Ancient ice fishing passed down through generations on Chagan Lake

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While temperatures in northern China continue to drop, business is heating up for many winter holiday resorts in Jilin Province. At the popular destination of Chagan Lake, ice-fishing is what reels most visitors in. It's a tradition that dates back to the Liao Dynasty. But how does it exactly work?

Chen Lijun, 45, has been fishing on Chagan Lake for over two decades. Chen started fishing at the age of 18, and became a team leader at 25. Now he is one of the village's most experienced fishermen, with a natural intuition of where fish will go.

Chen Lijun on the phone. /CGTN Photo

“I am now in charge of predicting where fish will gather and stay. Usually we look at the wind direction on the lake, as well as the depth of water. You need to remember where most fish were in autumn, because that’s when they start to swim slower and stay longer in certain places.” says Chen.

A fishing team leader shoulders the heavy expectations of the entire village. Sometimes the decision must be made in an instant.

Once the location is decided, team members will drill many holes through the thick ice and place a massive net underneath.

Catch of the day. /CGTN Photo

The most exciting moment of the process is when the fishing net is pulled out through the large exit hole. The fish struggle in the air, and soon freeze.

Chen says that when the harvest is good, a single net could yield around a 100,000 kilograms of fish.

“Our lives have been much improved by fishing. Most members on my team now own a car. They no longer take horse carriages to work.”

Although the ice fishing tradition has been kept alive for thousands of years, it does not mean the yield has always been good. In the 1960s, the number of fish in Chagan Lake declined greatly from over-fishing. Since then, strict measures have been implemented to protect the fish stock.

Fishermen cast a net on Chagan Lake. /CGTN Photo

Not only is private fishing prohibited, standards have been set on the mesh size of the fishing nets. This is to make sure only adult fish are caught, and smaller ones can escape.

There is a moratorium on fishing between May 2 to July 20 every year to protect propagation. Chen says those who violate the moratorium will receive a heavy punishment.

Chagan means "holy water" in Mongolian. The freshwater lake is now home to over 70 different kinds of fish, as well as shrimps, crabs and turtles.

For locals, ice fishing has become an essential part of their lives, as well as a tradition that is passed down through generations.

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