Fishing and Fishermen – A Once Popular Pastime

Fishing was one of the many attractions of Metis. It is what enticed George Stephen to build his lodge near the salmon pools of the Metis River. It was the lure used to attract American tourists in search of the best trout and salmon fishing.

Some were drawn by the special challenge of fishing for cod or halibut offshore in the company of a local fisherman who knew where to go and how to get there (and back) in a simple dory. Others were happy to fish for smelt, mackerel or sea bass from the wharf in Grand-Métis or Baie-des-Sables. Fishing was also a favourite pastime for many locals. Where the Cascade stream emptied into the St. Lawrence, period photographs often show men standing patiently with their rods, eager to catch trout in the fast-moving waters or simply enjoying a quiet moment of peace and tranquility.

Fishing from the wharves was democratic, open to anyone with the patience and the gear. Not so the nearby lakes and rivers where fishing was reserved for the privileged few. Astle Lake in the hills above Metis was an angler’s paradise, its fame reaching as far as the pages of Forest and Stream magazine. The Fleet lakes were another favoured spot, requiring an invitation from a member of the Fleet family. For clients of the Price Brothers lumber company, the Metis lakes 50 kilometres distant were the ideal destination for an expedition. Today fishing is open to anyone with a permit, a healthy dose of patience and a bit of bug juice.