Fishing in Jacques-Cartier National Park

The Jacques-Cartier River carves through one of the most dramatic glacial valleys in the Laurentian Highlands, and the park built around it — 670 square kilometres of boreal forest and cold-water drainage about 30 minutes from Quebec City — protects the upper watershed where the fishing is coldest and cleanest.

Brook trout are the primary target inside the park. The Rivière Jacques-Cartier holds them, as do lakes and rivers in the L'Épaule, Jumeau, and Sautauriski sectors. Rivière Sautauriski is one of the named waters where brook trout fishing is available.

The river also holds young Atlantic salmon, but they must be returned alive — salmon fishing is prohibited in the park, and any incidental encounter is strictly catch-and-release. The park is divided into sectors, and access to fishing varies by sector.

A right of access for day fishing is required in addition to a Quebec fishing licence; both can be purchased at the park. Lac Cook, in the Vallée sector, is fly-fishing only.

That kind of gear restriction is worth checking before you pack — the park's rules can differ from the provincial baseline, and Sépaq posts current conditions and sector-specific regulations. Winter fishing is also available.

Ice fishing on park lakes runs through the colder months, and some outfitter-run operations within the park area offer guided sessions on frozen lakes, including the option to cook or take home your catch.

The cold, clear water in this valley isn't incidental — it's the reason the brook trout are here at all. Fish it accordingly.