MONTREAL, QUEBEC
Just imagine
the fishing potential. Essentially an island at the confluence
of the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Rivers, Montreal is surrounded
by water: Lac des Deux Montagnes, Lac St-Louis, Rivière
des Prairies, Rivière des Mille Îles and, of course,
the mighty St. Lawrence itself. It should come as no surprise,
then, that Montreal is also surrounded by great fishing spots.
Indeed, within a 40-kilometre radius you can catch more than
100 different species of sportfish, including muskies, brown
and rainbow trout, bass, walleye, American shad, sturgeon and
carp. There are also numerous places where anglers can easily
cast from shore. Perhaps best of all, you can actually fish
in Montreal’s historic and picturesque Old Port during
the afternoon, then head for a delicious dinner only a few yards
from your honey hole.
48 Bout-de-l’Île and surrounding
islands
This area offers fabulous walleye fishing at the end of the
season, as well as great smallmouth action. Troll a bottom bouncer
with a Lindy Rig for ’eyes, or drag tubes for smallies.
 |
| Taking
trophies: a lunker largemouth bass hooked near the
Boucherville Islands |
| FISHING
FACT |
| American
shad arrive every year to spawn in the Rivière
des Prairies, from mid-May to mid-June. There’s
an artificial ramp that allows them to cross the
dam and continue on their way. |
| ANGLER
ATTRACTION |
| You
must take a day to visit Old Montreal, with all
its museums, the Notre-Dame Basilica, the Chapel,
the Bonsecours market, Place Jacques-Cartier and
Victoria Square. |
|
49 Pie-IX dam
Whether from a boat or from shore, have fun fighting American
shad in the springtime or walleye all season long. The shad
prefer Dart jigs or small spinners, while the walleye will hit
cranks.
50 Rivière des Prairies
During summer and fall, the section between the St-Vincent-de-Paul
Penitentiary and the Moulin rapids is a prime spot to troll
Super Shad Raps for muskies.
51 Cheval Blanc Rapids
The fast-moving water at the foot of these rapids offers great
smallmouth action in July and August. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits
and heavy tubes are the best lures.
52 Lalemant Rapids
Try spinnerbaits, Rattlin’ Rapalas or small spinners,
both above and below the rapids during summer for smallmouth
bass. In the spring, troll the upper section for walleye with
bottom bouncers and Lindy Rigs.
53 Vaudreuil Bay
You’ll find nice smallmouth here that love topwater
action. In the fall, troll in the deep channel for world-class
muskies.
54 Dowker Island area
This is a well-known tournament spot for smallies, from summer
until late fall. They’ll hit tubes, soft-plastic shad
baits and Senko-type lures along the drop-off.
55 Pointe-Claire
The rocky area near St-Joachim of Pointe-Claire Church is excellent
for summertime smallmouth. Cast white spinnerbaits, tube jigs
or topwaters. Or troll the nearby deep water with Rapalas for
walleye during the entire season.
56 Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club
Troll shad-patterned cranks along the breakwall in the springtime
for walleye, or jig the drop-offs using soft-plastic minnows
the rest of the season.
57 Lachine Pier
From a boat or the pier itself, this is a perfect place to catch
lots of walleye and bass. And in the fall, thousands of walleye
migrate here; use jigs tipped with soft-plastic grubs.
58 Lachine Rapids
The rapids offer fantastic opportunities from the shoreline
year-round for many popular species, including brown and rainbow
trout. Deep Down Husky Jerks and Hot Lips Express do the trick.
59 Montreal Harbour
In the eddies and calmer water along the concrete wall, the
walleye love jigs tipped with brightly coloured soft-plastic
minnows or leeches. The Cast Container Terminal area, in particular,
is excellent during winter and spring.
60 Pointe du Havre
Catch lots of walleye during the entire season with a Jigging
Rap or grub-tipped jig; concentrate on the slack water. This
is also a great spot for sturgeon.
61 Ste. Helen’s Island
Try Jigging Raps or jigs tipped with chartreuse grubs along
the eddies on the island’s west side for walleye. Or fish
the big flat at the point of the island in the fall with tubes
for large smallmouth bass.
62 Boucherville Islands
In the bays and channels surrounding the islands, catch pike
(try spoons), walleye (use cranks), smallmouth (toss tubes)
and largemouth (cast spinnerbaits). It’s a great spot
all season. |
