FISHING LODGES

La Réserve Beauchêne

The region was first accessed by winter road for the purpose of logging in the early 1900’s and then by an extension of the railroad to accommodate the building of the pulp and paper mill in Témiscaming in the early 1920’s. Beauchêne Station, a settlement on the banks of the Ottawa River originally built to house the logging company’s workers, was an early drop off point for outdoorsmen headed for Beauchêne via a two and a half mile portage.

In 1923 Lawrence Jones of Louisville, Kentucky, the owner of Franklin Distillers (Four Roses Whiskey) hired Roland Zeitz to find an unspoiled location to build a private fishing camp and, in that same year, on Roland’s advice Mr. Jones arranged a lease of the property with the Quebec Government. In 1924, Mr. Jones commissioned Mr. Seitz to build the camp which is now called the “White House” - a gracious, columned Southern Colonial style central lodge. Roland and his wife Ethel, the original caretakers, stayed at Beauchêne for over 40 years with their family.

In 1987 Dick Waterous, a lawyer from Brantford Ontario, acquired the lease and began building his dream of having the finest fishing lodge in Eastern Canada. With careful attention to conservation for over 20 years and dedication to the highest standards Beauchêne is just that: one of the finest fishing lodges in North America!

"Beauchêne - a place that comes about as close as you can get today to a certifiable got-everything angling heaven." - Bob Izumi, Host of the "Real Fishing" television show