Ice fishing

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Ice fishing, known to the Québécois as “la pêche blanche” (tr. white fishing) is a tradition borrowed from the Inuit and First Nations peoples and a recreational activity well-suited to our climate. The term “pêche blanche” makes Johnny Wylde, an Algonquin from Pikogan in Abitibi, laugh.

“We didn’t set ourselves up for days on a frozen lake,” Johnny recounts. “With an Elder, we dug a few holes in two or three feet of water. The hook was wrapped in pork rind and the bottom of the line protected with leather. Once the bait was set, we returned to camp to drink our coffee and the next day, we usually had an enormous pike. We covered the holes with fir branches and a bit of snow to hide them and keep the water from freezing. And out of respect for the Elder, we never revealed our fishing spot.”

You should be aware that ice fishing is a regulated activity: accessible lakes and ponds, permits, dates, quotas, bait, species and number of lines. Inform yourself in relation to the region; ice fishing is currently banned in our area north of Hwy 117.

The best solution is to go through an outfitter whose services vary with the offer: holes in the ice, fishing gear and bait, cabins for staying warm, meals, length of the package deal… Ice fishing is available until the second week in March, depending on conditions.

The technique: meditation, or sport?

The brimbale is a counterbalance system to which the line is attached; wait till the flag rises. If you prefer to jig your line, the technique called “la dandinette” is for you.

For Stéphane Denis, owner of Kanatha-Aki at Val-des-Lacs, “La peche blanche has now become a great opportunity to get together with family or friends.”

 

Kanatha-Aki – 819 321-1890 – kanatha-aki.com/laurentides-quebec/en/fishing/ice-fishing/

 

More from this author by clicking on his photo below.

Daniel Gauvreau

 

Daniel Gauvreau80 Posts

Récréologue et journaliste de formation, tour à tour organisateur, formateur, consultant, chroniqueur et traducteur dans le milieu du plein air, Daniel Gauvreau est passionné d’activité physique en extérieur. De retour d’un périple au Québec et en France, il a choisi les Hautes-Laurentides pour satisfaire son amour de la nature. Semi-retraité, moniteur de ski de fond à SFMT, son expérience profite désormais aux lecteurs de Tremblant Express. Recreation professional and journalist by education, organizer, trainer, consultant, columnist and translator about the outdoors by experience, Daniel Gavreau is passionate about physical activity outside. Following a trip through Québec and France, he chose the Hautes-Laurentides as the place to satisfy his love of nature. Semi-retired and teaching cross-country skiing with SFMT, he now offers his experience to Tremblant Express readers.

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