text by Brad Fenson map by Robert Biron Have It All (part 8) PAPINEAU REGION, Quebec Land of green gold: Score some lunker largemouth bass Comprising the forest-studded Petite-Nation and Lievre Valleys, this region of Quebec is well known for its outdoor offerings. Indeed, more than 72 per cent of this 3,000-square-kilometre swath of Canadian Shield is nothing but forest, lakes and streams, earning it the nickname “Land of green gold.” And while Papineau is home to just 20,000 souls, it is well accustomed to meeting the needs of visiting families. Plus, the network of waterways is truly phenomenal. Home mainly to brook and lake trout, Papineau also offers up bass, carp, crappie, muskies, northern pike, perch, rainbow trout and walleye. Major draws are the Réserve faunique de Papineau-Labelle, a wildlife reserve with 773 lakes and rivers, and the 65,000-acre protected wilderness domain of Kenauk, which boasts more than 70 lakes. Just pick a direction and you’ll find the fish. THE HOT SPOTS ANGLING ADVICE 52 Lac-des-Îles (St-Émile-de-Suffolk): Brook, brown and rainbow trout 53 Lac Papineau (Kenauk): Largemouth and smallmouth bass 54 Ottawa River: Largemouth and smallmouth bass, muskie, walleye 55 Lac Simon: Lake trout, smallmouth bass 56 Lac Gagnon: Lake trout 57 Lac Du Club (Réserve faunique de Papineau-Labelle): Brook trout 58 Lac Montjoie (Réserve faunique de Papineau-Labelle): Lake and brook trout, landlocked salmon GETTING THERE By road (Highway 148), the south end of the Papineau region is less than 150 kilometres and 100 kilometres from the airports in Montreal and Ottawa, respectively. • Club Chevreuil Blanc, (819) 454-2313 • Club Pointe des Pins, (819) 454-1898 • Les Quatre Chênes, (819) 687-3588 • Paesler’s Camp, (819) 454-2422 • Pointe-des-pins, (819) 454-2625 • Pourvoirie R. Fortier, (819) 428-7777 • Pourvoirie Rivière La Lièvre, (819) 454-2473 BEYOND FISHING • Camping, canoeing, hiking, wildlife viewing: Réserve faunique de Papineau-Labelle, (819) 454-2011, ext. 33, www.sepaq.com • Golfing: Club de golf Du Chateau Montebello, (819) 423-4653; Club de golf l’Heritage (Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix), (819) 522-6622; Club de golf Montpellier (Montpellier), (819) 428-3994; Club de golf Thurso (Lochaber), (819) 985-2315; Golf du Lac Lévesque (Lac-des-Plages), (819) 426-2401; Golf Gapi (Ripon), (819) 983-2251; P’tit Golf de Montebello (Montebello), (819) 423-6060 • Spa: Château Les Beaulne (Montpellier), 1-888-428-2244 • Theatre: Théâtre d’été de la ferme LIPIAL (Ripon), (819) 983-6718; Théâtre d’été et Château Épi d’Or (Ripon), (819) 428-7120 • Museums: Manoir Papineau (Montebello), (819) 423-6965 • Whitewater rafting (Rouge River): New World Rafting, 1-800-361-5033; Mattawin Rafting, 1-800-815-7238 GOINGS ON • Musiquenaout Music Festival (Saint-André-Avellin): June 12 to 15 and 19 to 21, 1-877-983-3131 • Festival Western (Saint-André-Avellin): July 23 to 27, (819) 983-1426 • The Explorers Festival (Lac Simon), (819) 428-3906 LEARN MORE • Centre Local de Développement Papineau, 1-800-308-5491 • Petite-Nation Chamber of Commerce, (819) 427-6730 • Petite-Nation Tourism Office (Montebello), (819) 423-5602 • Tourisme Québec, 1-877-266-5687; 1 - HAINES JUNCTION, Yukon Territory 2 - BAMFIELD, B.C. 3 - KANANASKIS COUNTRY, Alberta 4 - LAST MOUNTAIN LAKE, Saskatchewan 5 - WHITESHELL PROVINCIAL PARK, Manitoba 6 - THUNDER BAY, Ontario 7 - LAKE NIPISSING, Ontario 8 - PAPINEAU REGION, Quebec 9 - ANNE'S LAND, P.E.I. 10 - WESTERN NEWFOUNDLAND