Permanent or semi-permanent shelters used on the ice must: Display the owner's name and contact info visibly; Be removed before ice melt — leaving a shelter behind is an environmental offence; Comply with municipal/RCM rules (some require registration; some restrict commercial rentals); Not block fish ladders or navigation channels

10 cm — single angler on foot; 20 cm — group on foot; 30 cm — snowmobile; 40 cm+ — small vehicle / shelter cluster; Never venture on ice less than 10 cm, on ice with visible cracks/flowing water, or after a warm spell. Currents under bridges weaken ice unpredictably.

❄️ Ice fishing rules 2026

Ice fishing in Quebec — rules & guide

— pêche blanche — 2026-2027 cycle

Ice fishing ("pêche blanche") is a Quebec winter institution. The same sport-fishing permit applies, but specific rules govern shelters, winter lines, species and live bait — and they vary by zone and water body. Below: the basics + 2026 changes you need to know before drilling your first hole.

Season

Ice fishing opens when the ice is safe (December in most regions; later in southern Quebec) and closes by the end of March or early April depending on the zone. Exact open/close dates differ per water body — always check your zone's page.

Winter lines — max allowed

A "winter line" is a vertical line dropped through the ice. Limits vary per zone — typical maximum is 5 lines per angler, but some lakes restrict to 2. Examples for 2026:

•Lake Aylmer (zone 7): max 5 winter lines
•Most zones: 5 lines per angler with valid permit
•Special-rule water bodies: down to 2 lines
•Group fishing under one permit: total lines may not exceed the per-permit limit

Shelters (cabanes)

Permanent or semi-permanent shelters used on the ice must:

✓Display the owner's name and contact info visibly
✓Be removed before ice melt — leaving a shelter behind is an environmental offence
✓Comply with municipal/RCM rules (some require registration; some restrict commercial rentals)
✓Not block fish ladders or navigation channels

Bait — live fish BANNED

Live baitfish are banned everywhere in Quebec since April 1, 2017 — INCLUDING for ice fishing. Permitted: dead baitfish (only in waters where allowed, specific species only), earthworms, leeches, insects. See the full bait regulation.

Full bait regulation →

Safe ice

Ice thickness recommendations for safe activity (clear, hard, blue ice):

⚠️10 cm — single angler on foot
⚠️20 cm — group on foot
⚠️30 cm — snowmobile
⚠️40 cm+ — small vehicle / shelter cluster
⚠️Never venture on ice less than 10 cm, on ice with visible cracks/flowing water, or after a warm spell. Currents under bridges weaken ice unpredictably.

2026 changes affecting ice fishing

→Walleye + pike fishing closed March 16-31 in zones 7, 8 (St. Lawrence + tributaries)
→Lake trout daily limit reduced to 1 (zones 1-20, 26)
→Ouananiche — Lake St-Jean: opens for ice fishing season + summer May 1 (zone 28)
→Bay Kipawa (zone 13 ouest): winter ice season opens 1st Saturday of March
→Zone 23 south: winter ice fishing for lake trout closed on Category III territory

Sources

→ Quebec.ca portal