Who ever would have thought when I was planning my trip to Montreal that I would spend an afternoon ice fishing? Sure enough, I was introduced to a hugely popular winter experience only minutes away from downtown Montreal and I was impressed.
Opened January 12, 2013, Peche Blanche Vieux Montreal has already been attracting crowds from Montreal and abroad. In the few hours I was there, I met a family on vacation from France, locals who came out regularly and another group of guys were arriving just as I was leaving! They have had nearly 5,000 guests since they opened! I have to say, this Montreal based ice fishing business is off to a great start. They have only been open for less than 1 month and its popularity is growing!
Pêche Blanche Vieux-Montréal has everything you need to get started on something that is somewhat of a Canadian winter tradition. Their accessibility makes it perfect for anyone of any ability to get out on the ice and give ice fishing a try. They are situated right on the edge of the St Lawrence in the Old Montreal Port Marina making this seasonal fishing village literally minutes away from town (it took me less than 15 minutes to walk from the InterContinental hotel). In no time, they had me set up with a day fishing license, rods and a bucket with minnows. I was taken to a pine ice shed (aka: ice shanty) that was the ultimate in comfort. The smell of fresh cut pine lingered in the hut that was heated with not one, but 2 heaters! In spite of how cold it was outside, inside I could undo my jacket and take my gloves off! All the holes were pre-drilled and ready for my fishing line.
I wasn’t sure what I would do if I actually caught a fish but Jean Desjardins, owner and founder, assured me that all I had to do was yell! They would be there to do all the dirty work! Even better…they would also package up my fish so that I could take it to one of the local restaurants to have it cooked up for dinner. They really have thought of everything!
Jean’s passion for fishing is evident as he talks about his business. He also runs summer fishing tours out on the St Lawrence River. He wants Montrealers and tourists alike to discover Montreal as a four-season fishing destination and so his dream of opening the Ice Fishing Village in the Old Port was born. As we sit in the warmth of the ice shanty, Jean shows me the depth charts for the river on his phone and talks about the nuances of fishing for the various fish in the area, including walleye, perch and burbot. He explains to me that one of the reasons people have been so successful in catching fish within the enclave of his fishing village is that the marina provides a protected environment for the fish with no current compared to further out on the river. It is the perfect fishing ground. While it was catch and release for us today, the average catch for walleye has been between 1.5 and 4 pounds.
The fishing village has 30 heated shelters with more space for open air fishing on the ice. The various shelters can hold groups of 8 – 12 people. Weekends get quite busy – it is recommended to make a reservation.
Early in the season, just like with a skating rink, Jean worked at flooding the surface and creating a solid base of ice for the village. He had me in stitches over his stories from the Christmas snow storms. With record snow fall, Jean needed to get the snow packed down and levelled off for the ice village to take shape. Armed with a group of friends and snow shoes, they spent the days running back and forth, packing down the snow. It has paid off…the ice is currently a meter thick and it is expected that the village will stay open until the end of March. It looks like Peche Blanche Vieux Montreal is in for a great season!
Related Links:
- Canadian News Wire: Ice fishing in the Old Port of Montreal
- Ice Fishing Hot Spot in the Old Port
- Journal Metro: Vieux Port: 1500 personnes a la peche blanche (french article)
- 11 Basic Ice Fishing Tips
- Montreal Bucket List: Unique winter experiences you have to try
- Peche Blanche Vieux Montreal – for reservations, call 514-284-3456
While I was a guest of Pêche Blanche Vieux-Montréal, the views and opinions are my own.
Sounds like a great time. Thanks
Posted by Wambui Bahati | February 19, 2013, 9:39 amHeated shacks? Wouldn’t that melt the ice?
Posted by andy1076 | February 19, 2013, 10:37 amThe heated shack also had a floor – pure decadence! Was cold enough to keep the jacket on, but warm enough for me to relax and take my gloves off. The day I was there was super cold and I was very happy to have the heaters. There was no risk of the ice melting…the owner actually had special plugs for the night time to prevent the holes from freezing right through.
Posted by Anita Mac | February 19, 2013, 2:01 pmNice! wow so much has changed since the days of digging a hole outside and hoping to catch something before freezing lol
Posted by andy1076 | February 19, 2013, 7:15 pmTotally! Things have come a long way!
Posted by Anita Mac | February 19, 2013, 9:53 pmIce fishing looks interesting. I wonder if my look would improve; I’ve been fishing twice in my life and not caught anything other than an eel (the trip organised cut my line as he said that we shouldn’t reel in an eel).
Posted by The Guy | February 19, 2013, 11:36 amI am sure your luck would improve – the man who runs Peche Blanche Vieux Montreal knows fish. He was explaining the ins and outs of fishing in the area…between the currents, the water depth and years of experience, I am sure he would have you reeling in a fish. He has a great set up so close to town…I was impressed.
Posted by Anita Mac | February 19, 2013, 2:05 pmHope you are enjoying your time in Montreal. Thanx for sharing your experience. I did not even know there is ice fishing in town. Might give it a whirl!
Posted by sph3re | February 19, 2013, 6:56 pmHad a blast! You will have to give the ice fishing a whirl. It is amazing that it is so close to the city…no need to drive out on the ice. You can just walk over, and when you are done, pop across the street for a drink or dinner.
Posted by Anita Mac | February 19, 2013, 9:52 pmIce fishing is something I’ve been wanting to try! Maybe I’ll head there this weekend!
Posted by The World Wanderer (@TheWrldWanderer) | February 19, 2013, 10:18 pmPerfect spot to try it out! Close to everything.
Posted by Anita Mac | February 19, 2013, 11:10 pmThe only introduction I’d ever had to ice fishing is where Jack talks about it in Titanic lol… it looks great fun!! xxx
Posted by jenniferbnixon | February 20, 2013, 3:45 amI don’t remember that part! Such a classic movie too. My ice fishing excursion was fun…I imagine with a group of people it could be a riot!
Posted by Anita Mac | February 20, 2013, 9:18 amthis is amazing
Posted by juan | March 27, 2013, 8:03 pmGlad you like it! I was very impressed with the setup – I see a bright future ahead for these guys!
Posted by Anita Mac | March 28, 2013, 5:35 pm