Aydelu Ice Fishing Derby
Lynn Danis pulls in the biggest catch: a 3.44-pound pike
Alana Repstock
The Ice Fishing Derby, a beloved winter event in Aylmer, took place at the Marina on February 25, after two years of being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, for the first time, the Aydelu Centre took over organizing the Ice Fishing Derby from the Knights of Columbus, who had organized the event for 12 years.
Despite the -20 °C weather conditions, turnout was high. “There are over 160 registrations!” said Guy Rochon, President of the Aydelu Centre, outfitted in his camouflage ice-fishing fatigues on Saturday afternoon at the Marina. Groups of families and friends, their tents, and skidoos speckled and spread over the frozen Ottawa River.
The registration cost $25 for adults and $5 for children. This included participation in the Ice Fishing Derby, a guaranteed gift worth $25, the chance to win a raffle prize, and a hot spaghetti dinner.
The day’s activities were split up into two parts, the first taking place at the Aylmer Marina, and the second at the Aydelu Centre.
The Ice Fishing Derby ran from 7 am to 3 pm, though some especially serious ice fishers showed up before 6 am and sunrise to ensure that they were ready to register at 7 am and could start fishing right away. “We were lucky that the weather conditions permitted the Ice Fishing Derby to happen because overall, this winter hasn’t been very cold,” said Nathalie Rochon, a volunteer with the Aydelu Centre and Guy Rochon’s daughter.
By the end of the day, 15 pikes, 5 perch, and 1 pickerel had been caught and registered. The biggest catch of the event was a pike weighing in at 3.44 pounds, caught by Lynn Danis.
Plaisirs d’hiver, organized by the Ville de Gatineau, and in collaboration with the Aydelu Centre, was set up in the parking lot, behind the Marina’s dock. Two bouncy castles, a dog playground, haystacks, and a cabane à sucre were installed for families to enjoy. The Queen of Hearts, Jack Rabbit, Dino-man and his T-Rex, and others were present to entertain the kids. “This event would not have been what it is without our partnership with the Ville de Gatineau,” noted Guy Rochon. “We are also so thankful to our volunteers, our many generous sponsors, our local councillors, Gilles Chagnon and Steven Boivin, and all those who participated,” he added.
Pierre Lagacé, from the Ville de Gatineau’s Recreations Department, was at the Ice Fishing Derby to represent the municipal administration. Steven Boivin, Councillor for Aylmer, and Gilles Chagnon, Councillor for Lucerne, were also present at the event and the after-party.
The after-party, held at the Aydelu Centre, started at 3:30 pm and went on until 9:30 pm. Gifts were given to each of the participants and raffle prizes were drawn. Over $10,000 worth of prizes were taken home by the end of the night.
All the proceeds from the Ice Fishing Derby registrations and raffle tickets will be donated to the Société Alzheimer Outaouais and L’Autre Chez-Soi, Aylmer’s women’s shelter. According to the Aydelu Centre, both donations will be in the vicinity of at least $3,000 each. The cheques will be handed over to the two organizations on March 1 at 6:30 pm, at the Aydelu Centre.
“We got so much positive feedback on the Ice Fishing Derby this year that we just might have to organize it next year too!” said Guy Rochon.
Photo captions
Photo 1: Pierre Lagacé from the Ville de Gatineau’s Recreations Department and Guy Rochon, President of the Aydelu Centre, pose together with a faux, inflatable fish on the Marina.
Photo 2: Dino-man and his T-Rex, Jack Rabbit, Pierre Lagacé from the Ville de Gatineau’s Recreations Department, and the Queen of Hearts pose together at the Plaisirs d’hiver, which was set up in collaboration with the Ice Fishing Derby on Saturday.
Photo 3: Lynn Danis eagerly waits for Nathalie Rochon to weigh her catch, the biggest of the event.
Photo 4: Anthony Rivera was among the early risers to show up at the Ice Fishing Derby before 6 am on Saturday.
Photo credits: Alana Repstock
