Winter Sportfishing Season Expands

NOTE: A list of waterways open for winter sportfishing and restrictions follows this release.

The winter sportfishing season will open Friday, Jan. 1, and fishing opportunities are expanding this year with 46 lakes open for rainbow trout, brook trout, chain pickerel or perch.

"The opening of five lakes to brook trout is a new opportunity for anglers," said Sterling Belliveau, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. "We are seeing more people enjoying the outdoors year round, and winter sportfishing is a great activity for new and experienced anglers alike."

Big Lake, Island Lake, Bell Lake, Snake Cat Lake and Trout Lake will open for brook trout fishing in the Cape Breton Highlands trout management area in Victoria County. Round Lake and Lewis Lake, both near Jerry Lawrence provincial park in the Halifax Regional Municipality, and Eco-Trail Pond on Isle Madame, Richmond Co., will open for rainbow trout.

"Angling is a life-long, healthy, outdoor activity," says Tony Rodgers, executive director, Nova Scotia Federation of Anglers and Hunters. "It is one of the few sports that young and old can do together."

A 2009 general fishing licence is required to winter fish and can be purchased at Department of Natural Resources offices. The licences are valid until March 31, 2010. Anglers may also purchase one-day licences at a reduced rate.

Anglers can also take advantage of the annual winter sportfishing weekend on Saturday, Feb. 20, and Sunday, Feb. 21. Residents and non-residents can fish in open winter sportfishing areas without a general fishing licence.

The weekend will also include the Becoming an Outdoor Woman winter workshop, which will be held at the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts, St. Anns, Victoria Co. Information on the workshop can be found at www.gov.ns.ca/natr/outdoor .

"We want to encourage people who are enjoying winter fishing to always keep safety in mind," said Mr. Belliveau. "Anglers, whether they are fishing from shore, in boats or through the ice, should remain aware of changing conditions at all times."

For more information, visit www.gov.ns.ca/fish/sportfishing/angling/winterangling.shtml .

The following is a list of waterways open for winter sportfishing, and any restrictions in place.

NOTE: Five areas of the Bras d'Or Lakes are closed to all angling to protect brook trout and Atlantic salmon. They include the areas above the Baddeck River Bridge on Highway 105 (including Cains Pond); inside the East Bay sandbar; above Crowdis Bridge in River Denys Basin; above Black River Bridge in Dundee; and above MacKenzie Brook bridge near the south side of River Denys.

Brook trout, special regulations in this trout management area includes a bag limit of 10 trout of which only two fish may be greater than 25.4 cm (10 in) in length, with a season running from Jan. 1 to March 31.

• Victoria County - Big Lake, Island Lake, Bell Lake, Snake Cat Lake and Trout Lake

Rainbow trout, bag limit two fish per day, season runs from Jan. 1 to March 31:

• Antigonish County - Cameron Lake and Gillis Lake
• Cape Breton - Bras d’Or Lakes (see note), Levers Lake and No. 20 Dam
• Cumberland County - Angevine Lake
• Digby County - Everitts Lake
• Guysborough County - Goose Harbour Lake
• Halifax Regional Municipality - Albro Lake, Round Lake, Lewis Lake, Maynard Lake, Oathill Lake and Penhorn Lakes
• Hants County - Meadow Pond (Jan. 1 to Feb. 28 only)
• Kings County - Silver Lake and Sunken Lakes (Jan. 1 to Feb. 28 only)
• Lunenburg County - Sucker Lake
• Pictou County - Gairloch Lake
• Queens County - Hidden Hills Lake
• Richmond County - Eco Trail Pond on Isle Madame

Chain pickerel, bag limit of 25 fish per day, season runs from Jan. 1 to March 31:

• Colchester County - Shortts Lake
• Digby County - Meteghan River, including all lakes and tributaries
• Halifax Regional Municipality - Morris Lake, Russell Lake, Fish Lake, and Kinsac Lake
• Hants County - Lily Lake (Cogamun Pond)
• Kings County - Lake George and Lake Paul
• Pictou County - Black Lake and West Branch Lake
• Queens County - Louis Lake
• Shelburne County - Walls Lake, Lake George, The Ponds in Port LaTour and Bakers Flats on Cape Sable Island
• Yarmouth County - Annis River and Kiack Brook (near Belleville South), including all lakes and tributaries

White and yellow perch, bag limit for each species is 25 fish per day, season runs from Jan. 1 to March 31:

• Annapolis County - Springfield Lake
• Antigonish County - Cameron Lake and Gillis Lake
• Colchester County - Shortts Lake
• Cumberland County - Angevine (Dewars Lake)
• Halifax Regional Municipality - Albro Lake
• Hants County - Woodward Sanford Lake
• Kings County - Lake George and Lake Paul
• Shelburne County - Lake George
• Yarmouth County - Meteghan River, including all lakes and tributaries