Here goes my pecker!
“It’s cold. It’s so cold! It’s windy. Again the snow removal tank! It’s freezing !!!! Could it be?!? Are you going to finish it!?! …. “We hear a lot of this beautiful language these days. I say the same thing, but it’s just getting started. Keep your shovel close…
Now I know, some people will say to me: “You’re negative, I ski, snowboard, snowshoe, skidoo and skate! If you don’t like winter, it’s because you don’t do anything. Dress warmly! You’ll see: it’s worse than it looks! “If I want to play cards, watch a lot of good movies, read or just do 4 hours of Facebook on my phone, I’m allowed! We can do that all year long. Rain or shine! For free! With a glass or two or a good coffee and as many chips and/or small carrots as I want, warm with my couch comforter. I’m not a bad person as far as I know! I wouldn’t say that I don’t like winter, but let’s just say that I’m harder to convince to go out.
Last year, I made the same resolutions as every other year: go outside, move more, eat less or better… So it’s the end of January and after barely 25 days, I’m about to give up like all the previous years. And that’s when some friends propose us to go fishing for small fishes of the channels. Oh boboy !!! How can I get out of this situation? I won’t be able to refuse, because I’ve made “beautiful resolutions”. Grrrr. I don’t know that kind of fishing. Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade sounds far away. Far away, like Quebec City, traffic and stress. Oh no, the kids in the car who are stubborn all along. And tomcod, I’ve never seen that on the grocery store shelves, there must be a good reason, no? Now that I think about it, have you ever looked for it?…. While I’m thinking about it, my boyfriend is super excited about it. So here it is: no choice, we say yes. Wait a minute! That’s all well and good, but how much does it cost? Are you like ice fishing, out in the freezing wind? The hut will cost 2 million, we know well, they are waiting for us to make money…. Yeah, not a very positive thought… New Year, it also means making efforts. But 4 adults and 5 children in a hut, no internet ishhh! There will be a certain death, an injured person if we are very lucky. Despair!
All I have is the name of the fishing center my friend gave me. Mario Leduc. I type that name on Google and I will visit their website. First link that comes up, that’s a good sign. And I quickly realized that I was going to have a mautadine on a beautiful day! My reading turned out to be as exciting as it was reassuring. Here are the highlights:
- Parking directly next to your fishing cabin, which makes it much easier to move the things you need from the car to the interior of your cabin. Proudly cleaned after each use. (Good news: I’ll be able to fill up my car like I’m moving!)
- Comfortable cottages including wood stove, firewood, fishing lines, bait, hand washing wipes. Can accommodate 4 to 24 people. And there is electricity! I will be able to bring a coffee maker for my nerves and a wire to charge my cell phone. We are saved!
- Heated outdoor toilets (after a lot of coffee…): one for women and one for men, with hot water and hand dryer. And as long as you are outside, there is a shuttle bus that can take you around the site.
- A tour guide to answer all your questions and give demonstrations as needed. (The kids should keep him busy for a while and I’ll learn everything at the same time without anyone realizing that I don’t know anything about it. My pride is safe!).
- No licence is required and there is no limit on the number of fish caught. Hallelujah! I bring my cast iron stove. The tomcod has an almond taste and Ricardo cooks them in 15 minutes with butter, flour, salt and pepper. So, “Why not peanut? ».
- Services offered nearby: Caisse, bank and ATM, grocery store, SAQ, hardware store, medical clinic, pharmacy, dentist in case of emergency, B&Bs and inns to welcome you, restaurant with possibility of delivery directly to your cottage, convenience store and gas station. (I have no more excuses: great, we’ll have more room in the car…).
- You have free access to two skating rinks, one with zamboni, a family area where you will find face painting, field hockey, mini golf, bubble soccer and inflatable games, and a volleyball and sliding field. (Great!)
To tell the truth, we were very curious and impatient to live this unique experience in the world. Nearly twenty outfitters who together set up about 500 cottages on a river for 7 weeks. Day or night, it’s quite spectacular, thank you! My research will have taught me that there is even a festival from year to year with shows, cooking workshops, a brewery fair, a mini farm with a pony carousel, hot air balloon rides, and mascots. There really is something for everyone.
Since we were planning to spend 10 hours there, I brought a deck of cards just in case, lots of snacks, sandwiches and lots to drink. I was able to save a lot of money: I didn’t need a restaurant or a convenience store. The friends we were with did the same thing. The people at the fishing center with whom I had spoken on the phone were really nice and it continued on the spot: from the reception, through the guide to the departure. We were anxious to see if this activity would be successful with the children. Otherwise, when it starts to cry, the day can be quite long with children. And how was our day, you ask? Perfect! It was perfect! The weather was great, the fish was there: we caught hundreds of them.
The tomcod measures 15 to 25 cm but can reach up to 45 cm. It is distinguished by its 3 dorsal fins and a barbel under its jaw. It is fished on average three hundred thousand tomcods per year out of a population of eight hundred million. Full of fun, laughter and anecdotes. Everyone had their moment of glory! I was even able to take a selfie with my 35 cm catch and proudly post it on Facebook. Tip, if you don’t want to fish with your underpants on with the door open, don’t let just anyone overheat the stove! In spite of this incident, it was a win-win situation for everyone. That day there was a parade of old snowmobiles. Very impressive! Even those who don’t feel like fishing should not miss this outing. I am willing to bet that you will be tempted. The pleasure is contagious. At worst, bring your book, your knitting or your crossword puzzle and share this beautiful day with the people you love. For my part, at the end of the day, I found that everyone was already talking about coming back. With or without fishing experience, whatever your age, you will have fun. This outing is a great experience for a family, office or friends party. The prices are very affordable. The outfitter we chose has been in place for 40 years, so there’s not much chance of making a mistake. Thank you to the entire Mario Leduc team for this great discovery.
For more information: Mario Leduc Fishing Centre – info@marioleduc.com – 418 325-2402