This time-honoured tradition in New Brunswick is facing challenges
The Weather Network's Nathan Coleman visits Rothesay, New Brunswick, where the time-honoured tradition of ice fishing is facing unprecedented changes
Ice fishing on the frozen Kennebecasis River off the Renforth wharf is a time-honoured tradition in New Brunswick.
The first two images below are from footage taken in 2015. It shows dozens of wooden shacks resembling a village with ample parking for trucks and SUVs on top of the thick ice:
(Courtesy: Derek Grant/provided. Winter of 2015)
(Courtesy: Derek Grant/provided. Winter of 2015)
Fast forward to 11 years later, and it’s mostly tents you’ll find:
(Kennebecasis River. Winter of 2026)
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“It doesn’t freeze up as soon, and it doesn’t stay as long, so the seasons shortened up. It is climate change,” says long time ice fisherman, John Arsenault.
If you plan to bring a shack out onto the ice, you'll need to pull it yourself. This year, the gate has been kept closed to prevent trucks from towing large shacks onto the ice and to keep any vehicles off the slushy surface at this particular wharf.
To bring a shack onto the ice, you'll need to pull it yourself. (Nathan Coleman/The Weather Network)
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Ivan Gulchuk is another avid ice fisherman at this location, and says he doesn’t bother with a tent anymore–he just fishes through a hole in the open air.
“If it’s cold, you’re going to suffer because your fingers are going to freeze,” he adds.
While milder weather is easier on the wind chill, the up and down temperature swings are unsettling for seasoned fishers.
The Town of Rothesay, where the river flows through, now allows only pedestrian and ATV access; cars, trucks, tow trucks, and other vehicles are not permitted on town-owned lands.
Town officials acknowledge that ice fishing is an important seasonal activity for many residents and visitors. They emphasize that these measures are not intended to discourage use, but rather to balance access with public safety, reduce risks associated with changing and unpredictable ice conditions, protect the environment, and limit potential damage to municipal property.