New Winter Sport Fishing Opportunities

Nova Scotia anglers will have a greater choice of where to fish this winter with expanded sportfishing opportunities for rainbow trout, chain pickerel and white and yellow perch.

Ernest Fage, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, announced the new seasons after consulting with the department's Inland Fisheries Division, the Recreational Fishery Advisory Councils and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

"I'm very pleased we're able to offer increased winter sport fishing opportunities for Nova Scotians," said Mr. Fage. "Opening selected lakes and streams to fishing for chain pickerel, white and yellow perch, and stocked rainbow trout gives anglers an opportunity to enjoy their sport without affecting brook trout, smallmouth bass and Atlantic salmon."

A new area open this year for rainbow trout is Meadow Pond, Hants County, which will be open from Jan. 1 until Feb. 28. The bag limit is two fish per day.

New areas open this year for chain pickerel are the Meteghan River, Digby County, including all lakes and tributaries; the Annis River, Ohio Mill Stream and Kiack Brook, Yarmouth County, including all lakes and tributaries; Lewis Lake, Queens County; Walls Lake, The Ponds in Port LaTour and Bakers Flats on Cape Sable Island, Shelburne County; and Fish Lake, Halifax County. All pickerel lakes are open from Jan. 1 until March 31. There is no bag limit for chain pickerel.

Angling for white and yellow perch will be permitted from Jan. 1 until March 31 on Angevine (Dewars) Lake, Cumberland County; Middle River Lake in Pictou County; and Woodward Sanford Lake, Hants County. There are no bag limits for these species.

Several lakes will reopen this winter season from Jan. 1 to March 31.

For angling of rainbow trout:
Bras d'Or Lakes, Cape Breton; Cameron and Gillis lakes, Antigonish County; Albro Lake, Halifax County; Gairloch Lake, Pictou County; Goose Harbour Lake, Guysborough County; Sucker Lake, Lunenburg County; Levers Lake and #20 Dam, Cape Breton County; Hidden Hills Lake, Queens County; and Arichat Harbour, Richmond County (tidal water of the harbour inside a straight line drawn from Babin's Hill to Green Spar Buoy CK7 and then to Guerney Island. Bag limit is two fish per day.

For angling of chain pickerel:
Lily Lake (Cogamun Pond), Hants County; Shortts Lake, Colchester County; and Black Lake, Pictou County.

The following four areas of the Bras d'Or Lakes are closed to angling to protect brook trout and Atlantic salmon: above the Baddeck River Bridge on Highway 105 (including Cains Pond); inside the East Bay sandbar; above Crowdis Bridge in River Denys Basin; and above Black Rivert Bridge in Dundee.

Mr. Fage reminded anglers to practise caution during the winter fishery, whether they fish from shore, in boats or on the ice.

The department has more information on its Web site at www.gov.ns.ca/fish/inland/