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Cabin #15 - Saraana West Bay, Gouin Réservoir

Gouin Réservoir, Quebec — Near Clova, Quebec

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Max Guests 8

Access fly-in

Pricing $$

About This Outpost

Cabin #15 sits in the Saraana West Bay sector of the vast Gouin Réservoir, one of five remote outpost areas Air Tamarac operates on this legendary Quebec water. Access is strictly by floatplane, a short 15-minute hop from the outfitter's Clova base or a longer 60-minute flight from Ste-Anne-du-Lac, dropping anglers into a world of isolated bays and channels far from any road. Because no more than two cabins are ever grouped together, and many stand entirely alone, guests enjoy true seclusion and quick access to some of the most productive walleye and trophy pike water in the province. Gouin Reservoir is renowned for its explosive walleye action and its reputation as pike country, earning the nickname 'freshwater shark' territory for the size of the northerns caught here. The reservoir's varied structure and depths keep walleye biting throughout the open-water season, while the biggest pike are best targeted early and late in the season when the trophy fish move shallow. Anglers fish under Community Wildlife Area regulations, with an 8 walleye and 10 pike daily limit and a protected slot for walleye, and catch-and-release is strongly encouraged and practiced by most groups given the abundance of fish. The cabins across the Gouin sectors range from two-person outposts with a single closed bedroom up to larger eight-person units with three closed bedrooms; showers are either fully indoor or in an adjacent cubicle depending on the cabin. Every cabin comes fully equipped with a kitchen (dishes, pots and pans), propane lighting, stove, refrigerator (two fridges in the larger cabins) and freezer, a wood stove for heat, running water and hot showers, an outdoor dry (outhouse) toilet, a picnic table and campfire area, and a screened, lit fish house with running water for cleaning your catch. Turnover days vary by cabin (Friday, Saturday or Sunday) to stagger arrivals across the property. Each cabin is supplied with a Princecraft Yukon 15 aluminum boat powered by a brand-new Mercury 15 hp four-stroke outboard with electric start, making the nearby fishing grounds easy to reach; groups of three share one boat, and a second boat can be rented for $40 per day. The package is European plan style, meaning guests bring their own food, drinking water and personal gear, though Air Tamarac will pre-deliver beer and drinking water to the cabin to help keep travelers under the 110-lb per-person floatplane luggage limit. Trip lengths of 3, 4, 5 or 7 days are available, with unlimited boat fuel, a marked topographic fishing map, satellite emergency communication and personalized pilot orientation all included in the price.

Accommodations

Lodging Type

Cabin

Max Guests

Bedrooms

Amenities

Electricity: No

Running Water: Yes

Hot Water: Yes

Drinking Water: No

Shower: Yes

Sink: Yes

Toilet: outhouse

Heat: Yes - wood stove

A/C: No

Cell: No

Satellite communication available for emergencies

Dock

Fish Freezer

Other: BBQ, propane gas lighting, propane stove and refrigerator/freezer (two fridges in larger cabins), fully equipped kitchen with dishes pots and pans, picnic table, campfire area, mattresses, screened and illuminated fish house with running water

Fish Species

walleye pike

Boats & Equipment

Boats Included

Boat Length

15 ft

Boat Brand

Princecraft Yukon 15

Motor

15 hp 4-stroke

Motor Start

electric

Motor Brand

Mercury

Gas Included

Yes

Lake Information

A vast, remote reservoir in western Quebec known for abundant walleye and trophy pike, with varied depths and structure that hold fish throughout the season; part of the Aire faunique communautaire du Réservoir Gouin, a managed Community Wildlife Area.

Lake Name

Gouin Réservoir

Province

Quebec, Mauricie, Quebec

Fishing Pressure

Low - remote sectors with no more than two cabins together and some fully isolated

Meals & Services

BYOB / Alcohol

Yes

Guide Service

not available

Reviews & Reputation

4.0

Based on 1 review from across the web

Review Highlights

Guests rate Air Tamarac very highly. Nearly all reviews are 4 or 5 stars, and many come from repeat customers. One reviewer has made four trips since 2014, another cites 30 years of fly-in experience, and several say they plan to return. Reviewers describe it as a professional, well-run operation, with one calling it a "well oiled machine" and another saying the staff works "like a family."

The most consistent praise goes to the pilots. Guests call them extraordinary, very skilled and professional, with smooth takeoffs and landings. Guests also like the friendly, helpful staff and dock crew, and they single out several individuals by name, including the pilot Robin, the owners Louis and Charlotte, and the camp caretakers at Lac Hébert. Guests describe the cabins as comfortable, well equipped and kept to a high standard. One guest reports running water, a shower, a propane stove, a fridge/freezer, a wood stove and new motors on the boats. Another reviewer found the pricing affordable for what is included. Reviewers also mention the scenery and the vastness of the territories, along with good fishing on the Gouin (Mattawa Bay and the cabin 41 area) and at Lake Sauterelle. One four-man trip to Lake Charlotte produced 20-inch walleye and a 39-inch pike despite cold, rainy weather and late ice-out. That group said everything promised was delivered. Reviewers also called the Clova hotel clean and comfortable and its restaurant food excellent.

Complaints are few and mostly about fishing results rather than service. One repeat guest found fishing at Lake Angela below average for such a northern lake and would not return there, though he suspected a bad week and still recommends the Gouin and Sauterelle. Another guest called their fishing "so so" but said this was unrelated to the outfitter. One reviewer found the gravel road from Parent to Clova rough. Fishing quality varies by lake and by week, so the choice of territory and the timing of the season, especially ice-out, may matter. This outfit suits groups of friends or family, first-time and experienced fly-in anglers, and guests who want a dependable, well-organized trip with comfortable cabins, good pilots and reasonable prices.

Read all 1 review

trapperbob Jan 25, 2012

Forum

plamondon bay fishing

I have fished that area of gouin twice in the past 3 years. The last time was out of cabin 41 thru air tamarc. Usually there is 3 of us, my son, and brother in law. There are several fine fishing spots all within a couple of miles of the camp.

This lodge

View on Forum Forum thread

What's Included

Included

Round-trip seaplane transport from Clova, fully equipped cabin, 1 boat for 2 anglers (groups of 3 share one boat), unlimited fuel, topographic map with marked fishing spots, satellite communication for emergencies, personalized service

Not Included

Food, drinking water, personal belongings, fishing equipment and bait, boat seats/life jackets/fishing nets, fishing license, Gouin fishing permit, second boat rental ($40/day)