Hook into Newell
Newell, AB – SnowSeekers is always looking for new winter pursuits that will help us find a little zen in Alberta's longest season. So, we recently landed in Newell for just such an experience, taking to a frozen river for an ice fishing adventure.
Lake Newell is about 10 minutes south of the city of Brooks, in the southeastern portion of Alberta. For Trebled Life fishing guide, Bryce Urzada, it’s all about allowing his guests to leave their concerns at the shore and get their lure in the water.
It didn’t take long for us to finding our “fishing zen” and make some new friends along the way, like Brooks resident, Chelsea Desveaux
Visit Newell Tourism and start planning your epic #BucketlistAB adventure...
“It’s (ice fishing) is about the experience, hanging out with friends - and you ideally catch a fish,” said Desveaux, a transplant from Toronto. “Here in Brooks, it’s so laid back, it’s been such a refreshing change of pace, everything is so 'rushy, rushy’ in Toronto. Now going back or even into other cities, I find the traffic wild and simply not a place I want to be.”
For Urzada, whether he is catching fish or catching incredible images as a budding photographer, being out on the ice is his way to keep the winter stoke going.
Photo:
Doc Pow
Running Trebled Life year-round for the past year and a half, he goes from winter to summer with a jet boating operation, taking his guests up the Saskatchewan River and to his favourite fishing spots. “I take out about 150 people per year fishing, some who have never fished and others who are pros and want to be here for the prized conditions.”
Photo:
Doc Pow
On average, during a day of fishing on Lake Newell, Urzada will catch and release around 25 fish, some days that number is much higher. The Trebled Life founder told us about a family of new fishers. “They caught 90 fish in eight hours,” said Urzada. “It got to the point where they couldn’t even manage it anymore – there were fish on every line.
(Catch and release is a year-round policy at Lake Newell.)
Before you head out for a day of fishing, head to Steaming Cup, where Sandy Haberman-Melvill and her team will set you up for the day with a steaming cup of freshly ground Madhatter Coffee from the Medicine Hat roastery. And at the end of the day, Piston Broke Brewing (new to the community) is the perfect spot to share the “tall fish tales” of the day. Make sure to try a tasty pint of the X-Cross Red Ale.
When You Go
Read more about Newell with this one-day itinerary.
The folks from Newell Tourism will help make your trip smooth.
Travel Alberta can help get you ready to experience Newell here.
The community of Brooks is around two hours east of Calgary and approximately five hours from Regina. Lake Newell is only 10 minutes south from the city of Brooks. Trebled Life will supply all fishing gear, however you will need a $10 fishing license that you can purchase from Canadian Tire or other sporting goods stores.
Please share this with your crew and start planning your trip to Newell.
Hit the road to explore Alberta's South along Highway 3 this month and be sure to share your discoveries on social media with the hashtag #BucketlistAB and #ExploreAlberta. You could be featured on our social media channels. Check out www.BucketlistAB.ca for itineraries, stories and lots of videos on Southern Albertan experiences.
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