STAY WHERE YOU FISH.
A winter getaway at R&B Retreats combines the comfort of a lakeside cottage with an unforgettable ice-fishing experience right outside your door.
Ice Fishing Getaways on Lac Heney
Stay where you fish.
Spend a winter weekend at R&B Retreats and experience ice fishing right outside your lakeside cottage.
Our two-night ice-fishing getaways combine the comfort of a fully equipped cottage with a heated fishing hut on Lac Heney. Whether you’ve been ice fishing for years or you’re trying it for the first time, choose the experience that’s right for you.
STAY & FISH
$775 / 2 nights
✓ Cottage — 2 nights
✓ Heated fishing hut — 2 days
✓ Holes prepared
✓ Cottage cleaning
Bring your own fishing equipment
Best for: Experienced anglers
GUIDED ICE-FISHING GETAWAY
$950 / 2 nights
✓ Cottage — 2 nights
✓ Heated fishing hut — 2 days
✓ Holes prepared
✓ Fishing equipment on guided day
✓ Approx. 7 hours with local guide
✓ Cottage cleaning
Best for: Beginners & families
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Up to 6 guests
Each cottage sleeps up to 6
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Kids stay free
Children 12 and under
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Additional guests
$50 per person (13+)
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Fully equipped cottage
Kitchen, bathroom
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Heated fishing hut
On Lac Heney, ~150–250 m away
Ice Fishing in Quebec’s Gatineau Region
R&B Retreats is located directly on Lac Heney near Gracefield, Quebec, approximately 90 minutes north of Ottawa.
Stay right at the lake, spend your day on the ice, and return to the comfort of your cottage when you’re done.
Discover Lac-à-la-Barbue
Optional Guided Experience at Lac-à-la-Barbue — Add $350
Looking to explore another fishing destination during your stay? Local guide Ryan offers a guided ice-fishing experience at nearby Lac-à-la-Barbue.
This experience can be added to our Stay & Fish getaway ($775) for an additional $350, bringing your total to $1,125 for two nights, including your Lac Heney getaway and the additional guided experience.
Advance reservations are recommended. Guide availability is subject to confirmation.
A local ice-fishing tradition
Lac-à-la-Barbue has been part of Gracefield’s winter celebrations, including municipal ice-fishing and fish-stocking activities associated with the community’s Winter Carnival.
Bring the family. Bring some friends.
Each R&B Retreats cottage accommodates up to 6 guests, making an ice-fishing weekend an easy winter getaway for couples, parents and kids, or a group of friends.
Children 12 and under stay free within the cottage’s 6-person occupancy.
Additional guests age 13+ beyond the first four: $50 per person for the 2-night stay.
That means you can make the weekend as quiet or social as you like, from a parent-and-child fishing trip to a cottage full of friends.
What’s waiting back at the cottage
After a day on the ice, come back to:
- A warm, private lakeside cottage
- Full kitchen
- Private bathroom
- Linens and towels
- Space for up to six guests
- Lac Heney just outside your door
Planning Your Ice-Fishing Trip
New to ice fishing? We’ve put together a few helpful tips to make planning your winter getaway easier.
Fishing Licences
Do I need a fishing licence?
Most anglers need a valid Québec fishing licence, including visitors from Ontario and the United States. An Ontario or U.S. fishing licence is not a substitute for a Québec licence.
Québec offers short-term licences, including one-day and three-day options for non-residents.
What about children?
Children under 18 can generally fish under an adult’s Québec licence, subject to the applicable supervision and licence-sharing conditions. The fish kept by everyone fishing under that licence count toward the licence holder’s daily limit.
Where can I get one?
You can purchase a licence online through the Québec government’s official licensing service. Remember to bring government-issued photo identification.
Fishing Rules
New to fishing in Québec? Here’s what you should know.
Lac Heney is in Québec’s Fishing Zone 10. Fishing rules can vary depending on the lake, fish species and time of year.
What is a catch limit?
It’s the maximum number of fish of a particular species you can catch and keep in one day. Fish you catch and eat that day also count toward this limit.
What is a possession limit?
It’s the maximum number of fish you’re allowed to have with you at any time, including at your cottage, in your vehicle or on your journey home.
Can I keep every fish I catch?
No. Some species have minimum or maximum size restrictions, and some may not be kept during certain periods. Fish that cannot legally be kept must be released in accordance with applicable regulations.
How many fishing lines can I use?
Zone 10 generally allows up to five lines during the designated winter period, December 20 to March 31, subject to applicable conditions. This does not mean every species is open for fishing throughout that period.
Where can I check the rules?
Review the current Zone 10 regulations before your visit. They explain fishing seasons, permitted species, catch limits, size restrictions and special lake-specific rules.
What to bring
What should I bring for ice fishing?
Winter temperatures on Lac Heney can be very cold, especially when there’s wind on the lake. We recommend bringing:
- Insulated winter jacket and snow pants
- Warm, waterproof winter boots
- Gloves or mittens, a winter hat and thermal layers
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Food, drinks and personal essentials
- A valid Québec fishing licence, if required
Do I need my own fishing equipment?
For our Stay & Fish package, bring your own rods, tackle and bait. Our Guided Ice-Fishing Getaway includes fishing equipment during the guided portion of your experience.
Both packages include access to a heated fishing shelter, subject to safe ice conditions.
Ice & Water
Is ice fishing safe?
Ice fishing can be a wonderful winter experience, but ice conditions vary throughout the season and across the lake.
How do I reach the fishing shelter?
We’ll provide instructions for accessing your assigned shelter and explain any relevant conditions before your fishing experience.
What if the weather is bad?
High winds, extreme cold, changing ice conditions or other weather events may affect fishing activities. Access to the shelters depends on suitable conditions.
Can I explore the frozen lake on my own?
Never assume that ice is safe simply because another person has walked or driven across it. Avoid unassessed areas, open water, pressure cracks and unfamiliar routes.
What happens if conditions aren’t suitable?
We’ll discuss available alternatives with you. Any changes to bookings or refunds will follow the terms provided when your reservation is confirmed.
Plan Your Ice-Fishing Getaway
Choose your preferred getaway and tell us when you’d like to visit. We’ll confirm availability and get back to you with the details.
Ice Fishing FAQs
Do I need ice-fishing experience?
No previous experience is needed for the guided getaway. Your guide will explain the equipment, help you get started and provide hands-on instruction. If you choose the Stay & Fish getaway, tell us your experience level when you enquire so we can explain what assistance is available.
What’s the difference between the Stay & Fish and guided getaways?
The Stay & Fish getaway combines cottage accommodation at R&B Retreats with access to a heated fishing hut on Lac Heney. Fishing equipment and bait are included.
The guided getaway combines a cottage stay with a separately arranged fishing experience at nearby Lac-à-la-Barbue with local guide Ryan. It includes a heated fishing tent, equipment, bait, fishing setup and instruction. Accommodation and guided fishing are priced separately.
Where will we fish, and how do we get there?
For the Stay & Fish getaway, you’ll fish on Lac Heney, directly outside our property. The planned huts will be approximately 150–250 metres from the cottages, depending on ice conditions. You’ll receive instructions on arrival explaining how to reach your hut.
Ryan’s guided experience takes place at nearby Lac-à-la-Barbue, approximately a two- to three-minute drive away. Guests can drive themselves or walk. Ask us for directions and walking-route details before heading out.
Is the fishing hut heated? Does it have a bathroom?
The planned Lac Heney huts will be heated, providing shelter from the wind and a place to warm up while fishing. Ryan’s guided experience also includes a heated fishing tent.
There are no toilet facilities at either fishing setup. Guests can return to their cottage to use their private bathroom.
Please dress for winter conditions, including the journey between your cottage and the fishing location.
Do you provide rods, bait and other equipment?
Yes. Fishing equipment and bait are included with both the Lac Heney Stay & Fish package and Ryan’s guided experience.
You’re welcome to bring your own fishing equipment. Please check with us before bringing bait, as Quebec’s bait rules vary by location.
What is included, and what costs extra?
Your cottage stay includes a private cottage with a full kitchen, bathroom, linens and towels.
The Stay & Fish getaway also includes heated fishing-hut access, fishing equipment and bait.
Ryan’s separately priced guided experience includes a heated fishing tent, equipment, bait, drilled holes, fishing setup, lines and tackle, and hands-on instruction.
Fishing-hut use ends at sundown. Prices exclude applicable taxes. Your quote will identify what is included and any additional charges.
What fish can we catch? Can we keep them?
On Lac Heney, our winter fishing targets are northern pike and yellow perch.
At Lac-à-la-Barbue, target species include walleye, yellow perch and rainbow trout. The municipality stocks rainbow trout in the lake.
Fish may be kept only when permitted by the rules for the lake and season, including applicable size, catch and possession limits. Some fish must be released. Catches are never guaranteed.
Can children participate?
Yes—families are welcome. A guided outing can be a good introduction to ice fishing, with help using the equipment and learning the basics.
Children need appropriate winter clothing and adult supervision. Tell us their ages when enquiring so we can discuss the best option for your family.
Children 12 and under stay free within the cottage’s stated occupancy limit. This accommodation offer does not automatically include free guided fishing.
What happens if weather or ice conditions prevent fishing?
Fishing-hut access and guided outings depend on suitable ice and weather conditions. Access or an outing may need to be changed or cancelled.
We will communicate any known changes to guests. Before confirming your reservation, please review the terms supplied with your quote, including how a fishing cancellation affects your package and cottage stay.
Can someone stay at the cottage without fishing?
Yes. Members of your group can relax at the cottage while others fish. With a full kitchen and private space to unwind, everyone can enjoy the getaway at their own pace.
Include everyone staying at the cottage in your guest count, whether or not they plan to fish.
How do we reserve, and what are the payment and cancellation terms?
Complete the enquiry form below with your preferred dates, the number of adults and children, and the getaway you’re interested in. We’ll respond with availability, package details and a quote.
Your quote will include the required deposit, balance-payment deadline and applicable cancellation terms. Please review these before paying.
Submitting an enquiry does not confirm a reservation. Your booking is confirmed once you receive booking confirmation and complete the required payment.
What happens during a power outage?
Our cottages do not have backup generators. During a power outage, electricity and heating are unavailable. The well pump also stops, so running water and normal toilet use are unavailable until power returns.
We rely on Hydro-Québec to restore service and cannot guarantee restoration times. If an outage affects your stay, we’ll communicate the information available and discuss next steps with you.
