At a time when most of his friends participate in various team sports or surf social networks, Thomas Noël decided that his passion would be sport fishing.
He was born in Saint-Nazaire in Lac-Saint-Jean and started at a very early age, on family outings.
“My father taught me to fish. I was 12 when it all really started. At this time we were wading on the banks of Lake Saint-Jean, very close to my home in the Grande Décharge. Very early on, my father bought a 16-foot rowing boat so he could use the sailboat to outwit the various fish in the area. »
At this point our husband really had the fishing bug.
“Every time we went out, my dad really wanted to catch landlocked salmon. He is a big fan of this species. I prefer fishing for pike and zander. While my dad trolled, I cast my bait toward the shore, hoping to catch pike and walleye. »
Large walleyes that he quickly puts back in the water after taking the photo are sometimes thwarted by his lures. Photo provided by Thomas Noël
Around the age of 15, he decided to take his fishing career into his own hands.
“I bought a kayak, which really allowed me to be more independent and go fishing alone on the Grande Décharge. That’s when I also started making videos to share my passion. I put all the fish I catch, pike and zander, back into the water. I sometimes keep some of the landlocked salmon because it is an excellent food fish. »
THE PLEASURE OF FISHING
The young fisherman openly admits that he really does sport fishing.
“I am a fan of sport fishing. I truly fish for the pleasure of experiencing unique battles with the fish I catch. I like to cast to catch pike, which often hide in seagrass beds in shallow water, because this species likes such conditions. My kayak allows me to do this. I fish other species such as zander and landlocked salmon by trolling. »
Thomas never misses an opportunity to catch such big pike. Photo provided by Thomas Noël
For him, the rubber fish is the number one tool. “They have a great action and, above all, you can throw them into the seaweed without getting stuck on the bottom. Very often you can see how the pike attacks the bait. »
He makes the most of his activity. He spends all his free time fishing. “My parents miss me a lot because I’m always fishing,” he says, bursting into laughter.
DREAMS AND VIDEOS
When asked if he dreams of specific places where he can fish for his favorite species, the pike, he answers:
“Abroad, I would like to fish in the Netherlands, in the polders, because there are big pike there. You can fish in the city’s canals. In Quebec, I would like to fish for smallmouth bass in the St. Lawrence River more often. I do this sometimes with my cousin William when I go to Montreal. We don’t have this species in Lac-Saint-Jean. I also really enjoyed catching striped bass in Gaspésie. »
In 2002, he started making videos with his cousin William.
“We want to show our passion, our tips and tricks for fishing and share our joy with everyone who wants to experience the same passion as us. »
You can discover them on the YouTube channel at the official Fishingtime address, where you can discover our two young passionate fishermen in action.
For Thomas, now 17 years old, nature and fishing are actually his whole life. His career plan is to become a wildlife conservation officer.
To help the salmon
The Foundation for the Conservation of Atlantic Salmon (FCSA) just announced that it is providing $1.5 million in grants for 2024 to organizations and groups that apply. This program is open to municipalities, indigenous groups, educational institutions, communities and conservation organizations, among others. These annual funds are allocated to unique and innovative projects with a focus on preservation, restoration, education and scientific research. Applications for 2024 must be received by November 17th at the latest. Further information: fcas-fcsa.ca
