No man is an island. Montreal, however, is, which means that one of the great, gentlemanly summer pastimes – going fishing – is within reach. Beginners and expert anglers alike will find something to satisfy them, all within about an hour of town.
Lac Saint-Louis
Distance from McGill: 30 km
Lac St. Louis is home to pike, walleye and catfish. Find a quiet spot around sundown, and reel in some beauties. Quotas may be tight; catch-and-release is a popular tactic here. Boat rentals and bait are available at Lauzon Chasse et Pêche in nearby Île Perrot.
PIE-IX Bridge
Distance from McGill: 15 km
Serious local fishermen flock to the PIE-IX Bridge in late spring as American shad – a kind of large herring – spawn up the St. Lawrence River. The rest of the season, the area is rife with bass, sturgeon and other species. Fly-fishing is the technique of choice here.
Lac Saint-Pierre
Distance from McGill: 100 km
It’s worth the drive to Lac Saint-Pierre, an offshoot of the St. Lawrence River. Think wetlands, huge flocks of nesting herons (the largest in North America) and loads of juicy walleye. Check out Marc Thorpe Guiding Service for guided fishing trips.
Old Montreal
Distance from McGill: 5 km
No need for a boat here: Jaunt down to the harbour’s shoal and cast off for smallmouth bass at Pont de la Concorde, or walk over to the west point of Parc Jean Drapeau to get your walleye fix.
For gear and permits, visit a fishing shop like Salmo Nature or any Canadian Tire.
Image courtesy of wit on Flickr.
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