New Winter Sport Fishing Opportunities

Winter sportfishing enthusiasts will be able to seek out new opportunities for rainbow trout, perch and pickerel with the opening of over 12 new lakes this fishing season.

The announcement by the provincial Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture in consultation with the Recreational Fishery Advisory Councils, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the provincial department's Inland Fisheries Division, will offer anglers greater choices on where to fish in Nova Scotia.

"We are very pleased to provide expanded sport fishing opportunities for Nova Scotia anglers," said Ernest Fage, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. "Stocked rainbow trout as well as chain pickerel, white perch and yellow perch provide anglers with more choices without impacting on brook trout, Atlantic salmon and smallmouth bass."

New areas open this year for stocked rainbow trout are Hidden Hills Lake, Queens County; Goose Harbour Lake, Guysborough County; and the portion of Arichat Harbour, Richmond County, inside a line drawn from grid reference 5206 4101 to grid reference 5480 4057 on Kavanagh Point. These lakes are open from Jan. 1 to March 31. The bag limit is two fish per day.

New areas open for chain pickerel are Pleasant, Porcupine, Salmon, Harris, Hibbards, Ellenwood, Agard and Hooper Lakes in Yarmouth County. These lakes are open from Jan. 1 to Feb. 29. Black Lake in Pictou County and Lily Lake (Cogmagun Pond) in Hants County are open from Jan. 1 to March 31. There is no bag limit for chain pickerel.

Anglers in Hants County can fish for white perch and yellow perch on Woodward Sanford Lake from Jan. 1 to March 31. There are no bag limits for white and yellow perch.

The Bras d'Or Lakes are also open for winter angling of rainbow trout from Jan. 1 to March 31. There is a bag limit of two fish per day.

The following four areas will remain closed to angling to protect wild brook trout and Atlantic salmon stocks: above the Baddeck River Highway Bridge on Highway 105, inside the East Bay Sandbar, above Crowdis Bridge in River Denys Basin, and above Black River Bridge in Dundee.

Several lakes will reopen this winter season.

For angling of rainbow trout:
Cameron and Gillis Lakes, Pinevale, Antigonish County, Jan. 1 - March 31; Albro Lake, Halifax County, Jan. 15 - March 15; Gairloch Lake, Pictou County, Jan. 1 - March 31; Sucker Lake, Lunenburg County, Jan. 1 - Feb. 29; Levers Lake, and #20 Dam, Cape Breton County, Jan. 1 - March 31.

The bag limit is two fish per day. Any white and yellow perch caught may be retained.

For angling of chain pickerel:
Seth, Bonaventure, Eel, Lac d'en Bas, Spectacle and Amero's Lakes, Digby County, Jan. 1 - Feb. 29; Shortt's Lake, Colchester County, Jan. 1 - March 31.

There is no bag limit for this species.

For the angling of White Perch and Yellow Perch:
Angevine (Dewars) Lake, Cumberland County, Jan. 1 - March 31; Middle River Lake/Reservoir, Pictou County, Jan. 1 - March 31.

There are no bag limits for these species.

Mr. Fage reminds anglers to fish safely. "This year's mild weather means most anglers will be fishing from shore or boats. When ice develops use caution and check it carefully before venturing out on it," said Mr. Fage.