Ice fishing and goldfish

It is a big bright red fish, with bulging eyes, a bit exotic, which clashes when hoisted above the white ice. “Redfish is one of the only representatives of the scorpionfish family living in Quebec, it’s our Nemo to us,” enthuses Rémi Aubin, true ambassador of ice fishing in La Baie, Saguenay. It is the fish that most attracts anglers here. »

Mary Tison
The Press

Ice fishing is enjoying a resurgence in popularity in the Saguenay, but it’s not just big goldfish. And this growth is not limited to Saguenay. Due to the pandemic, many Quebecers have turned to the outdoors to breathe easier and reduce their anxiety. Ice fishing has benefited from this enthusiasm.

“It’s dazzling, assures Rémi Aubin. What happens is that there are no trips, no hobbies, no activities. People say to themselves: “We play cards or we go fishing”. It happens everywhere, people come ashore, they want to go fishing. On weekends, there are a lot of people on the ice. Luckily the fjord is big! »

The Aubin family has operated a business in La Baie since 1932, Accommodation des 21. Up front, there is a convenience store. Behind, a fishing shop. The trade’s annual turnover has increased by 30% since the start of the pandemic. “This morning, I had to equip about forty fishermen. And that’s just a Monday morning, it’s not even a weekend morning. »

The fishing huts offered by the outfitters are reserved for the coming weeks. We started offering evening packages.

” In a trance ”

Rémi Aubin is quick to explain his passion for ice fishing. “It’s peace of mind,” he says. I work very hard all week. When I leave for my day off, when I sit outside on the ice, when I lower my line to the bottom, I fall into a trance. »

If it is really cold, he takes refuge in a hut, but otherwise he prefers to stay outside. “It’s the oxygen it provides, the scenery around, there are the sounds we hear, the wind, there are the sunrises, the sunsets. »

Fishing on the fjord has its particularities, and in particular tides that can reach 6 m. “It’s impressive, we’re going to go up for six hours, like in an elevator. You can see the city from above or below. »

The water is salty, the fjord is terribly deep. And, something rare in eastern North America, we are allowed to fish for groundfish in winter, such as cod, turbot and the famous redfish. Of course, resources and quotas must be respected.

“In the fjord, you don’t know what you can catch,” says Rémi Aubin. There are fish that live at the bottom and are bigger than us.

There is also the satisfaction of tasting the fruit of the day, following a recipe inspired by the moment: fillets, a gratin of three cheeses, mushrooms, a little lemon juice, a secret sauce and a little white wine. whipped. “These are bites of love. It’s like the end of the day. »

“The other pleasure is to share with friends, or with young people who are being introduced to fishing. To see the happiness in their eyes. »

Initiation

Rémi Aubin took part in several initiation days near his home. But such events can be found in many other regions. For the past five years, the Fauna Heritage Foundation, a subsidiary of the Quebec Federation of Hunters and Fishermen, has redistributed government financial assistance to organizers of initiation events for ice fishing. This year, more people than ever have applied.

There is no exhaustive list of these events, so consult the local media or get information from SEPAQ, regional parks and outfitters.

Even city dwellers can get involved: you can rent equipment, shelter and a nice hole in the ice at the Old Port of Montreal. However, a fishing license is required, which can be obtained online or at several Canadian Tire stores.