Fishing the Petitcodiac River

Fishing with an “enfilée”

Before we set out on our walk to Beaumont [point] we chatted with a fisherman along the bank of the Petitcodiac River.  He was using a rod and line, but no hook.  He was using something Acadians call an enfilée.  No hook is used, instead nightcrawlers are threaded along two loops of line.  These loops are then carefully swung into the water.  When fish bite, the fisherman must bring them in gently – it takes real skill since the fish is not actually “hooked”.  Apparently this old technique is rarely used these days.  The fisherman (not a young man) we spoke with talked of coming to fish at Beaumont with his father.  They fished then as the gentleman on Saturday was – for tomcod, known in French as poulamon.

Petitcodiac River – Beaumont

We explored the shore along the Petitcodiac River this weekend – from the Church, la Chapelle Sainte Anne at Beaumont out to the metal frame remains of an old lighthouse.  There is no walking trail and consequently we walked on the road, le chemin Beaumont, which follows the shore.  We began our walk part way along the road, some distance past the Church and then after walking about a kilometer left the road (which cuts north/west away from the point) to reach the point overlooking Shepody Bay.  By walking this road rather than driving, we spotted lots of forest paths leading to the river.  We were able to make lots of short forays out to the shore where we discovered great views, a small deep, deep cove, now closed off from the river, and of course rocks and MUD.

If you follow route # 925 southeast you will travel out to Beaumont.  The pavement ends after the church and the road is certainly passable, but it is not great and there is very little traffic.  In the two hours we were out we met no vehicles and one boy on a bicycle with his dog.

While looking for some information on Beaumont came across this website prepared by the Centre d’études acadiennes at the Université de Moncton which has good introductory info on Acadian history and the impact of  the Deportation on contemporary acadiens/culture.

Petitcodiac River marsh/walk in Dieppe NB

Walking the Linear Trail in Dieppe, New Brunswick was a welcome break from a recent intense visit there.  Part of the TransCanada Trail, this gentle walking trail follows behind residential areas along the marsh lining the east bank the Petitcodiac River. 

This trail provides excellent access for residents to the outdoors and links Dieppe to Moncton as an alternative for getting to town.  Plans call for the trail to continue all the way to Memramcock, but for now it ends at le ruisseau aux renards, Fox Creek, at an area known locally as the aboiteau.  Today there are double modern sluice gates in the dyke.  Mud and marsh grass are abundant at tidal creeks such as this. 

More information about the trail can be found here  and this map lays out lots of paths in Dieppe.  Also if you are interested in river and ecosystem restoration the Petitcodiac Riverkeeper organization will fill you in.