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BAYBURT, TÜRKİYE - FEB. 20, 2025: Braving subzero temperatures, amateur fishermen in Türkiye’s Black Sea region honor an enduring tradition, casting their nets into the frozen Coruh River. Footage from Bayburt province, where temperatures drop as low as -20 degrees Celsius, reveals ice layers up to 30 centimeters thick on parts of the river. Early in the morning, fishermen in the town of Bayraktar, gather by the riverbanks, breaking through the thick ice using pickaxes and axes to cast their nets -- using traditional fishing techniques of the Eskimos. They use tree branches to hit the ice, producing noise that attracts fish toward their nets. After waiting for a while, they collect various freshwater species, including chub, blackfish, mirror carp, and silverfish. In areas with strong currents, fishermen use broken ice as rafts to cross the river, showing their dedication and creativity in fishing from the icy waters. Osman Yildirim, one of the local fishermen, told Anadolu that he has been using those fishing methods in the Coruh River for years. He said he engages in winter fishing both to support his family and to make productive use of his free time. Emphasizing that traditional fishing methods have been passed down through generations in their village, Yildirim explained that they share their catch with neighbors, ensuring their efforts not only support their families but also strengthen community bonds during the cold winter months. (Writing by Berkay Gur - Footage by Besir Kelleci /Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)