Welcome
Salmon Sisters!
The proper clothing and equipment is an essential ingredient for a successful trip. The Salmon Sisters List is below and will make your adventure much more enjoyable. If you have any questions about what to bring, please contact Barbara any time.
Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula summer temperatures may vary from 18-30 Celsius, with June and September being the cooler months. Water temperatures vary from 10 to 15 Celsius. There aren’t many rainy days but a few showers and thunderstorms occur from time to time. It’s always best to be prepared.
1. Considerations
Given that you will be generally outdoors for seven days means potential lengthy exposure to:
WEATHER
• sun | July is a pretty sunny month
• rain | it can still rain in July
• wind | Bonaventure area is not particularly windy but it can get windy
• hooks | bad casters or wind can cause flies to hit you in the head
INSECTS
• Camp Bonaventure area normally has some insects (eg. mosquitoes)
• Bonaventure River area normally has few insects
• Petite Cascapédia River area normally has few insects
• Grande Cascapédia River area normally has MANY insects
• if you’re with me (Barbara), you’ll never get bitten because the mosquitoes eat ME!
2. Recommended Protections
• polarized sunglasses | OBLIGATORY | (see details #4 below) It's worth bringing a spare pair of polarized sunglasses and a spare pair of prescription glasses if you wear them.
• sunscreen | OBLIGATORY | 30 SPF or above recommended
• whatever you choose to wear all over your face, I also recommend something like the Shiseido SPF 50 sun stick, which is very portable and great for layering on top of other sunscreens for the nose, ears, etc. It’s clear with a light citrus scent.
• hat: OBLIGATORY (see details #3 below)
• wide-brimmed hat: strongly recommended (a chin strap for your hat is often a good idea. Tilley Hats are great because they’re also waterproof and float.
• 'sun gloves' recommended; Dan uses them. They are fingerless gloves that protect your hands from UV rays.
• Fishing gloves or weightlifting or biking gloves — recommended by Barbara — I like wearing gloves with some grip on the palm to protect my hands and give me a tighter grip on my rod. It’s also good to have your index and middle finger covered when you are “stripping” the line, otherwise, the line can really cut your fingers. So look for 3/4 length fingers.
• It’s hard to find Small and Extra-Small gloves in stores. Here’s a link to some fun ones: UPF 50+ Women’s Fishing Gloves UV Sun Protection Fingerless Gloves
• I have extra fishing gloves if people want to borrow them
• insect repellent is recommended; use carefully and sparingly. Applying it to the inner brim of your hat keeps bugs away from your face but doesn’t get in the river. My favourite is Watkins. We usually get a sample of the cream at the lodge, but I find the spray more practical. Their DEET-free spray is really effective!).
• whistle: recommended while in nature
• bug hat optional
• small first aid kit: optional
• waterproof bandages in case you get hooked or you cut your hand with the line — I swear by NEXCARE.
3. *Hat - VERY IMPORTANT
• many people wear baseball caps while fly fishing. These offer limited protection against sun, wind, and flies (not the bug kind, the kind with hooks in them)
• it's better to bring a WIDE-BRIMMED hat
• I love my “Lawrence of Arabia” style hat — wide brim in front, sides, and back covered — something like this: Snap Brim Cap With Ear and Neck Flap Hat. It’s dorky but it protects you from flies and also keeps the sun off your neck and ears.
4. Polarized Sunglasses | VERY IMPORTANT
• sunglasses protect your eyes from flies & other hazards (UVA, UVB, wind, etc.)
• polarized sunglasses reduce glare and help you see fish in the river!
• if you have non-polarized sunglasses, you won't see the salmon and you may feel like a doofus (but don’t feel bad if you don’t see salmon — it takes experience to distinguish them from rocks!)
• please bring a backup pair of polarized sunglasses
• floating strap for glasses (in case they fall in the river)
5. Clothing - Fishing
• we will provide a fishing shirt, matching buff, cap, and flask (for “christening” the river each morning, and to celebrate when someone catches a fish).
• waterproof jacket. I recommend GoreTex and recommend getting one with a hood in case of rain. Shorter is better so it doesn’t get waterlogged when you’re wading.
• light, full-length microfibre shirts
• light, convertible pants (legs zip off so pants become shorts). You may wear these under your waders
• lightweight long johns. Some people like wearing them under their waders. Silk is a great weight for this time of year
• slim-fitting yoga pants are also nice under waders
• I love my Lululemon bike shorts for under waders
• light, warm socks (SmartWool is very good). Please bring at least one pair for each day, and always have a spare in your day pack
• sneakers, hiking shoes, or light hiking boots
• at least one pair of heavier wool socks in case your fishing boots are a bit too big (more later)
• If it’s super hot, I like to “wet wade,” meaning I wear fishing boots and socks, but wade in with quick-dry clothing. I bring a towel and a change of clothes to leave in the guide’s car, but sometimes a few minutes on shore will dry everything except the socks
• Water shoes if you have room
• FLIP FLOPS ARE NECESSARY FOR THE SPA. THEY DON’T PROVIDE THEM
• CAN’T HURT TO HAVE A BATHING SUIT
6. Clothing | Around Camp
• t-shirts, lightweight sweaters, or shirts
• shorts, skorts, or pants
• hoody (lightweight fleece) for cool evenings
• earplugs (in case your rooming buddy snores loudly)
• eyeshades — the sun rises before 5 a.m.
• we usually try to have one dinner where we dress in Sens gear, so bring a Sens t-shirt or whatever you have.
7. Technology
• phone or camera
• small binoculars: fun to have
• small knapsack or waterproof bag: recommended. You can buy them once you’re there
• I have a knapsack for extra clothes, socks, etc., which I leave in the guide’s car or sometimes take on the boat if we’re going to be out all day, and a small sling pack for the essentials. Your waders will have a chest pocket ~ great for sunscreen, lip balm, etc.
8. To Be Supplied To You During Trip
• We will supply you with flies, rod, reel, line, waders, wading boots, etc.
• All the rooms have hair dryers.
• As mentioned above, you will get one fishing shirt, cap (for fun purposes only — not for fishing!), buff, hoody, and flask.
• We will have gear for all the rookies, including boots. However, please bring an extra pair of HEAVY socks in case your boots are a bit big — the size matches won’t be perfect, but an extra pair of socks should make them comfy. You don’t do a lot of walking in the boots. Salmon Lodge bought a whole new line of ladies’ boots a couple of years ago, so good chance of getting the right fit.
9. Snacks | Miscellaneous
• every province has different rules for medications. Last time I was there, Voltaren was NOT offered on the shelves — you had to open a file at the store to buy it. Ditto 60 mg Sudafed, which I take for my allergies. There is a big pharmacy in New Richmond and we’ll pass one on the way from the airport, but best to bring the drugs you take regularly.
• they have things like granola bars, but if you have a particular kind of energy bar or other snacks that might not be easy to find in the Gaspé, please bring it along
• the Lodge supplies wine with dinner, as well as soft drinks and mixes, but guests have to provide any other alcohol. I usually do a liquor store run on the first day, so I will take orders!
• the Lodge is no longer automatically supplying wine at lunch, but you can ask for a bottle or half-bottle the day before or first thing in the morning. Just be sure there is also a corkscrew. Remind me to tell you of the corkscrew guide Mario improvised on
one trip!
• they do pack individual bottled water in the lunches, but I like having my own S’well bottle as well.
• waterproof band-aids in case your fingers do get cut by a line or a hook. I swear by NEXCARE.
• There are laundry facilities at the lodge, so you don’t need to bring seven days’ worth of anything unless you’re me.
• You will be fishing for up to six days (you can take a day or half-day off if it gets overwhelming).
• Ottawa Sens gear is strongly recommended. We will have a Sens night!
Outdoor Gear Retailers
Sexton & Sexton | www.sextonandsexton.com
The best store for fishing gear and outdoor clothing! Make this your first stop before you go to one of the bigger stores.
Rheal Petre Sports | www.boutiquerps.com
A big sporting goods store.
Sports Experts | www.sportsexperts.ca
Another big sporting goods store. They sometimes have great clothing sales in July.
Miscellaneous Recommendations
Shiseido SPF 50 sun stick Very portable and great for layering on top of other sunscreens for nose, ears, etc.
UPF 50+ Women’s Fishing Gloves UV Sun Protection Fingerless Gloves Protect hands and give a tighter grip on your rod
Snap Brim Cap With Ear and Neck Flap Hat
Protects you from flies and also keeps the sun off your neck and ears.