Our ice fishing experience in Saguenay

In our latest article about our stay in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, I told you about our amazing experience of winter via ferrata at Parc Aventures Cap Jaseux, a great time that I had the chance to enjoy! While I was doing that activity, the guide told me about another experience I’m going to tell you about today: renting a beach fishing hut to try ice fishing on the ice.

I’ll admit that a few days earlier, we had seen countless huts on the ice around Saguenay and La Baie. At first, we had no idea what they really were, until my guide explained it to me during my via ferrata outing. Mélanie had already seen this activity on Manawa, but we hadn’t initially planned to book it. It turns out we changed our minds on site, because it looked really nice to try, and above all to spend some time on the ice as a family.

As with the other articles, I should point out that we’re writing this piece in partnership with the Manawa website, the nature/outdoor activity booking site that we’ve been recommending for years.

Even if it wasn’t a huge success in terms of fishing (haha), we had a really pleasant time there! In any case, I hope to make you want to try this winter experience, because it’s truly out of the ordinary (for us living in Guadeloupe, obviously…).

Since I had already been there a few days earlier, I already knew the route. The hut rental is for a full day, and it’s available starting at 8 a.m. I’ll admit we were more than an hour’s drive away, so since we were on vacation, we didn’t really feel like getting up that early. We adjusted the timing to arrive at 10 a.m. on site, at Parc Aventures Cap Jaseux. We had checked the weather, and a “warm” day was expected, as they say. And I’ll admit that, indeed, we arrive at the site and it’s only “-2°C”—meaning that compared to the -15/-20°C days we’d had recently, you can clearly feel the difference! On top of that, it’s snowing a little and snow is expected all morning, nice for creating a great winter atmosphere—not necessarily ideal for a big blue sky, haha!

We check in at reception and head down to the same pavilion where I had met for the via ferrata, at the very bottom of the site. Émilie, our guide, is already waiting for us. We hit it off really well with her and the kids. She quickly explains the concept, but there isn’t that much to know in itself. She tells us she already came to turn on the heater in the hut before we arrived and that everything is already set up on site. She also explains which fish we’re allowed to keep and which ones to release! A few minutes of explanations and we’re off on foot from the pavilion toward our fishing hut for the day. It’s worth noting that there’s really nothing to eat on site, so we planned to have a picnic with the kids in the hut—we figured it would be pretty cool.

We set off and head down to the seashore. Of course, the fjord is completely frozen and we walk toward our beautiful red hut, clearly visible from the coast. We also pass by those famous piles of ice along the shore, notably due to the presence of a strong tidal range in the area (6 m). The ice builds up along the edge and breaks apart, which always creates really beautiful shapes! We’re careful not to step into the water there and set off for a short ten-minute walk on the ice. Everyone is happy to be there—it’s still snowing!

Émilie joins us by snowmobile when we arrive at the hut to explain a few things, especially about the stove. She leaves us her number in case of any issue or if we need anything—she can be available, which is always nice. We discover our little fishing hut for the day. It’s a small hut of just a few square meters, no more, with a bench to sit on, shelves to store our bags and other little things, and of course our four holes that were drilled that very morning by Émilie. On the wall, our four fishing rods are hanging. At reception, we were given small pieces of chicken to use as bait.

We settle into the hut around 10:30 a.m. and set up our rods. Émilie gave us a few tips for fishing, telling us that the fish were mostly on the bottom of the fjord at that spot, at around 60 m. So there’s no point lingering at intermediate depths or “near the surface.” We drop our bait like the great fishermen we are (haha). The principle is simple: wait until the line goes slack to reach the bottom and then, little by little, reel the line up through the depth, and repeat that for hours! The kids are happy to be there in this overheated little cube. On that note, we have to turn down the stove because it’s clearly too hot inside even though it’s barely 0°C outside.

Mélanie and I are pleasantly surprised to see the kids stay pretty patient even though nobody catches anything for more than 2 hours! What’s sometimes a bit tricky is that our lines get tangled and each time we spend a little while untangling everything. We take a good lunch break at noon in the hut, which feels good for everyone. The experience is nice to do because at times there’s a full-on snowstorm outside, but I’ll admit the kids start to get a bit fed up after not catching anything for so long (understandably!).

I decide to bundle up with Téo and go outside for a bit, since it’s really pleasant out—the warmest day we’ve had since arriving in the area. We take a few photos, Téo has a blast on the ice and plays with the snow like crazy. I’ll admit that going out like that on a frozen fjord is also part of the day’s experience—it’s really funny to walk right in the middle of nowhere. We look at all the huts around and decide to go see some people fishing outside in the distance. About a 10-minute walk and we meet a son and his father having a great time fishing. He explains that today isn’t a big fishing day and that there are many factors to take into account. Depending on the day, fishing can be very good, but sometimes, like today, fish are scarce—they’re not hungry, as they say, haha. They show us how they use their SONAR, a small device that lets them see their line underwater and watch fish pass by. It’s honestly really well done, and you can clearly see fish follow the bait, get close, sometimes swim right past it, etc. It’s a whole other world of fishing like that—less natural, but it still seemed pretty fun. Yet they’ve only caught one tiny little red fish since the beginning of the morning, so not amazing!

We spend about half an hour with them—really nice, by the way—and they even give the kids a KitKat! We continue our walk outside with Téo, because it feels great out! There are several spots on the ice where existing holes are marked with a line waiting (out of the water). In reality, these are holes already made and available for certain people.

We head back to the hut, still under snow that stops at times. Mélanie and Louis still haven’t caught anything either. We try again with Téo too, but unfortunately it doesn’t happen. We end the day empty-handed! Still, we had an excellent time in this hut! We leave the hut around 3:30 p.m. and head back toward the edge of the fjord. Émilie is waiting for us at the pavilion and we thank her for the day.

In reality, we had a wonderful day, especially because we spent time as a family and it allowed us to be together here in this small space! The walk outside on the ice is also really nice to do, honestly! Even though we didn’t catch anything, the idea of staying here all day was really nice and it’s a great family idea without a doubt. Sure, we would have preferred to catch a few fish, obviously, but that’s nature—that’s how it is. For us, we stayed about 5 hours and that was enough with the kids, but it’s clearly possible to stay much longer!

As usual, everything will of course depend on your starting point in the region and where you’re staying. On our side, we were staying out in the countryside near Alma, about a 1-hour drive away. To make it easier for you to get to the Discovery Center, you’ll find the exact point directly on Google Maps below.

Access obviously depends on where you’re based in the region and your arrival point. On our side, we were staying in the countryside near Alma, which meant about an hour’s drive. To find your way easily, you’ll find the exact location right here on Google Maps. If you plan to explore Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean with complete freedom, having a car is clearly the most practical solution. As often on our trips, we used the DiscoverCars comparison tool, which checks many rental companies, and we got a very good rate. Consider taking a look at the different offers to find the one best suited to your stay.

For this trip, we tried HomeExchange for the first time. The concept is based on home swapping between travelers via a points system. Thanks to the points we had accumulated, we were able to stay in the home of a Quebec family nearby. If the concept intrigues you, you can discover the platform and sign up via our referral link: it gives you (and us too) 250 bonus points, potentially the equivalent of about two nights depending on the destinations. Always appreciated!

If you prefer classic accommodations, here are also a few interesting places to consider in the area:

• Gîte du Lac Docteur : This guesthouse in Saint-Honoré, set on the shore of a lake, offers comfortable family rooms with a balcony and direct access to the water (canoe, kayak, pedal boat). The setting is peaceful and close to the Monts-Valin, with a reputation for a very warm welcome and a hearty homemade breakfast.
• Exode en Nature : In Sainte-Rose-du-Nord, this eco-friendly cabin for four offers an unusual experience in the middle of the forest, with a private spa, sauna, and river views. The environment is especially quiet and close to the Saguenay Fjord.
• Ferme Jardin Potager : Set in an ancestral farm from the early 20th century in Sainte-Rose-du-Nord, this charming address offers rooms and apartments with superb views of the fjord. The atmosphere is authentic, blending heritage and nature, with attentive hospitality and a homemade breakfast.

You can also browse the map below to find other accommodations depending on the area that appeals to you most.

Alright, I’ll stop here for this article about the ice fishing experience! I hope you enjoyed it, and don’t hesitate to go try the activity! In another, more athletic style, I really invite you to read our story about a dog sledding outing in Saguenay, an amazing experience—according to us, even more memorable than last year’s in the Laurentians.

See you soon,

Written by Sylvain PONS

I had the opportunity to explore the beauty of this country I love on several different occasions and in different places (Canadian Rockies, the Island of Newfoundland for 1 month, Yukon and Québec)!

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