Matapédia River

The Matapédia runs out of Lac Matapédia at Amqui and down its valley to meet the Restigouche at the village of Matapédia. The salmon water is about 65 km, from Causapscal down, and Route 132 follows it the whole way, so few Quebec salmon rivers are easier to reach. The FQSA counts 104 pools in four sectors. Three are public, and Glen Emma (sector 2) is restricted: its rods go in the November 1 draw. Most pools are deep and slow, and most fishing is wading, though a canoe helps in spring water.

Its run is early, in late May and early June, and the fish are big: the FQSA puts the run at 3,000 to 5,000 salmon a year, with fish over 18 kg taken. Every salmon goes back in 2026, two a day at most. Read the gauge above the Assemetquagan: salmon move on a rise and settle as the river drops back. The station at Amqui reads the lake outlet, not the salmon water, so it is not used here.