Second Annual Winter Sportfishing Weekend Set

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Anglers in Nova Scotia can gear up for winter sportfishing on Feb. 16 and 17, without a fishing licence.

For many, winter fishing is as much fun as fishing in the summer.

"We hope the winter weekend will encourage more people to try it," said Ron Chisholm, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. "Taking part in a free fishing weekend on a number of our lakes and rivers during our second annual event is a great way to check out the sport and have some fun."

Residents and non-residents can fish for rainbow trout, white and yellow perch, and chain pickerel in a number of lakes and rivers from Yarmouth to Cape Breton without a general sportfishing licence. However, all bag limits and other regulations apply.

"This free fishing weekend offers people a terrific opportunity to get active outdoors this time of year," said Mr. Chisholm. "While winter angling offers a unique outdoor experience, we want to ensure everyone enjoys it safely. I encourage all anglers to use caution during the winter sportfishing weekend, whether they are fishing from shore, in boats or through the ice."

The sportfishing industry is worth about $85 million a year to the province's economy. Almost 100,000 Nova Scotians sportfish each year, and thousands more visit the province to fish.

For more information on Nova Scotia's sportfishery, see the Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture website at www.gov.ns.ca/fish/sportfishing or call the Inland Fisheries Division at 902-485-5056.

Areas of the province open for the Winter Sportfishing Weekend for rainbow trout fishing with a bag limit of two fish per day:

-- The Bras d'Or Lakes. Five areas of the Bras d'Or Lakes are closed to all angling. 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.
-- Cameron and Gillis Lakes, Antigonish Co.
-- Angevine Lake, Cumberland Co.
-- Albro Lake, Halifax Regional Municipality
-- Gairloch Lake, Pictou Co.
-- Goose Harbour Lake, Guysborough Co.
-- Sucker Lake, Lunenburg Co.
-- Levers Lake and No. 20 Dam, Cape Breton Co.
-- Hidden Hills Lake, Queens Co.
-- Everitts Lake, Digby Co.
-- Meadow Pond, Hants Co.
-- Silver and Sunken Lakes, Kings Co.

Anglers who enjoy fishing chain pickerel can do so in Shelburne County on Lake George, in Digby County on the Meteghan River, including all lakes and tributaries, and on the Annis River and Kiack Brook (near Belleville South) in Yarmouth County, including all lakes and tributaries.

Other lakes open for chain pickerel this weekend with a bag limit of 25 fish per day:
-- Louis Lake, Queens Co.
-- Walls Lake, The Ponds in Port LaTour and Bakers Flats on Cape Sable Island, Shelburne Co.
-- Morris, Russell, Fish and Kinsac lakes in Halifax Regional Municipality
-- Lily Lake (Cogamun Pond), Hants Co.
-- Shortts Lake, Colchester Co.
-- Black Lake and West Branch Lake, Pictou Co.

Other lakes open for white and yellow perch with a bag limit of 25 fish per day are:
--Lake George, Shelburne Co.
-- Springfield Lake, Annapolis Co.
-- Angevine (Dewars Lake), Cumberland Co.
-- Cameron and Gillis lakes, Antigonish Co.
-- Meteghan River, including all lakes and tributaries, Yarmouth Co.
-- Albro Lake, Halifax Regional Municipality
-- Shortts Lake, Colchester Co.
-- Woodward Sanford Lake, Hants Co.

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FOR BROADCAST USE:

     On Saturday (February 16th) and Sunday (February 17th)

resident and non-resident anglers can fish without a licence on

a number of selected lakes and streams in Nova Scotia.

     Ron Chisholm, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture says

taking part in a free fishing weekend is a great way to check

out the sport and have some fun.

     Winter fishing is available on 15 lakes for rainbow trout,

16 areas for chain pickerel and nine areas for white and yellow

perch.

     All bag limits and regulations apply. For more information,

see the Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture website at

W-W-W dot gov dot N-S dot C-A slash FISH slash sportfishing.

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Media Contacts: Susan Mader Zinck
                Fisheries and Aquaculture
                902-424-8963
                E-mail: madersd@gov.ns.ca

                Celeste Sulliman
                Fisheries and Aquaculture
                902-424-0192
                E-mail:sullimcc@gov.ns.ca