It's time to try... ice fishing!

In the Bas-Saint-Laurent, you’ll find a number of sites where you can go to tease the fish, either by the river or on a lake. Before you get out your hand-warmer bags and lower your line, we answer your most frequently asked questions.

What kind of fish can I catch in winter in the Lower St. Lawrence?

If you drop your line in a lake, you can hope for brook trout (also known as speckled trout) or yellow perch. At the mouth of a river, near the river, it’s more likely to be rainbow smelt wriggling underwater. Either way, you’ll have an excellent supper.

Is it certain that I’ll be able to bring home fish?

Nothing in life is certain. And especially not when it comes to fishing! The abundance of fish can depend on a number of factors, including the tide and the weather. It’s the unpredictability of this activity that makes it so much fun. At best, you can fit up to 60 smelts in your cooler. At worst, you’ll be at the supermarket on the way home!

Do I need my own equipment?

No, you don’t. At some sites, all equipment is provided with the cabin rental, including brimbals – those little poles used specifically for winter fishing – and bait. If you’re superstitious, you can also use your own equipment. As conditions vary from place to place, it’s important to check them carefully before booking or travelling.

Is it a safe activity?

At organized sites, ice thickness is carefully watched, and activities are shut down as soon as there is any sign of danger. Independent ice fishing requires constant vigilance. It’s better to be over-cautious than under-cautious. Unfortunately, global warming is making the seasons shorter, as we have seen in recent years.

What’s the point of waiting for hours over a hole in the ice?

It’s the perfect activity for getting away from it all and slowing down. Long hours in a small, heated cabin in the middle of nowhere – that’s what we call quality time.

Accessible, ice fishing lets everyone enjoy winter, whatever their age or physical condition.

And you can’t measure the satisfaction of pulling a fish out of the water until you’ve experienced it yourself (those who know know.)

Où s’initier à la pêche blanche?

You can try out ice fishing on Lake Témiscouata, either by renting a cabin at the Écosite de la tête du lac Témiscouata (Saint-Cyprien) or by taking an excursion to Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac. In the same region, L’Étang de pêche Lac-du-Repos (Saint-Eusèbe) also offers this activity, but only by reserving a cabin.

In L’Isle-Verte (www.pecheisleverte.com), you can invite yourself into one of the cabins that appear every year on the ice floe at the mouth of the Rivière Verte. But be quick! Places sell out fast.

In the Rimouski area, fishing takes place in the ZEC Bas-Saint-Laurent, on Lac Chic-Chocs, but on an autonomous basis. No equipment is provided. Smelt fishermen can also be found every winter at the mouth of the Rimouski River. You can keep up to date with conditions by joining this Facebook group.