dining to activities such as marine mammal watching.

Image | Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean
Image | Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean
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