Sepaq Opens Day-Fishing Reservations in Quebec, Triggers Virtual Waiting Room and Lotteries for Popular Lakes
The Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (Sépaq; sepaq) has opened reservations for day fishing for summer 2026, with bookings starting Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 8: 00 am ET. The announcement covers nearly 500 lakes offered exclusively for one-day access across provincial parks and wildlife reserves.
Sepaq Opens Day-Fishing Bookings for Summer 2026
Day fishing will be available on roughly 500 lakes, allowing visitors to purchase a single-day access right to fish without booking a multi-day stay. The offering is aimed at those passing through the region as well as visitors planning short stays. The agency stresses that that a right of access will be required for participation.
How Reservations Will Work and Access Measures
Reservations open at set times for different parks and wildlife reserves, with time slots designed to spread attendance across the day. To ensure fair access to the most popular lakes and dates, a virtual waiting room will be reintroduced and random priority ranks will be distributed to users present at the opening of each reservation window. Customers are encouraged to create an online client profile in advance to speed the checkout process, and phone reservations will also be accepted through a toll-free number provided by the organization.
Popular Waters, Special Draws and Salmon Packages
Certain high-demand locations will be subject to special measures. A free draw for access to Lac au Sorcier in the Mastigouche wildlife reserve will run from February 27 to March 31, 2026 to allocate entry equitably. In addition, on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 9: 00 am ET reservations will open for salmon packages, stays at the Chalet du Littoral, and single-day salmon fishing in the Rivière-Madeleine sector of the Chic-Chocs wildlife reserve.
Examples of lakes highlighted for day fishing include Lac Loïs in Aiguebelle National Park and Lac à Jack in the Laurentides wildlife reserve, along with family-friendly waters such as Lac Duvivier and Lac Rapière. Lac au Sorcier is noted for its population of ouananiche, a species introduced there about 80 years ago, contributing to the lake’s popularity. The Rivière-Madeleine sector is described as a 42 km2 natural area within the municipality of Sainte-Madeleine-de-la-Rivière-Madeleine, featuring coastal shoreline, a salmon river and forested terrain.
Prospective anglers are advised to consult the published schedule and be online at the specified reservation times to select their preferred lakes and dates. The organization has framed the staged opening and queuing measures as ways to distribute visitor flow and provide a smoother booking experience.
Booking details, the timetable for park-specific reservation windows and instructions for participating in draws and priority queues were provided in the announcement and are intended to guide anglers through the summer 2026 reservation process.
