The units were prepped and waiting for us at “Moto Falardeau”, a Kawasaki dealer located in the area on Mont-Laurier (Québec). Once the 2017 Kawasaki Teryx4 LE and Bruteforce 750 SE were securely loaded on our rig, we were cursing the highway once again.

We finally arrived at Beauregard Lodge in late afternoon. Beauregard Lodge is located northeast of Mont-Laurier and approximately 3.5 hours from Montreal. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by Benoit Chevalier (Director of operations), who quickly had us settled into our accommodations.

We were lodged in a stunning lakeside rustic cottage, which was made up of 4 individual bedrooms, each with its own en-suite bathroom. The cottage was spacious and featured all the sought after amenities, including Wi-Fi. It was evident why Beauregard Lodge has a 5 star rating based on our cottage alone, which also offered a spectacular view of the lake.

Beauregard Lodge features 12 cottages that can accommodate 24-48 person(s) and it sits on an enormous playground of more than 140 square kilometres boasting more than 40 lakes. The Beauregard Lodge does offer the traditional outfitter type packages of hunting and fishing. Anglers can enjoy fishing for speckled trout, lake trout, Northern pike or walleye on various lakes while hunters, on the other hand, will appreciate the challenge of possibly harvesting a black bear on several baited sites that are spread across the vast territory of the Beauregard Lodge.

The Beauregard Lodge also offers the possibility of hosting corporate events and also family and social gatherings with a vast variety of activities. The Beauregard Lodge does, of course, welcome off-roaders with an overnight stay. The Beauregard Lodge offers a wide variety of activities and packages, something for everyone’s taste and budget. For more information on the Beauregard Lodge, we invite you to visit their website.

Once we unloaded our Kawasaki units and had our gear all stowed in our cottage, we meet up once again with Benoit. Over cocktails and a most gratifying meal, Benoit helped us with the logistics of the next few days. The main lodge and dinning room are also set in a rustic décor providing for a relaxing dinning experience. The food is excellently prepared by a gourmet chef; we knew that our taste buds would be in for a treat over the next few days.

The next day, we awoke to a chilly and severely overcast morning. It was evident that Mother Nature would not cooperate with us on this day. This type of weather conditions isn’t ideal for taking photos and shooting video, as the images captured seem lifeless and bland. Due to this, it was decided over breakfast that we would try our luck at some speckled trout fishing as we waited for the weather to improve.

We loaded our gear onto the 2017 Kawasaki Teryx4 LE and Bruteforce 750 SE and hit the trails for a short trail ride to a nearby lake that Benoit had recommended. Upon our arrival at the lake, we loaded our rods, tackle and gear on the boat equipped with an electric outboard engine that prepared for us by the Beauregard Lodge staff. We used a very basic line setup that consisted of a Lake Clear Wabbler with 18-inch leader/hook and worm as bait. There are countless setups used for trout fishing, however, this basic setup has always produced good results for me.

We spent the next few hours fishing and easily obtaining our quota of speckled trout. The trout were of nice size (10-12 inch) and very aggressive that morning, providing for some great fishing moments. For me, there is nothing better than killing a few hours fishing with some great friends in a tranquil almost picturesque setting.

Unfortunately, the weather had not improved and rain was now upon us. We decided to head back to the lodge for a quick lunch and plan the rest of our afternoon. After way too much food, we decided that the rest of the day would be spent riding the trails. We might not be able to produce footage, but we surely could get to know our units provided to us by Kawasaki Motors Canada.

Our 2017 Kawasaki Teryx4 LE was white and green in coloration (Metallic Stardust White) and the unit looked great with its aggressive styled frontend. Entering and exiting the unit is made easy with factory installed doors and the unit has ample room for 4 adults. The unit’s ergonomics are well designed and the instrument cluster provides all the information you need at a glance. The cargo bed area provided us with ample room to carry all the gear we needed for our expedition, plus additional storage was also available in the vehicle.

The unit is powered by a 783cc V-twin engine and boasts a sport suspension with Fox Podium 2.0 shocks. The Kawasaki Teryx4 LE sits on a set of 26” Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 tires mounted on 14” cast aluminum wheels and comes standard with EPS (Electric Power Steering). The 2017 Kawasaki Teryx4 is available in 3 models: base, LE and Camo.

The private trails surrounding the Beauregard Lodge consist mostly of hard packed surfaces, lose rock and narrow wooded passages. The 2017 Kawasaki Teryx4 LE easily navigated this type of terrain due to its responsive 783cc V-twin engine and the cruising comfort provided by the Fox Podium 2.0 shocks. The narrow tight wooden passages were easily crossed, thanks to precise steering provided by the EPS. The few trail obstacles we did face were effortlessly conquered by the Kawasaki Teryx4 LE due to the 11.2” of ground clearance.

We will be doing an in-depth review of the 2017 Kawasaki Teryx4 LE in our next issue of UTV Planet Magazine. However, what is important to note for now is that the 2017 Kawasaki Teryx4 LE is a pure pleasure to drive and it easily got us and our gear to where we needed to go, all in comfort and style.

After a long wet day out on the trails, we made our way back to our cottage for a much needed shower! We regrouped back at the lodge and enjoyed a nice 3-course meal in the serene setting of the Beauregard Lodge dinning room, followed by some adult refreshments.

The next morning we awoke to some better weather conditions, not ideal, but the improved light conditions would allow us to shoot our footage. So after a quick hearty breakfast, we hit the trails once again. We spent a good part of the day, till mid-afternoon, riding our Kawasaki units and exploring the scenic backcountry while capturing our footage along the way.

Now that our vital footage was captured, and since this is a fishing excursion after all, we decided to try our luck for trout fishing. We knew other anglers had success on the lake besides the lodge so we chose to tackle the same body of water. As soon as we made our way out onto the water, Mother Nature decided we had been spoiled enough for that day and sent more rain our way. We trolled the lake for a few hours, but unfortunately for us the lake trout decided not to strike our lures this day.

Our last evening was spent yet again enjoying another gourmet meal with great friends and new acquaintances while reminiscing about our adventure at the Beauregard Lodge.

It wasn’t a great surprise to get up the next morning and find sunny skies, isn’t that always the case? With us at least it is! Every time we have a shooting or activity planned the weather is miserable until comes time to leave.

So under sunny skies, we packed our gear, loaded the units onto our rig, bid farewell to our new friend at Beauregard Lodge and started our long trip back home.

An excursion such as this does not happened without partners, so we would like to thank:

Kawasaki Motors Canada for the unit loaners. We were impressed by both the 2017 Kawasaki Teryx4 LE and the Bruteforce 750 SE. Both units handled the trail conditions remarkably well and were a pleasure to drive and ride. Make sure to check out our next issue for a full in-depth review of the 2017 Kawasaki Teryx4 LE.

Beauregard Lodge. We would like to thank Benoit and all the staff at the Beauregard Lodge for the most gracious welcome and hospitality. For more information on the Beauregard Lodge, we invite you to visit their website: www.pavillonbeauregard.com

FXR Racing for keeping us safe on the trails with the helmets and protective gear and for keeping us warm and dry with the FXR outdoor clothing line-up.

The post Kawasaki Fishing Excursion appeared first on UTV Planet Magazine.

Day 1

For the week, we will call Gate Creek Cabins near Petersville our home. Petersville is about three hours north of Anchorage near Denali National Park and Denali State Park. Our cabin overlooks a trout fishing lake and we can head north, south, east or west on trails right from base camp. There are several open panoramic views of Denali, otherwise known as Mt. McKinley and the Alaska Range. What a welcome! The cabins are family owned and operated and extremely friendly/helpful. The game plan is to ride trails to get a better view of Denali, tackle the Alaska Range, pan for gold, see some wildlife and catch our dinner. From base camp, there are more than 200 miles of ATV/UTV trails to choose from. No snow yet, but fall colors are at their peak. September is moose hunting season, so the locals say we will see tons of hunters out on the trails. The guys from Eagle River Polaris are in the cabin next door and will be our trail guides for the week.

Day 2-3

A clear morning is a good sign. There are only a few days every year that one can entirely see Denali, North America’s tallest mountain, which stands at 20,310 feet. The weather has to be perfect; she normally hides among the clouds. For our first adventure, we will trek through the Alaska Range for about 60 miles, pan for gold and ride right to the edge of Denali State Park. As we load up, we get to know our group. Jeremy Gallego works for Polaris Industries; he brought his dad, Dan Gallego and they have lived in Alaska for 20+ years. Jeremy will be our guide.

“I started riding with my dad at 8 years old. We ride all over the place both on snowmobiles and ATVs. We love the Yukon River and there are great trails in southeast Alaska and pretty much all over the state,” said Jeremy Gallego.

“I have been riding in this area for about 25 years. Jeremy and I have a real close relationship. He’s not only my son, but we’re friends,” said Dan Gallego.

Paul Hughes is from Eagle River Polaris; he provided some of the machines. We have a 2016 Polaris Ranger 900 XP, a 2016 Polaris General 1000, a 2016 Polaris RZR XP 1000, a 2015 Polaris Ranger 570 and a 2014 Polaris Sportsman Big Boss 6X6 800. I called the General. It is a bit chilly this morning and windy. The forecast for the week calls for highs in the low 50s and lows in the 30s.

We start out riding through moose country on the Dollar Creek Trail. There are thick pine forests and open fields with pockets of water on both sides of the trail. We pass dozens of hunting camps and even met a successful hunter. The bull moose on the back of his truck earned him bragging rights- a full freezer of food and a nice wall mount. After only a couple of miles, we get above the tree line and begin riding through the Alaska Range. No words or pictures will depict the true beauty of the views of Peters Creek Canyon. This one lane trail hugs the side of a deep gorge with waterfalls all around us. Peters Hills are covered in vibrant reds, oranges, yellows and greens. Our first stop is to see a large waterfall. It is about 400 yards away across a ravine. After a couple pictures, we continue to climb. The trails are rugged and rocky, but well maintained. As we snaked our way up the ridge, we saw our first epic view of Denali. The clouds were covering her peak, but it was still quite the backdrop for this trail. We also can see Mt. Foraker, Mt. Hunter, the Talkeetna Mountains and the Matanuska-Susita Valleys.

At about mile 26, you will pass through the abandoned mining camp of Petersville. The Alaska Range has the nickname, “The Gateway to Gold Country.” In Petersville, historic buildings remain, but are closed and all boarded up. Gold was discovered in this area back in 1898. Many of these trails were created by gold miners who “cashed in” in Cache Creek. Gold miner, Ken Lee, is going to show us how to pan for gold in the river.

“Ken at Cache Creek Cabins has panned a lot of gold out of this river. The water is crystal clear and with Ken, you won’t go home empty handed,” said Jeremy Gallego.

Jeremy was right. In about an hour, we found about two grams of gold flakes. According to Ken, that is worth about one hundred dollars. Since gold and diamonds are a girl’s best friend, Ken gifted me the vial of gold leaf to take home.

We saved the best for last today, Denali. Denali National Park and Denali State Park are one of Alaska’s prized attractions. North America’s tallest peak can be quite the tease. All day, her peak has been hiding behind one stubborn cloud. Riding up to the edge of Denali State Park was quite an adventure. We literally felt like we were on top of the world. We ride right on the Alaskan tundra among expansive vistas, lush valleys and rugged mountains. No one is out here with us except wildlife. There’s no snow, just amazing fall colors. We are prohibited from riding ATVs/UTVs in the state park, so we had to park our machines and hike for about 30 minutes to get the best view of the mountain yet.

“We’re looking into Denali State Park and it’s actually one of the largest parks in North America. There’s a bus tour that will get you about 40 miles closer and will show you the north side of Mt. McKinley. It is a totally different view than where we are. This is the south side,” said Jeremy Gallego.

This view was a bucket list item for everyone on our trip.

Day 4

New day, new location, today, it’s all about mudding and fishing. A little rain can’t dampen the energy of the small town, Talkeetna.

“Talkeetna is a pretty cool town; it’s a climbing town. Another town that was founded by gold miners. In the summer, it gets really busy with climbers for Denali/Mt. McKinley. This is their base camp and many fly out of here. Some of the best fishing is around here too. Neat town, lots of history,” said Jeremy Gallego.

Larson Creek Lake Trail takes us from Talkeetna to our fishing hot spot. There are a dozen river crossings and tons of mud pits. We even found bear tracks and a red salmon swimming up river. Twenty miles of slick, thick, muddy trails; we felt like we were in the south. It is amazing how different the terrain can change in just a couple of miles. Whatever type of riding one prefers Alaska offers. Three rivers meet along this trail and that is our fishing hot spot. Prime fishing season is long gone, but we at least wet a line. We had red salmon swimming at our feet (amazing), however couldn’t catch a trout all afternoon. I love to fish. I recently caught a 29 inch walleye in Quebec, Canada, but left Alaska empty handed. We all did, so I guess that means we have to come back again.

With this much rain, it turned into a mud fight. Once we arrived back at camp, we grilled steak and salmon for dinner. There’s nothing like a delicious home cooked meal accompanied by an amazing sunset. No TV and limited Wi-Fi, so every night we spent time relaxing, hanging out and sharing stories. Old school fun is still in style.

In the middle of the night, a group of us decided to go for a ride in search of the Northern Lights. The forecast for Aurora activity was a seven. Night rides are one of my favorite. As we all sat in the middle of this open field waiting, we heard a moose. The noise kept getting closer and closer. Sure enough, a mama moose and her baby appeared and crossed the trail right in front of us. We were all so excited to see our first moose; the mama moose had a different opinion. She put her head down and ears back and that was our signal to put the machines in reverse and quickly, get out of there. Don’t mess with a mama moose; she will charge and you will lose. Such amazing experience- we wish we could have gotten a picture, but it all happened so fast. I still can’t get over how large they are- huge, even the baby calf.

We decided to take a trail to a different field and continue our search of dancing lights in the sky. Soon, a green stripe appeared and arched across the entire sky. It looked like a rainbow, an entirely green rainbow. However, it was faint and didn’t last long. The moon was far too bright that night. At about 3:30 in the morning, we decided to call it a night and go get more sleep.

Day 5

Next stop Minneapolis, Minnesota. Wow, what a trip-awesome trails, Denali, wildlife, gold and great locals! I don’t think anyone is ready to go home. We put on a lot of miles this week, however Alaska is the largest state in the U.S. and we didn’t explore a fraction of what the state has to offer. Off-roaders can ride alongside glaciers, anglers can deep sea fish, whale watchers can hopefully see an orca and the list goes on. We will be back again. Until then, Alaska will forever be on our mind.

The post An Alaska Adventure With Destination Polaris appeared first on UTV Planet Magazine.

This area also hosts the “Summun Trail System”, which offers 475 Kilometers (296 miles) of magnificent trails to discover. What makes this trail system unique is that it serves as a gateway connecting several regional outfitters. The “Summun Trail” system was created in 2010 with the combined efforts of the following outfitters: Notawissi, Mekoos and Fer a Cheval. For more information on the “Summum Trail”, please visit: www.sentiersummum.com.

At Camp RZR Brimstone, I had the pleasure to meet Lindsey Hayes, which is one of the hosts of Destination Polaris. During our brief encounter I proposed the idea to Lindsay of filming an episode of Destination Polaris in this area. After several months of logistics and planning, that idea would soon become reality.

Never heard of Destination Polaris? Really? Well, Destination Polaris is entering its 7th season on The Fox Sports Networks. Destination Polaris (produced by Ron Schara Productions) is the #1 Off-Road TV Show in North America. Available in over 100 million homes in the US and Canada, Destination Polaris is the premiere show to catch up on all the best riding spots, off-road racing and custom builds. From sand dunes to mountain peaks, from canyon rides to mud pits, Destination Polaris is your authority for all terrain travel.

Our adventure begins roadside on the 117 North Road, were we meet up with Lindsey Hayes and her team of photographers/editors: Gram Krause and Cole O’Brien. After a brief “formal” introduction session, we setout to our first destination: Mekoos outfitters.

We pulled into Mekoos outfitters in early evening and got the Destination Polaris team settled into their accommodations. Mekoos outfitters are located approximately 3 hours north of Montreal and Ottawa. The last 27 kilometers (16.8 miles) consist of unpaved road, however the road is so well maintained that it can easily be navigated, even by car. The outfitter sits on 346 square kilometers (215 square miles) of exclusive territory and hosts 135 lakes.

The Mekoos is an exceptional location for families and trail riders wanting to vacation in this remote backcountry setting. The Mekoos is primarily an outfitter, so it does offer different plans and rates for fishing and hunting packages. The rates depend on the activity you will be doing, number of persons and duration of stay, for complete rates we encourage you to visit the Mekoos website: www.mekoos.ca.

Once the Destination Polaris team got settled in, we meet up for a round of refreshments and started planning our first day or riding and activities. Planning the logistics for “Day 1” couldn’t have been easier, as Eric Mervicini our sales Manager and I had already scouted out the area for several points of interest.

After a great dinning and socializing experience in the tranquil settings of the Mekoos dinning room, it was time to call it a night. It was obvious that our friends from Destination Polaris were consumed by the long day of travel they just experienced.

We awoke well-rested and to cloudy skies, hoping that Mother Nature would be co-operative today. After a most satisfying breakfast we started packing the units for our daylong adventure. We left Mekoos and after a quick ride made our way to “Rat Lake” where we would try our hand at speckled trout fishing.

Once we caught a few nice speckled trout and the Destination Polaris photographers captured the scenes they needed for the show, we hit the trails once again. The rest of the morning was spent capturing more riding footage, which ultimately led us to our lunch destination.

We rode to “Baker Lake”, a magnificent lake with a sandy beachfront and that place would be our lunch area for today. As we arrived, Sebastien Dumoulin, owner of Mekoos Outfitters and his team were busy preparing a wonderful shore lunch for us. Fresh Trout and Walleye were on the menu along with some great side dishes. Not a bad way to spend a few hours amongst friends.

After a plentiful and most satisfying meal, we hit the trails once more. We took the Destination Polaris team up a nearby mountain which hosted a fire lookout tower for this area. The Destination Polaris photographers were able to capture some great vistas from this location. We soon found ourselves back on the trails and the rest of the day was spent riding with frequent stops to capture more footage.

Feeling content from a great first day, we found ourselves once again sitting around the table enjoying more great food in the Mekoos dinning room. After too much food, we spent the remainder of the night exchanging in pleasant conversation around bonfire with our friends from Mekoos and Destination Polaris.

We woke once again to cloudy skies and still wondering if Mother Nature would play nice with us today. Today was the day we said goodbye to Mekoos and made our way to our next outfitter: “Les 100 Lacs”.

After breakfast and thanking the whole team at Mekoos outfitters for their gracious hospitality and excellent service and accommodations, we hit the “Summon Trail” for our 88 kilometers (55 Mile) journey to “Les 100 Lacs Outfitters”.

As you are reading this, I am sure some of you must be thinking: “He is calling an 88 kilometers (55 miles) ride a journey?” The scouting ride Eric and I did took us about 1.5 hours to reach our destination. When we did the same ride with the Destination Polaris team, it took almost 8 hours to reach our destination “Les 100 Lacs” Outfitters!

When filming for the television show, the guys behind the scene (cameraman) have a huge responsibility in not only capturing ample footage but also the best footage possible. This involves frequent stops, setting up their gear (camera, tripods & drones) and making sure that the shots captured represent the experience we are living at that moment. This is a long and repetitive process for them but I must say that after watching Gram Krause and Cole O’Brien work, these guys are exceptional at what they do!

After many hours on the trail, everything was going great until we heard a loud yell coming from the unit behind us and so we stopped to investigate. Sure enough, the Polaris RZR S 1000 punctured a tire! We were well equipped to repair a puncture but not on the sidewall! Since the units were all loaners, we had no spare tires on hand. We tried to repair the tire with plugs, but as we all know, a tear in the sidewall is not repairable with plugs.

With still 40 Kilometers (25 Miles) to go and Mother Nature starting to get temperamental, we had no choice but to make the hard call. We had to get the unit to our destination on the punctured tire even if that meant damaging the rim and possibly worse! Eric left the group and made his way to “Les 100 Lacs” Outfitters while we continued shooting.

At this point Mother Nature decided she had been nice enough with us long enough and the rain began. Gram and Cole quickly packed up the gear protecting it from the rain and we all squeezed the go-fast pedals on units until our destination.

Upon our arrival at “Les 100 Lacs Outfitters”, we were rejoiced to see that Eric made it and that no additional damage was done to the unit. He also made arrangements with a local dealer in the Mont-Laurier area to have a tire and rim shipped to us. A huge thank-you to: Stephane Venne from “Moto Des Ruisseaux” for coming to our assistance with such immediate response time.

Personally this is what I love about the “Summun Trail System”. The trails offer great riding for any level of rider and are clearly indicated; so getting lost is almost impossible. Plus if a mishap of any kind were to occur, help is never that far away. All outfitters along the “Summun Trail” offer assistance and fuel to any and all trail riders.

Now that our unfortunate mishap was under control, we introduce the Destination Polaris team to the owners of “Les 100 Lacs” Paul Ouimet and Alain Lamoureux. They quickly got us settled into our accommodations.

“Les 100 Lacs” outfitter is set in a rustic décor which offers luxurious rooms at the inn and 21 well-equipped cottages which are scattered throughout their property. “Les 100 Lacs” offers a vast variety of activities for the whole family, an ideal location for your next family vacation or riding adventure. Obviously, hunting and fishing are also on the menu with different packages to choose from. For more information on “Les 100 Lacs” Outfitters, we invite you to visit the “Les 100 Lacs” website at: www.pourvoirie100lacs.com

After a much needed shower, we regrouped in the dining area, which overlooks the lake. The rustic feel of the dining area and Inn was the perfect setting to unwind after a long and grueling day on the trails. Once again the food was exceptional and the hospitality from the staff was equally on par. The rest of the night was spent joking about our misfortunes that day and boasting that we still managed to get a good days work in nonetheless.

The next morning we awoke to more sun than cloud and were eager to tackle the trails once again. Our short overnight stay at “Les 100 Lacs” Outfitters had now come to an end. After thanking all the staff at “Les 100 Lacs” for the more than gracious welcome and hospitality, it was now time to set-out to our next and final destination: “Fer A Cheval” Outfitters.

We hit the “Summon Trail” for our 63 kilometers (40 Mile) ride to “Fer A Cheval” Outfitters. Today’s ride, although not that much shorter in distance, would be travelled at a much faster pace. The Destination Polaris team still captured ample footage, but since we had no mishaps, we reached our destination by late afternoon.

The “Fer à Cheval Inn & Outfitting Resort” is located just 2.5 hours north of Mont-Laurier, Quebec and is situated on an exclusive territory spreading over 238 square kilometers. Besides its 4 star inn, the outfitter also offers cabins surrounding the main lodge and rustic camps on the outskirts of various water bodies for the more adventurous. The outfitter offers many packages to choose from hunting, fishing, Quad and snowmobiling. For more information on “Fer à Cheval” outfitters, we invite you to visit: www.feracheval.ca.

We pulled into “Fer A Cheval” outfitters around 4pm and were greeted by the general manager Benoit Gladu, which quickly had us settled into our accommodations. Our early arrival gave us time to unwind and check out some of the aerial footage capture by Gram that day.

We regrouped for supper around 7pm and Ben, who is also the Chef at “Fer à Cheval” outfitter, served us an exceptional meal. Later that night, while we were enjoying some after dinner refreshments, Francois Thouin, owner of the outfitter, arrived and we planned the next day’s activities.

Immediately following breakfast, we hit the trails once more, as Gram and Cole wanted to capture more trail riding footage. We rode to some scenic locations close to the outfitter and were out on the trails until Gram and Cole felt they had the footage they required.

After our lunch break and again way too much food, we decided to take Lindsey out for some more fishing. Lindsey is an avid hunter and angler, so now she would try her hand at Northern Pike and Walleye.

So our guide Jean Philippe Larocque loaded up the pontoon and we set out for an afternoon of fishing. Eric and I were the first catch walleye, nothing to write home about, but some nice catches just the same. Lindsey being an avid angler was eagerly waiting her turn jigging on the bow of the pontoon.

Then BAM! Fish on for Lindsey! As she was reeling in her catch, you could tell it was something big by the fight that was ongoing. When she netted the fish, the screams of joy commenced, what a monster, a 29-inch Walleye! Still, even as I write this, I don’t know what was more impressive: the Walleye or her reaction! Lindsey’s reaction was the highlight of this trip for me; I sincerely hope it makes it into the episode.

That evening was spent admiring and shooting the sunset off the pontoon before returning to shore for, you guess it, more exceptional food! During our meal many stories were shared about our adventure. However Lindsey’s Walleye “Wally” or should I say her reaction over “Wally” was definitely the chart topper.

Did I mention that Lindsey is an avid angler? Oh yeah I did! But just to prove my point, let me share this with you. The next morning while we were all getting our beauty sleep, she was out back on the water with Jean Philippe. She didn’t land another monster, but she did catch a few she could boast about over breakfast.

All good things must come to an end and this is no different. After bidding our goodbyes to the entire staff of “Fer A Cheval” outfitters and thanking them for an unforgettable stay, we loaded up our gear on our trucks and hit the long gravel road, which returned us to reality.

SPECIAL THANKS

As you can imagine an expedition of this nature requires many partners to accomplish, so here we go:

We would like to thank the entire team of Destination Polaris: Lindsay, Gram and Cole. Thank-you for believing in our episode proposal and for the kind hospitality you have shown towards our team. Proud to now consider you as friends and look forward to working with you again real soon.

A big thank-you to Polaris Industries for the loaners (Polaris General 1000 DLX and Polaris RZR S 1000.

A very special thank-you to all the outfitters involved (Mekoos, 100 Lacs and Fer A Cheval), without you this would have been impossible to accomplish. Thank you for the warm welcome, hospitality and taking care of us during our stay. Readers, if you are planning to ride or vacation in this area, make sure to check out these awesome outfitters.

Thank-you to the following dealerships:

Stephane Venne from “Moto Des Ruisseaux” for your prompt actions for our replacement tire and rim.

Jamil Neal from “Moto Folie Vaudreuil” for the loaner – Polaris Ranger XP 900

Jean Yves Bilodeau from “Motos Illimitées” for the loaner – Polaris Ranger 500

Lastly, I would like to thank our Sales Manager Eric Mervicini, for all the help in planning the logistics of this expedition.

The post Destination Polaris – Exploring Quebec’s Upper-Laurentians appeared first on UTV Planet Magazine.

Fishing is a sport that so many enjoy. With a whopping nine percent of Canada being water, finding a place to fish isn’t difficult. Finding a remote spot to fish, however, can get a little tricky. Thankfully there’s a fun way to find those hard-to-reach spots, and it doesn’t involve a plane. Using your UTV to go on an adventure fishing trip takes two things you know you love – driving your UTV into wild places, and fishing on waters that seldom if ever see another angler – and combines them into a trip that you’ll remember for years to come.

Why a UTV?

A UTV is the perfect platform for a day-tripping fishing adventure. Oh sure, you can pack in a tent, sleeping bags and all the other camping gear needed for overnight trips to the wilderness, but for the sake of discussion, let’s just chat about a day trip.

The 2016 Can Am Commander Max XT is a perfect platform for adventure fishing. The 85-horsepower Rotax V-twin engine gives you enough power to haul you and three passengers, plus all of your gear just about anywhere. The cargo bed has ample space for a decent sized cooler, such as a Yeti 45 quart. The secondary cargo box is a great place for smaller things, like a tackle box, and rain gear.

The roll cage is a great place to strap down a rod tube. Using a rod tube helps in several ways. It keeps your fishing rods from bouncing all over the machine. Any UTV is going to have some vibration, and just about any rod can be damaged by the rubbing that can take place when it is against metal, plastic or other materials. A rod tube will prevent that as well. The most important reason to use a rod tube is simply to protect the rods from snagging on trees and other brush as you go on your adventure. It keeps them from being damaged, or being lost, either of which could ruin a fishing trip.

Essentials for inside the UTV

There are always things you should carry with you in the UTV whenever you’re adventuring. Making that adventure a fishing trip just adds a few more. You should carry with you a flashlight and spare batteries, basic tools, spare parts such as a drive belt, and a spare key. There are other items we could add, such as duct tape, zip ties, a tire pump and plugs, but you probably already have all of that, right? Another nice feature that makes the Commander XT package so appealing is the inclusion of the 4,500 lbs. Warn winch. A winch is one of those tools that you sometimes think you don’t need, and then find yourself really appreciating when you do need it.

For an adventure fishing trip, you should also bring along your cell phone and a way to charge it. If you’re thinking of having a shoe lunch, you should have fire starting materials, such as matches or a lighter. A small shovel, such as a folding pack shovel is nice for helping put of any embers when you’re done with the fire.

A basic first aid kit should be in your machine already. Make sure you have extra bandages, gauze and tape. The number one injury during fishing trips is a cut. The other is the dreaded hook-through-the-skin. If you inadvertently hook yourself, or a buddy, take a pair of pliers and turn the hook until the barb comes back out. Then clip off the barb. This will let you pull the hook back out. As long as you don’t hook something bad, like an eye, you should be able to take care of this with bandages and antiseptic. One of the many reasons you should wear sunglasses while fishing.

Make sure you bring along enough bait and tackle. You don’t want to work to get back into the perfect spot, only to run out of the one type of bait the fish were really hitting on, do you? Hey, it happens to all of us at some point. Plan ahead!

Know where you’re going too. A GPS is a great tool for navigating back into the wilds. Take a look at where you think you want to go and program it into the GPS beforehand. Yeah, you’ll undoubtedly get sidetracked, or drawn into a different spot. The real reason to plan out at least somewhat beforehand is to be able to give someone an idea of where you might be, just in case you don’t come back. It may not be for a bad reason, but there is always the unknown that can happen, especially if you add water to the mix. Let someone know, or at the very least, write it down and leave it where someone might be able to find it.

Things that will try to eat you

We’ve all seen the movie where the innocent family heads out for a fun day or adventure and fishing, only to be savagely attacked. Well, it may be a bit farfetched, but it is also a guarantee that something is going to try to feed on you when you go fishing, especially in the wild – mosquitos! Being near water means dealing with these micro-sized vampires, and it seems that the more remote you go, the more of them there are. Be sure to toss some serious mosquito repellant in your UTV. Another option too, is the Thermacell appliance. They offer several and they actually do work. You’ll find the Thermacell will work best on calm days, so you might have to use a combination.

As for anything toothy, you really don’t have much to be concerned with. Make some noise, let them know you’re there and if you have to run, only do so in your UTV. A Can Am Commander can outrun a bear most of the time.

Taking it up a notch

While the manufacturers never recommend it due to legal reasons, the roll cage, especially on a four-seat machine like the Commander Max, offers up ample room to tie down a small boat, canoe or even a pair of kayaks. The ability to get out on the water opens up more possibilities when angling for adventure.

A favorite technique with a kayak is to have a rod holder of some kind mounted to the boat. Cast a lure, such as a Rapala out. You then put the rod in the holder and slowly paddle along, trolling the lure behind you. Predatory fish, like northern pike or walleye, will smack the lure pretty hard. Ever been dragged around by a pike while fishing from a kayak? It’s a lot of fun. This technique also works in rivers. You drop the lure in and then use the paddle to slow the boat against the current. This lets you walk the lure down the river and it is very effective for trout, steelhead, and salmon, as well as the aforementioned pike, walleye and even muskies.

One thing to note, when you’re fishing in remote locations, be it if you are wading, using a small boat, or even alongside the shore, think very carefully about using a life preserver. One of the inflatable ones doesn’t add any bulk and is cheap insurance against not coming home. It’s like wearing a helmet. You wear it not for the things you can think of, but the things you can’t.

We all love to drive our UTVs because of the fun and freedom they provide. They can go places we wouldn’t take a truck, and have a ton of fun while getting there. They are the perfect vessel for an adventure fishing trip. You just have to plan accordingly. Know going into the trip that you are going to have to do some extra machine prep work, mostly to secure everything so that the trip is free of the drama that can come from damaged or lost gear.

The reward is the journey and the memories you’ll make. The best part of a trip like this is, once you do it the first time and see what you did right and wrong, planning out the next adventure is that much easier. And if you’re anything like us, the next adventure is always right around the corner.

The post A Can-Am Commander Max And A Couple Of Fishing Poles appeared first on UTV Planet Magazine.

In the mountains of Northern Georgia you have to be very leery of wildlife and know that the chance of you coming in contact with something ferocious is a grand possibility in the more remote locations. I phoned a friend who is more familiar with the private landowners in the mountains here and he set me up on a 550-acre spot just a short drive from me on the Tesnatee River. Gaining permission to be on private land can be valuable for any venture and is a must no matter what. Also, it is always nice to let the owner know that you will be traversing the property in an off road vehicle. My plan was to leave no trace of my visit and if I could I would most definitely leave it better than when I arrived.

Just like any other adventure you have to plan a little ahead of time so you do not forget anything but when it is a spur of the moment deal your in for a crunch time, vital necessities only, run to the truck. When you are taking a UTV along as the mode of transportation to the actual camp location the packing has to be tight and precisely what you need otherwise you will run out of room quickly. Gathering the gear I needed I quickly realized the tent that was in the storage bin was for 6 people and I knew it would squeeze out vital room in the cargo bed of the General. I took a quick trip to the local Academy Sporting goods store where I found the store branded Compass three tents for twenty-four dollars! It was not only cheap for a tent but it was really compact as well.

After returning from Academy I packed everything into the truck and loaded the Polaris General on the trailer. Arriving at the main gate of the vast property I unloaded the Polaris general and began tucking all of the gear into the cargo area. Since I did not have a passenger I used the front seat to haul my sleeping gear and some light tools for pruning off tinder for my fire. So I loaded up the General, locked the truck and drove off into the property in search of a great spot for the night. After about thirty minutes I spotted a beautiful location on top of one of the peaks in the land. This place was in the middle of a grass field overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains but I quickly figured out that although good for camping scenery, a fire here could create a bigger problem than I could control so off I rolled towards the river.

I took a little known trail off into the woods that I had been told would bring me in close to the river access. I knew it could be a long shot but once I had arrived I knew if I was camping there I had to cross that Tesnatee River to the other side. I spotted a big sand wash area tucked right into the trees and immediately I knew that’s where I would park myself for the night.

Prepping a camping site can be just a bit of a job but luckily the sand off the riverbank had a smooth and somewhat plush little location ready for me. I knew I wanted to build a fire soon as the temperatures were going to get down in the fifties at night. On the river there were many river rocks and stones close by so I started by sitting all of my gear out against the trees. I gathered many large rocks in the bed of my Polaris General and built a nice little fire pit in about an hour. The sandy soil allowed me to dig with a nice flat rock to carve the hole in the center of my pit. From this point on it was time to set up my tent along with the Camp Chef stove and table I had brought along to cook on. I know a fire pit could have provided a good cooking source but not being extremely talented in the culinary field I decided that keeping ash out of my food would be best.

Setting up my new Academy Compass 3 tent was a breeze and as I had just finished getting it together I was surprised by three visitors. These young boys had been canoeing down the river and had to get out above the dam and come down around where I had set camp. Although they stayed around a bit casting their crank baits into the falls they were reluctant to allow me a photograph of them fishing. I then had one other guest drop in who was not only willing to have his photo made but actually owned the property and was checking to make sure I was ok. He proceeded to warn me of the wildlife there and to be leery of any snakes that could find the underside of my tent a good warm place to hide once I had gotten in and settled down. I was thinking to myself “well there’ll be no sleeping now.”

With a good fire going and a nice meal in the belly I found myself looking to fall into the tent for the night. I laid there and thought to myself about the rivers “white noise” and how peaceful it was. It was about the time when I was having all good thoughts that a terrible smell came running through the tent. Having been around bear hunts before I knew that smell and no it was not me! The Black bear in Georgia are a very populated species and as the slight crunching sound of leaves slowly faded along with that terrible odor I knew I had just had a visitor of the furry and potentially ferocious kind. Thankfully it moved on.

As night fell on the camp the temperatures did as well and man by about three in the morning it had gotten into the forties. It was 44.5 according to the small thermometer I had brought with me and it was 85% humidity right next too the river. I was not cold until I stepped out of the tent at about 7:30 that morning. I had wrapped up nicely in my double sleeping bags with a fleece liner to keep me dry.

I put on my Irish Setter Rutmaster 2.0 boots and began cooking breakfast. I was so glad I had brought my Camp Chef Rainier stove to cook on and the Camp Chef Sherpa table and organizer held all of the essentials for the feast. I even had some tunes via Bluetooth connection on my rugged NYNE Rebel speaker system. Heck, it was such a sweet setup that I was thinking of staying another few days!

Once I had cooked breakfast and gathered some more firewood I started to figure out how I would spend the rest of my day. I found out that the dam on the Tesnatee river here is actually a hydro-dam and was used to power a water pump originally. Its estimated that it was built around 1935 by a former property owner named Graham Dugas who was trying to feed water to strip-mining equipment for gold in the hills there. This was so interesting and it just begged to be investigated. After a wading across the river and a slight climb up the steep wooded bank I found myself standing in a little bit of the states history. Water from the river used to be directed into the Hydro-dam wheel and spun a 300kw generator of some kind. I bet this thing could have powered a small city in its day. I would love to see it in action but unfortunately I think I was about 45 years too late.

Camping for me is filled with time to reflect on life and the simpler ways of living. While I do enjoy exploring the wild in my Polaris General I did find myself simply sitting on that riverbank thinking about how the next 30 years would affect not only the outdoors but everyone who enjoys them. I decided that I would take this Polaris General 1000 and dig around the rest of the property before I had to leave because I once again realized as the sun was setting that time waits for no one. Enjoy it while you can!

The post Roaming The Outdoors In Our Polaris General 1000 appeared first on UTV Planet Magazine.

Having an off road machine like the Polaris ACE 900 gives the adventurous outdoorsman a way to get to the really far out places, hidden fishing holes even if the trails get tight. The process of planning a fishing trip was a little more than I had remembered but excitement began filling my mind and with a visit to the storage shed I began to find all of my gear as well as some of my fathers. I picked up Dads old tackle box and when I opened it the memories of each item inside just seemed to grab me. I remember so many times when Dad would hook these long cork floats on the catfish lines and when we caught a whopper he would use the handy multi-tool to get that mud cat off the hook. He loved the simple baits and seemed to stay away from the “fishing propaganda”. I have to admit, there were more memories in that one old box than I could take in.

When I began planning for my trip I knew I needed to think small gear and compact everything into a few bags to make sure I didn’t overload the cargo areas on my Polaris ACE. I mean, how do you carry a complete fishing rod on a machine in tight woods without it grabbing every branch in the trails? I could not find even one case or rod reel holder for the off road. Maybe someone will see this and produce a case for the masses. I wasn’t really worried though as I knew I had the will to find a way to get the fishing rod to the pond carefully.

I love the lighter action rods myself just because it makes even the smallest catch feel exciting and honestly I was taught with this set up to keep me excited about fishing as a young boy. I visited the local bargain store to find a new reel for my Berkley lightweight rod as I had broken the reel on my last trip and had never replaced it. These smaller rods and reels are fairly inexpensive and I knew that if I were to break it or loose the combo it wouldn’t kill the budget. The items I knew I needed to take were a compact version of a tackle box, a good cooler for snacks and drinks as well as my trusty rod and reel but one thing I didn’t think of until I walked to the checkout was my fishing license. After another $17 I had both regular fishing permit and my trout stamp. Of course riding off road as well as fishing is potentially messy so I needed to get a protective cover to keep them dry. And then there were the worms that would make the final key ingredient for the trip.

It was now time to load all of the gear on our Polaris ACE 900. The cargo box in the rear of the ACE seemed to hold our Yeti cooler and Tackle bag/box fairly easily. I knew I wanted to relax on the bank but I did not know exactly how clear or clean the bank would be so I brought one of my Browning Turkey hunting blind chairs to rest my tail on. It was also snug in the cargo bed. Knowing that the weeds on the banks might be severely grown up at the private lake I had in mind I knew there might be a few slithering reptiles and that just reinforced my need for a chair. It seemed like I had to lay everything out on the trailer and then cut it by half to get to the real bare essentials for the trip in my Polaris ACE.

Taking in the scenery on the way across the ponds Dam I noticed a lady and her horse coming right at me. Not knowing how the animal would react to the noise or presence of the machine I shut off the ACE and waited until they had come right up beside me. Ms. Carolyn was her name and “Dixie Echo” was the beautiful horse she was riding. Carolyn is a horseback riding instructor and guide in the area that had recently started giving trail rides on the same trails of this private land we would ride on in the SXS or our ATV’s. I love meeting people in the outdoors who enjoy and appreciate nature in the wild. She mentioned that she had spooked up a “gang” of turkeys just out the trail a bit and there were also fifty or more doves in the planted food plots right around the corner. As I went on my way I never spotted the doves but a few turkey were still hanging around at the food plots.

As I reached the “private pond” the weeds had over grown the bank but the property owner had cut some of the trail along the bottom of the dam for a little better passage along there. Finding a good spot to fish was not really tough because as I rolled across the dam I could see the many bass beds in the water. Now this doesn’t mean an easy catch but it did mean that where Mama was hanging out, big Papa could be as well. The reeds along the bank would also be a great place for anything from small mouth bass to large blue gill or sunfish to hang out.

After finding a great spot to park my rig I unloaded the chair as well as my tackle and began flipping a deep diver crank bait through the water. The reeds had shown some promise as the rolling of the underwater action, taking place began to spill out onto the treble hook on the rear of said crank bait. A few misses and then it was on. The small Bream had taken on a little more than he could have even fit in his mouth but the valiant effort was surely recognized by this guy. It wasn’t long before I had caught and released several of the little bluegill and after hooking a couple of these nice 1lb smallmouth bass I was realizing the sun had started to set. It was about a 3 mile ride through the woods to the truck and in bear country you just need to get a good start before dark.

The trip that started out in my mind was indeed much longer and took some effort that I was not expecting. But when I look at the entire day and the stroll down memory lane while plundering my fathers old gear with thoughts of him it was all well worth it. The fishing for me was an exciting end to a very excited day and actually contained zero stress. I was happy to be planning for the trip and I was blessed to meet up with Carolyn as well as her horse “Dixie Echo.” I also could not have made it to the shore of the small pond without the help of my trusty steed the Polaris ACE 900. This little machine is an adventure waiting to happen and if you get a chance to ride one you should never turn that down.

The post Adventurous Polaris Ace appeared first on UTV Planet Magazine.

Since 2004, Mekoos outfitters is owned and operated by the Dumoulin family. The Dumoulin family and their staff pursue objectives of sustainable development, ecotourism in four seasons and ensure that proper management of native wildlife is supported, allowing you a harvest of exceptional quality.

We arrived at the outfitters late in the afternoon under cloudy skies and frigid temperatures. The unusually low temperatures for this time of year, are not ideal, but still more than adequate for riding and fishing. After we settled in to our accommodations, we met with Sebastien Dumoulin, Owner of Mekoos Outfitters. Sebastien gave us the rundown of the “Mekoos” and helped us plan our itinerary for the next few days.

Mekoos outfitters can accommodate up to 100 guests and offers three types of lodging accommodations: rooms at the main lodge, on-site cottages and off-site lakeside cottages for the more adventurous type. The rooms in the main lodge are exceptional spacious and can accommodate 3 persons, offering a double and single bed. The outfitter also offers 9 on-site rustic-looking cottages that can accommodate from 2 to 16 persons. You will also find 2 remote (off-site) cottages that can accommodate 2-6 persons. All cottages feature full amenities and pet owners can rejoice as you’re four-legged friend(s) are welcomed here.

For those of you that “getaway” means getting away from the kitchen as well, no worries the Mekoos has you covered with their “American Plan” which includes lodging and all meals. While on the subject on meals, let me warn you, bring loose clothing, as the food is not only exceptional but also plentiful. The Mekoos is proud of its dining room, which is headed by an experienced chef who can satisfy even the fussiest palate. Breakfast, lunch and finally toped off with a “five star” four-course dinning experience with an enviable wine list. Surprisingly the Chef can also prepare you your fresh catch of the day if you wish to have it as an entrée. If you are planning on a day-long adventure on the trails or lakeside, the chef will also offer to prepare you a picnic basket saving you the need to return to the main lodge for lunch, how’s that for service! However, if you would rather be your own chef the outfitter also offers a “European Plan” which includes only lodging.

The Mekoos is primarily an outfitter, so it does offer different plans and rates for fishing and hunting packages. The packages offered: Fishing (Pike, Walleye, Lake and Speckled Trout), Hunting (Small Game, Black Bear, White-tailed Deer and Moose). The rates depend on the activity you will be doing, number of persons and duration of stay, for complete rates we encourage you to visit the Mekoos website: www.mekoos.ca.

The Mekoos is also an exceptional location for families wanting to vacation in the marvelous surroundings this wildness area can provide. Substitute your child’s cellphone and/or gaming device by a set of binocular’s or possibly even a fishing pole, introduce them to nature, it does the body good! The Mekoos offers many activities for the whole family to enjoy and spend quality time to together, because of course isn’t that what life is all about.

For us off-roaders the Mekoos is situated on the “Summum Trail” which offers 475 Kilometers (296 miles) of magnificent trails to discover. This new trail system was created with the combined efforts of the following outfitters: Notawissi, Mekoos and Fer a Cheval in 2010. For more information on the “Summum Trail”, please visit: www.sentiersummum.com.

After two days of having to deal with Mother Nature’s bad temperament, we awoke to a crisp overcast morning. Once the breakfast ritual was complete we proceeded to load up The Honda Pioneer 1000-5 with our gear, as it was time to ride. We hit the trails with our guide Sebastien with speckled trout fishing on the agenda for the day.

This area provides for some exceptional trail riding with clearly marked trails, which consist mostly of hard packed surfaces. Once we got closer to our fishing destination however the conditions suddenly got more interesting. We faced water, mud traverses, roots, stumps, rocky terrain as well as tight passages. The Pioneer 1000-5 handled these conditions with extreme ease. The steering always felt tight and precise and suspension seemed to soak up anything in its path. The Pioneer 1000-5 was nimble enough to allow us to squeeze through some tight passages and it was also reassuring to know that if needed, the 999cc engine would come to life with a simple tap on the accelerator. As I mentioned in my review of the Honda Pioneer 1000, I love to drive it in MT (Manual Mode). The manual mode gives you more driver-focused control in my opinion and definitely enhances the overall drive experience.

The Pioneer 1000-5 also provided us with more than ample storage for all of our gear when we folded down the Quick-Flip seats. In the cabin we where comfortably seated and always felt in control as we navigated over the various trail conditions. Overall the Honda Pioneer 1000-5 is in its element in this type of excursion, a pure pleasure to drive, nimble and responsive especially in MT mode.

As the picturesque décor revealed the body of water in front of us we were eager to get out on the lake. We grabbed our Honda BF2.3 outboard and fishing gear from the Pioneer 1000 cargo bed made our way towards the dock. Once secured on our boat and with one pull the BF2.3 outboard easily started and we were on our way. For the size of body of water we were fishing in, the BF2.3 was an ideal outboard. It provided for adequate speed and maneuverability, precise throttle control and best of all its lightweight and compact.

Great thing about trout fishing is that it doesn’t require a huge investment in gear and tackle to take up the sport. We had a basic line and spinning reel setup with a sliver and bronze “Lake Clear” lure and worm bait on a trailing hook. This setup worked great for us as we managed to pull out some monster speckled trout.

After a great morning of fishing we anchored the boats in the middle of the lake and had lunch and of course exchanged old fishing stories that seem to get better every year. Once we had our fill of food and stories we proceeded back to shore and spent that afternoon exploring more trails before calling it a day. After a day well spent trail riding and fishing, we enjoyed a few cocktails and great food amongst friends.

The next morning after yet another hearty breakfast, we were ready hit the trails once again. Before we had a chance to leave camp, Sebastien stopped us and told us to meet him at a nearby lake for lunch; he said he had a surprise for us. Intriguing indeed but in the meantime we had riding to do. Since this was our last day we wanted to explore this area as much as possible and also enjoy our seat time in the Honda Pioneer 1000-5. It seemed that every trail we hit was crafted just for us as every turn unveiled its own vista for us to explore.

After an extensive riding session we pulled into the lake area where Sebastien had instructed us to meet him. A magnificent lake with a sandy beachfront would be our lunch area for today. Sebastien had invited some of the guest from the lodge and he and his staff were now busy preparing a wonderful shore lunch for us. Fresh Trout and Walleye were on the menu along with some great side dishes. Not a bad way to spend a few hours and end our trip!

There are those that live for speed and racing. I have nothing against them and I respect them fully, however this is what UTV off-roading is all about for me. Exploring new areas, setting out on different excursions and spending quality time with friends and family.

In closing, this is also an opportune time to mention that Mekoos outfitters also offer UTV rentals. This is a great service for someone who doesn’t want to haul their own unit or possibly someone who doesn’t own a UTV and would like to try one. It’s highly recommended to reserve your unit when booking your trip.

I would like to take this moment to thank Sebastien Dumoulin and all his family and staff for the most gracious welcome and hospitality. If the adventure I briefly described sounds like something you wish to partake in, I highly recommend that you check out Mekoos Outfitters.

The post The Ultimate Fishing Excursion Powered By Honda appeared first on UTV Planet Magazine.

This ultimate fishing destination consists of 32 lakes offering different species (Walleye, Pike, Trout and Lake trout). What is also uncommon and noteworthy, some lakes surrounding the lodge are home to 2 species not normally found together, the Brook Trout and Walleye.

Besides its 4 star inn, the outfitter also offers cabins surrounding the main lodge and rustic camps on the outskirts of various water bodies for the more adventurous. The outfitter offers many packages to choose from hunting, fishing, Quad and snowmobiling. For more information on “Fer à Cheval” outfitters, we invite you to visit: www.feracheval.ca.

We pulled in to the outfitter late afternoon, which gave us ample time to unload the trailer and settle in to our accommodations. After a good night’s rest and a very hearty breakfast, it was time to head out on our first fishing excursion.

We loaded the Yamaha Wolverine R-Spec with all the gear we would need for our first day excursion. The Wolverine offered ample room for all our fishing gear and supplies. An interesting feature of the Wolverine is that the tailgate door can be easily removed from the cargo bed to facilitate loading the stuff. With the Wolverine now loaded and the gear firmly in place we setout towards the trailhead.

This area offers some great trail riding with all trails clearly indicated for easy navigation. The trail conditions are excellent, mostly hard packed surfaces, however certain areas still provided a challenge. Muddy swamp like patches, steep inclines, rock gardens are all on the menu in this area. The Wolverine R-Spec handled all these areas with great facility, easily concurring any obstacle and trail condition.

The Wolverine R-Spec was a pure pleasure to drive, nimble and responsive. We could easily work our way trough tight trails, the suspension felt good on the rough stuff and enough power on tap for the open straights. This unit will get you and your gear where you want to go, period! Plus let’s not forget that this unit looks great and it offers more than adequate creature comforts.

After a picturesque trail ride experience, we arrived at our fishing destination. On the agenda for today: pike fishing, catch and release. We took a few moments to review the areas of the lake that our guide had indicated on the map as prime spots and then proceeded to load our 14-foot boat powered by a Yamaha 6hp 4-stroke outboard engine with all our gear.

For the size of the water body we were fishing on, the Yamaha 6hp 4-stroke outboard engine was more than sufficient to get us around. As most anglers know, Yamaha produces some of the best outboards on the market and this is the reason why Yamaha powers this outfitter.

If you have fished for pike at all you know that generally pikes are very easy to catch and they will hit just about any lure. We fished mostly with crank and jerk baits and the pike where all over them. Since this was a catch and release lake, it is rumored to have some monster within these waters. However for us, we caught and released many nice sized but no trophy fish.

After an excellent day out on the water, we made our way back to the shoreline and our Wolverine. We once again loaded our Wolverine and headed back towards the main lodge via the trails. After making ourselves presentable, we headed to the lodge for an excellent supper prior to turning in for the night.

Next morning was our final day in this fishing excursion and today we would try our hand at some trout, but not before we fueled up on another excellent breakfast. After loosening our belt buckles by a notch, it was time to once again hit the trails.

We found ourselves enjoying the ride experience of the Wolverine R-Spec. The more seat time we got with the unit the more we loved it. As we navigated the trail soaking in the surrounding vistas, we got to truly appreciate the suspension and handling which provided for a comfortable ride. While on the subject of comfort, the cab space, seats and driving position all enhance this experience.

That was a “mind clearing” trail ride… I am sure you know the kind of trail ride I am making reference to. You know, the type of trail ride that just seems to reset your mind, that clears all your thoughts and makes you whole again. That is the kind of ride we experienced getting to our fishing hole.

We exited the vehicle, gathered our gear and took a short walk through a forested pathway to the lake. Glancing at the small body of water we, immediately had the feeling that this would be a great fishing hole for trout. We armed our fishing poles with some “Lake Clear” spoons, grab a container of bait worms and setout onto the lake.

Our lines haven’t hit the water yet, that the feeding frenzy had started. Each cast harvested a trout, the experience was unreal, nothing like I ever experienced before. In less than an hour into our adventure, we had filled our trout quota! Back on shore, still bewildered by what we just experienced, we quickly found ourselves back in the Wolverine heading back to the camp.

A soon as we got back at the resort, the outfitter graciously offered to clean and vacuum-pack our catch, so we took this opportunity to go explore the surrounding trails. The rest of the day was spent not only to enjoy the area but also to take pleasure with the Wolverine in this magnificent trail environment.

As all good things in life have a beginning they also unfortunately have an end. The next morning, after thanking our gracious hosts, we bid farewell to our friends at the “Fer à Cheval” outfitters and headed back to civilization.

This was a great experience for us as we got to enjoy the Yamaha products at a consumer level. Meaning we weren’t here to review the Yamaha products, we were here to go on a fishing excursion. The Wolverine got us where we needed to go in comfort and in confidence even in the roughest terrains. The Yamaha outboard is easy to start, highly efficient, maneuverable and convenient. This is all we cared about on this trip and we were extremely pleased that this excursion was powered by Yamaha!

The post The Ultimate Fishing Excursion Powered By Yamaha appeared first on UTV Planet Magazine.

For this trip our units of choice would be the Polaris RZR XP 1000 and the Can-Am Outlander L. This was our first excursion in this area and we weren’t really sure what type of terrain we would be tackling, we figured it would be a good idea to take an ATV along in case we faced trail width restrictions. The Polaris XP 1000 can handle anything you throw at it, however if it couldn’t fit through trail barriers it wouldn’t do us much good. We wanted to explore as much of the area as possible and didn’t want to be confined by width restrictions, better safe than sorry, right? With the units firmly secured to our trailer and the truck packed, we started our long road trip to Parent.

Upon our arrival at Parent, we decided to go checkout our accommodations prior to meeting up with our guide. For our first 2 nights we would be lodged at “Domaine Ombre du Vent”. Once checked in we made our way to our cottage; it had a rustic look and feel and provided all the comforts and amenities for a welcoming stay. Each unit can accommodate up to 5 people and provides a living area and full kitchen on the ground floor with 2 separate bedrooms on the top floor. Digital TV, Wi-Fi access and not to mention superior comfort and cleanliness, what more can you ask for! Although we didn’t get a chance to take part, “Domaine Ombre du Vent” also offers a wide variety of activities, something for the whole family to enjoy. I should also mention that the installation provides more than ample parking for our truck and trailer. We would like to thank the owners, Andre and Genevieve for their gracious hospitably during our stay and highly recommend “Domaine Ombre du Vent” to anyone visiting this area.

After making ourselves presentable, we finally meet up with our guide, Sylvie Lachapelle at “Hotel Central”. “Hotel Central” is the “go to spot” in Parent: it offers to its clientele great meals in its restaurant, weekly entertainment in its bar and over 20 rooms for rent. It is a great place to come and unwind and enjoy a few cocktails and good meal after a long day on the trails. Sylvie is a great conversationalist and we learnt some fascinating facts on her subject, some of which I would like to share. Not only does she and her husband run “Hotel Central”, which believe me is no small undertaking with all the patrons which visit on a daily basis. She is also president of the local ATV/UTV club (Club Quad Parent) responsible for the administration and upkeep of the entire local trail system that covers 315 km. Also interesting, all council members of “Club Quad Parent” are women, way to go ladies! To this add the fact that she also resides on the council committee for “Ville de La Tuque” and is a guide in her spare time. I mean “WOW !” a truly incredible woman with more than her hands full.

The next morning we meet up with Sylvie, which had already planned our ride itinerary for the day and after a hearty breakfast we were ready to hit the trails. We made a quick stop at “La Montagne du Radar” which is approximately 8 km from Parent. “La Montagne du Radar” is a dismantled military installation and is the highest summit in the region; from its peak you can enjoy a panoramic view of the area.

Although we never visited this area, we had heard of the “manually operated ferry” which allows you to cross Bazin River, so we had to check it out. After a short ride along some picturesque trails, we reached the ferry. Basically the “ferry” is a floating platform that you drive your vehicle onto and use a cable and pulley system to pull yourself across, a very unique experience indeed! Be warned, at the time of this article the ferry only accepts vehicles 60 inches in width! There are plans do revamp the installation to accept larger units, however this remains an ongoing project.

The next part of the journey was the highlight of the trip for me when Sylvie took us to visit a lakeside beach. Several kilometers of lakeshore riding along sandy terrain, which offered picture perfect vistas. The trails lead us to small sandy island point where we had to stop and soak in magnificent environment surrounding us. We all enjoy hitting the trails for our own personal reasons, for me being able to take the time and enjoy such a scenic decor is what trail riding is all about! The rest of the afternoon was spent exploring the local trails surrounding Parent before heading back to our camp. Our evening was spent at “Hotel Central” alongside some good company and food. We also got a chance to take part in the weekly entertainment provided by a local cover band. “Hotel Central” was filled to its capacity and this experience just confirmed to us that “Hotel Central” is the place to be while visiting Parent.

The next morning rolled around, too quickly may I add, and our destination for today would be Clova. Clova is a hamlet within the city of La Tuque, Quebec, Canada, in the Mauricie region. Clova is best known for the Clova railway station, built as part of the National Transcontinental Railway, now part of the Canadian National Railway. Distance between Parent and Clova (trail riding) is approximately 105 km; with our gear and lunches packed we were ready to start our journey.

Approximately 20 km into our ride is where we made our first stop at the “Barrage Rivière Bazin”. Once a Hydro-Quebec dam, this is now a frequented stop enjoyed by trail riders. Depending on the time of day and weather conditions when you visit, this location has somewhat of an eerie look, a place forgotten by time, which provides many photo opportunities.

We spent the rest of the day making our way along the trails toward Clova. All the trails we encountered along our journey provided for exceptional trail riding, nothing too extreme so that even the novice trail rider could enjoy. This is the opportune moment for me to mention that although the trails are clearly indicated, I recommended the use of a GPS. Also, essential riding and safety gear and the use of dusk masks if you are a large group.

We pulled in to Clova in late afternoon, as we pulled in I clearly remembered memories from my younger days spent hunting with my Dad in Clova. It seemed as time stood still for Clova, nothing seemed to have changed. Our group meet up with Dominic Vincent owner of “Auberge Clova” where we would be dining and spending the night. This inn is the perfect place for those seeking a truly authentic “woodsy” experience. Set on a hill in the village, this former school was fully renovated and converted into an inn.

After a great meal and a solid night’s rest, it was time to say goodbye to Clova and make our way back to Parent. The return trip was just as gratifying and although the same trails were taken, it still provided us with a unique riding experience. We pulled into Parent just in time for lunch, grabbed a quick bite, packed our gear and bid farewell to our newfound friend Sylvie and started our long route home.

I would like to bring one last item to your attention. If this area interests you, however you are concerned about a long road trip hauling your ATV or UTV, there is an alternative. “Randonnée Parent Inc.” offers ATV and UTV rentals and they are located right in Parent. They offer very affordable rates, new units and carry the Can-Am product line-up. Contact Gino Civitares from “Randonnée Parent Inc.” he will be more than happy to assist you.

In closing, you may remember from the start of this article that we brought an ATV along with us in case we encountered any trail width restrictions. Well I am pleased to report that besides the “ferry” (60-inch width) there is no need for concern, all trails can easily handle 64-inch units.

We would like to take a moment and show our appreciation to Haute-Mauricie Tourism for planning the logistics of this trip, and our guide Sylvie Lachapelle for planning our incredible itinerary and showing us the way. Below you will find a reference guide to the places we stayed during our trip. If the places we described sound like the type of accommodations you would like to visit during one of your trips, please use the links below to get additional information.

REFERENCE GUIDE

The post La Haute-Mauricie – The Adventure Continues appeared first on UTV Planet Magazine.

Our journey began at the city of “La Tuque” where we meet up with our guide Réjean Riendeau at “Motel de la Rivière”. This quaint motel offers more than adequate accommodations and ample secure parking for your truck, trailer and off-road vehicles. After a good night’s rest and a hearty breakfast, we were ready and eager to start our ride. We unloaded our vehicles and left our truck and trailer in the Motel’s parking for the duration of our 5-day trip.

We had been to the city of “La Tuque” many times over the years to cover the “12 hours of La Tuque” endurance race. In all the years we attended the event, this was the first time we actually had the opportunity to visit the city and its surrounding trail systems. The city of “La Tuque” offers the off-road enthusiast a very unique feature, a paved trail, yes I said paved! This paved trail allows you to cross the entire city and also enables you to reach gas stations, restaurants and lodging accommodations. It should be noted that pedestrians and cyclist also use this paved trail and that the use of off-road vehicles is not permitted in the streets of “La Tuque”.

Before leaving “La Tuque” and hitting the trails, we made a quick stop at “Parc des chutes de la Petite Rivière Bostonnais” (Waterfall Park). This tourist attraction is open year round and offers plenty of activities for the whole family. It is a great place to unwind and have lunch with the family and of course enjoy the breathtaking view of the waterfall from the observation tower. Best of all, free parking and no admittance fee! A definite must see while in this area.

We left “La Tuque” and made our way across the suspended bridge, which offered an exceptional view of the Saint-Maurice River and hit the trails. We had 75 kilometers to cover before getting to our first destination and faced exceptional trail conditions. From logging roads to tight wooded trails, all offering their unique scenic decors and stunning lake view vistas.

The trails are all clearly indicated and well-maintained allowing for good cruising speeds. We didn’t encounter any rough terrain, perfect trail conditions for even the entry-level rider. It’s important to note that during dry weather conditions it can get extremely dusty, so it’s imperative to bring the correct gear. Goggles and dust masks are a must during these conditions.

We arrived at our first destination “Domaine Desmarais” outfitters in early afternoon. An immense domain that covers a territory of 107 square kilometers with 32 lakes and all newly renovated solar powered cottages. Desmarais outfitters go beyond the traditional sense of an outfitter, sure hunting and fishing are on the menu, but it is also a prime site for off-roading and an ideal location for family oriented vacation. Various all-in packages are available; one will surely suit your needs and more importantly your budget.

Upon our arrival the owner Mr. Yannick Desmarais greeted us and invited us to lunch. During our luncheon Yannick talked to us about his future plans to expand his facilities to be even more accommodating for the off-road community. Yannick is a great visionary and personally I can’t wait to see if his plans materialize as they will be a definite asset to all those who practice off-roading in this area. We enjoyed the warm welcome and gracious hospitality extended to us by Yannick and his wife.

Once our tour of the facilities was complete, we were back on the trails for a short 40-kilometer ride to our next destination. This next section of trail we travelled was as easy going as the first. Some great casual riding allowing you to truly soak in what this gorgeous location had to offer. When organizing a trip we are always somewhat concerned about the trail conditions, especially when traveling with novice riders or small children. The uncertainty of getting lost or tackling trails that maybe too challenging for some may stop us from exploring a certain area. No need for concern here, as I mentioned before all trails are clearly marked and any skillset can ride here. Plus, since we are all smart off-roading enthusiasts, we all know that when exploring any new area a GPS is strongly recommend, right?

It was late afternoon by the time we rode into our final destination where we would be spending the next 2 days: “Pourvoirie Némiskau” outfitters. As I removed my helmet and stepped out of my UTV and took a good look around, I was immediately sold to the idea that this destination would be perfect for anyone travelling with friends or family. Kids playing on the lakeside beach, boats on the lake, riders unpacking their gear all in a peaceful atmosphere, as I said perfect!

This outfitting operation covers a territory of 32 square kilometers with 11 lakes and 19 superb rental cottages. Room rentals are also available in the lodge and adjacent pavilions. This outfitter offers 5-star dinning, boat and kayak rentals, spa and saunas, lakeside beach along with numerous recreational activities. As I mentioned 5-star dinning, I just wanted to emphasize that the dinning alone is well worth the trip. But be warned… Bring lose fitting clothing for your trip back, trust me you’ll need it as you may have gained a few unwanted pounds.

After way too much food and a solid night’s sleep we awoke to a pleasant surprise. The director of operations Mr. Stéphane Tremblay had organized a fishing excursion for us. After a light breakfast we hoped in our rides and headed out for a morning of fishing. All the lakes are within proximity of the outfitter, so we didn’t have far to travel. We reached a small secluded lake; weather was overcast with slight periods of rain, ideal fishing conditions. We spent a great morning out on the water and happy to report that the fish were cooperating and we managed to catch our daily quota of brook trout.

The remaining of our time at this location was spent enjoying its facilities and of course exploring the surrounding trails. We spent an incredible 2 days at this outfitter. The staff is friendly and courteous; the dinning is an experience in itself and we can’t forget to mention all the numerous recreational activities for the whole family to enjoy. We highly recommend “Pourvoirie Némiskau” and hope we get a chance to return in the not to distant future.

We had approximately 130 kilometers of riding to get back to “La Tuque”, so we said goodbye to “Pourvoirie Némiskau” and headed out. We took a different route on our way back, which was comprised of mostly logging roads. Since we were on a tight schedule to return, we saved time utilizing this route but lost all of “THE WOW FACTOR” from the previous trails we had ridden, the price to pay I guess when you are on a schedule.

We arrived at “La Tuque” early afternoon just in time for a quick bite at a local burger joint before heading back to our trailer. Once back at our trailer, we packed up but our trip wasn’t finished just yet. It was Thursday and it so happens that every Thursday the city of “La Tuque” has an outdoor happening they call “Jeudis centre-ville”, loosely translated “Downtown Thursday’s”. Basically they shutdown the downtown core of the city and each week a different band perform, so we had to check it out!

We stayed at a hotel situated downtown called “Auberge des lits” that was at walking distance from the event. It is an impressive place with impeccably clean modern rooms with a good deli style restaurant within the hotel. After making ourselves presentable, we went out for a relaxing supper and then took part in the festivities. The theme of the event for that week was country, so 2 bands were on the venue and they put on one heck of a show. Looking around it seemed that the whole city of “La Tuque” came out to participate in the outdoor concert and weather you liked country music or not, everyone seemed to manifest into a hardcore fanatic! A great way to end this off-roading adventure!

We would like to take a moment and show our appreciation to Haute-Mauricie Tourism for planning our incredible itinerary, and our guide Réjean Riendeau for showing us the way. Below you will find a reference guide to the places we stayed during our trip. If the places we described sound like the type of accommodations you would like to visit during one of your trips, please use the links below to get additional information.

REFERENCE GUIDE

The post La Haute-Mauricie – An Off-Road Adventure appeared first on UTV Planet Magazine.