Ice fishing season well underway at Dominion Park, Renforth Wharf

A cold week leading into a sunny Saturday made the conditions perfect for a weekend of ice fishing in Saint John, N.B.

A cold week leading into a sunny Saturday made the conditions perfect for a weekend of ice fishing at either Dominion Park in Saint John or the Renforth Wharf in Rothesay, N.B.

While anglers have already been on the ice for a number of weeks with the winter fishing season running from January 1 to March 31, this was one of the first weekends where the ice was thick enough to safely bring out fishing huts for set up.

It was especially busy at the Renforth Wharf, as this weekend the town removed barricades blocking access to the water to allow huts to go out. Only all-terrain vehicles (ATV’s) are permitted to tow out shacks due to the ice safety concerns.

Anglers say this weekend is around the same time they got onto the ice last year.

“Socializing, meeting some people, and just enjoying your time away,” says Darin Lamont and Rolie Furlong about their favorite part of getting onto the ice. “Winter’s long but a lot of fun. Our wives come out and they enjoy out here too, so it makes it fun.”

Last year the ice fishing season only lasted around a month due to warm temperatures. This year, anglers are hoping the recent cold snap has built up enough ice to allow for at least six to eight weeks of solid fishing.

The main fish being caught is smelt at either location, while anglers will begin fishing for hake in the weeks ahead when they can move farther out onto the Kennebecasis River.

There are rental options available at Renforth for those looking to try the sport where a guide will provide everything needed for a successful fishing experience, although catching fish are never a guarantee. For anglers the best part about hitting the ice is the camaraderie shared by all those around.

“This is my first year putting it permanent hut (at Dominion) and I made a few friends already within like the first day, so I like it here,” Marc Frigault says, adding everyone on the ice is there for one another. “You want tricks they got it. Little cheats, they got them, but there’s no good in sharing them. If you want to know, come on the ice.”

While fishing is the main venture taking place, there is plenty of other action happening on the ice.

“We get families out here skating and snowmobiling and we let them in our shacks and keep them warm,” says one fisherman is Rothesay who has fished the area for 55 years. “We try to tell people to stay away from the wharf because the wharf is never freezing.”

While the ice is plenty safe for fishing, anglers and officials urge caution when travelling on the frozen surfaces which are never 100 per cent safe.

Both Dominion Park and Renforth Wharf will have fishing events for the public over the Family Day long weekend and from February 15-17 anyone can fish without a license for Winter Fish NB days.

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