An all-consuming passion for fishing and adventure

The couple then found themselves with the most beautiful backyard imaginable: Parc national des Grands-Jardins. "We thought, instead of escaping the city every weekend to be in nature, why not live in nature’s midst?"

This is how a chap who works as a sales representative for Sépaq simply followed "this life signal" to finally answer what he describes as a real "call of the mountains."

Mainly on the road for his sales rep work, or otherwise telecommuting since the pandemic, the 29-year-old fishing enthusiast has made Charlevoix and its peaks his base camp since last summer.

More than ever, he takes great pleasure in exploring the nearby summits in his hiking boots or on skis. Not to mention the exciting rivers in the vicinity just waiting to be fished, like the Gouffre, which runs alongside the village of Saint-Urbain. "I can go fishing on a Tuesday morning before I head off to work!"

And don't be fooled into thinking that this is just a job description where the sales rep is content to test out adventures close to home. First and foremost, it's the story of a real outdoor enthusiast who trips on escaping into nature. A young professional who found his dream job representing Sépaq, notably at tourism trade shows and on promotional missions.

It's easy to see that he’s a natural at his job, as the friendly adventurer is often asked to recount his most recent exploits. He always finds the words to highlight the exceptional territories he visits at such a frenetic pace. "My greatest strength as a Sépaq delegate is in the field, right where the action is!"

From Frisbee to fly rod

A top-level Ultimate Frisbee athlete - he was world champion in 2014 -the dude nicknamed "Frank" gravitated towards the sport from the age of 12 to 24. Clinging to his disc while perfecting his technique and traveling across the country and beyond for competitions, he abandoned his other youthful passions for lack of time…

Starting with the fishing and outdoor activities he enjoyed as a child. Between a trip to Walt Disney World or a stay in a Sépaq wildlife reserve or park for the family vacation, it was always the nature destination that was the obvious choice for young Francis. "I must already have had good powers of persuasion, because no matter what my sister said, my parents always ended up taking us to a fishing camp in Réserve des Laurentides or elsewhere," recalls our Frank, with the burst of laughter of a good sport.

Fishing is a family heritage he's been happily reviving in recent years. Since retiring from the professional Ultimate Frisbee circuit, Francis has almost bulimically replaced professional matches and all that goes with them with outdoor adventures experienced all over Québec. “I'm hyperactive and I embrace this as part of the real me. I thrive on having a crazy schedule!”

That's probably why his colleagues and friends are so impressed by his often offbeat exploits, which keep Frank's social networks buzzing. For the sake of adventure, there's no stopping the dynamic curly-haired guy. Original outings that he illustrates in beautiful ways, particularly on Instagram (@frank.vallee).

Fly-fishing above all. Hiking and mountain skiing too. Then, more recently, hunting. A new all-consuming passion that feeds his passion for learning. And always with the desire to experience things in new and original ways, in a spirit of exploration.

Even if it means taking a bicycle equipped with a dolly to transport the motor of a rowboat along the rough, muddy paths of a Charlevoix wildlife reserve. "Crazy plans," jokingly simplifies the angler, who adds that a thunderstorm was also an uninvited guest during this one-of-a-kind day. "A nightmare. Anyone would have said it was a disaster. But later, there was a rainbow on the lake and the fishing was just incredible!"

For Francis Vallée, that's what it's all about: finding a way to create unforgettable moments and share them in good company. "For me, a trip is 99% adventure and 1% fishing!” Often, Frank enjoys a getaway to the great outdoors with his girlfriend Béatrice, but also with a group of friends who tag along according to the projects that have been launched.

"What really gets me going is setting off on an adventure with people I love. A Friday night dinner just isn't enough! I want to have breakfast, lunch, and supper with them for two or three days. Quality time is priceless!"

Frank has an insatiable desire to create lasting memories with his gang of friends. For our protagonist, this time together experienced at the rhythm of nature reaches its apotheosis during a two hour stint in a rowboat…where absolute silence reigns. "We've said everything we need to say to each other by not saying a single thing..." he intones philosophically.

Game plan

From Réserve faunique La Vérendrye to Port-Cartier-Sept-Îles, by way of Parc national d'Opémican or Parc national de la Gaspésie, Francis Vallée explores the length and breadth of Québec. Waiting for news at the other end of the phone, his mom is always surprised to hear from him. "I'm a bit of a nomad," affirms the dude who never hesitates to hit the road when adventure awaits.

Francis points out that his role as sales representative gives him no insider information when it comes to booking his stays. Instead, he uses his own technique to imagine and organize his adventures in the Sépaq network.

Notebook in hand, he was preparing for the opening of day fishing bookings in Charlevoix at the time of the interview. In a well-ordered grid, our sporting enthusiast had compiled statistics and characteristics of several of the waterways he was considering for this summer, to guide his choices.

When the time comes, he'll have different possible scenarios, depending on availability or the results of the random draws. Plan A, Plan B, Plan C... Francis Vallée is obviously never short of ideas!

So it's with the meticulousness inculcated during his athletic life that he imagines and prepares his expeditions into the wild in national parks and wildlife reserves. The more row boating and canoeing he looks forward to, or the more hikes and portaging that lie ahead, the happier Francis will be.

It's an approach that has led him to discover many little gems in remote corners that are well worth a visit, even far off the beaten path. "I look around the network for places where there are fewer people. You have to dare to go there!" concludes the fishing and outdoor fan, a contagious enthusiasm in his voice.

Three exceptional adventures

1. Lac Walker, Réserve faunique de Port-Cartier–Sept-îles

Francis Vallée has no hesitation when it comes to describing Lac Walker, the jewel of Réserve faunique de Port-Cartier–Sept-îles. "It's simply the most beautiful lake I've ever been lucky enough to see!" “An exceptional fishing trip,” describes our outdoor sporting nut, still dazzled by this stay in a rustic camp, far from civilization. The deepest lake in Québec at 280 metres, the imposing waterway is said to hide some real mastodons. "The biggest speckled trout I've ever caught. There are monsters in there!"

2. Lac-Brûlé sector, Réserve faunique des Laurentides

Just a few hours from Québec City, a real adventure awaits anglers who want to reel in a monster catch in a wild environment, but with just enough facilities to make life easier and more comfortable. This adventure fishing zone in Réserve faunique des Laurentides, renowned for the quality of its catches, is offered as a package by Sépaq. This is a remote zone where top-notch waterways are accessible via a series of canoeable segments and portages. "It's a sector for adventurers," emphasizes Francis Vallée, who never misses the chance to  return year after year. The result is extraordinary peace and quiet, featuring lakes that are fished only a few times a year and are home to trophy trout.

3. A province-wide fishing road trip

Plotting an itinerary to maximize his fishing road trip, Francis Vallée had the brilliant idea of making a series of visits to Réserve faunique La Vérendrye, Parc national d'Aiguebelle, and Parc national d’Opémican. “It's a long road trip, but it's a great one," confirms the angler, who appreciated each place for its unique qualities. The vast La Vérendrye reservoirs "are walleye heaven in Québec." In Aiguebelle, Francis and his girlfriend Béatrice were surprised by Lac Lois, where they caught their biggest walleye ever. Upon their arrival in Témiscamingue for a visit to Opémican, the waters of the Kipawa did not disappoint. Bass, walleye, and lake trout were ready and waiting. "The three establishments are all close by. And it's multi-species fishing time! Definitely one of the best fishing road trips I've done in Québec."