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Sunday 2 February 2020

The village

When the harbour ice freezes smoothly every year, they appear overnight. Avid fishers take their smelt shacks from backyards and garages down to the frozen harbour. Those who enjoy the outdoors in an indoor way, spend their time fishing for smelt.





The shacks provide wind breaks from the elements. 





Some are equipped with stoves which take the smelt fishing experience to another level. 





However all you really need is a hole in the ice and a chair. 


The video shows one such shack and a fisher in a 45 second clip.


When I photographed the cargo vessel, Trinityborg and zoomed in on the vessel, it was interesting to see the smelt shack village on the opposite side of the harbour.





We tried the white flesh fish for the first time last year.





They were delicious. We will visit the fishmonger this week for another meal of the little fish.




                                   Two smelt villages as seen from a  nearby bridge




23 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I see one of the ice fishing shacks has been named "Paradise" -- and for the fisherman, I'm sure it is!

Anvilcloud said...

I guess it's true. It takes a village.

DJan said...

Those little fish sure do look tasty. I'll bet it helps to have such fresh ones to enjoy. I also saw the "Paradise" sign and smiled :-)

PerthDailyPhoto said...

What an astounding sight Marie. So they are actually on the ice? They aren't worried the ice will crack? You can tell ice is not familiar to me 😉 So the smelt are a bit like herrings, delicious ✨

Secondary Roads said...

Been many years since I've fished for and eaten those tasty morsels.

Liz Hinds said...

That snow - previous post - is so beautiful! As is Georgie. I thought fishermen here were mad sitting on the sea front in pouring rain. Your smelt fishermen take it to a whole new level.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

They are dedicated fishermen to be out in the cold and on the ice fishing. I have never heard of smelt fish, I would like to try this fish some day. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week!

Danielle L Zecher said...

They must be a very hardy bunch! I don't think I could handle being out in the cold like that.

Elephant's Child said...

Thank you for this glimpse into a world which is COMPLETELY foreign.
I really like the idea of ice fishing. And appreciate the huts which no doubt could get quite cosy with a heater.

Rhodesia said...

My goodness, one would have to be enthusiastic to sit out there!!!!
Have a great week, Diane

photowannabe said...

Fascinating...my Dad did some ice fishing in Minnesota way back in his youth.
At least it's cozy in the huts.
What do the fish taste like? Sardines or herring?

Ruth Hiebert said...

At our local lake we have a lot of little fishing shacks on the ice. Here the folks are hoping for some larger fish.

William Kendall said...

Admittedly, I dislike fish, so I've always found ice fishing baffling.

Joanne Noragon said...

I could never walk over a lake, even on ice.

Rose said...

I love fishing, but I have no desire to ice fish...I can't remember the last time that it was cold enough around here for the ice to be safe.

Rosie said...

I love the idea of ice fishing, not something we could do here in Aus. Thanks for the great photos and I hope you get some more fish to enjoy.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

That scene is replicated on lakes throughout Ontario. Ice fishing is a passion for many.

baili said...

really interesting sharing dear Marie :)

it seems rare unique way to fish
thank you for video ,it helped to understand
blessings!

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

It must be easier to just go to the fishmonger. Each to his own.

Tomoko said...

Such an interestiung way of fishing on the ice.
Some day, show us the inside the fish house.
Our winder is very mild,this year. The temperature is above average.
I will have to give up taking photos of snow this year too.

Stewart M said...

I think ice fishing looks like a real adventure - although the huts may soften the blow a bit I suppose!

Its not a sport that I can take part in here!

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

Catarina said...

I have never ice fished, but I feel it must be extraordinarily relaxing for the people who love fishing.
I do love fried smelts!

Barbara said...

They do look like little villages. I've never eaten smelt. Maybe they are only up North. How funny it is to think of people hanging out on the frozen ice. Having never seen frozen ice, it seems pretty scary to me.