Ice fishing near the mill, Grondines, circa 1950

In the past, ice fishing was a popular pastime in Grondines. As soon as the ice pack was thick enough, numerous little cabins appeared on the river, near the old wharf or at Frappe-Sacre, in the eastern part of the village. Families and friends would gather there to catch tommy cod.

However, a modicum of caution was necessary: you would never step on the ice floe when the north wind picked up! This nasty wind cracked the ice and caused many cabins to drift away on the water.

Today’s milder temperatures and ever-increasing maritime traffic, as well as the size of the ships, have put an end to this winter hobby, which will probably no longer be seen on the river at Grondines.