New Winter Sport Fishing Opportunities for Anglers

AGRICULTURE/FISHERIES--New Winter Sport Fishing Opportunities for Anglers

Anglers can once again take advantage of the winter sport fishing season in Nova Scotia, said Ernest Fage, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries. The season opens Jan. 1, 2003.

"It is important to have sport fishing opportunities during the winter for both Nova Scotians and tourists," said Mr. Fage. "By opening selected lakes and streams to fishing for chain pickerel, white and yellow perch and stocked rainbow trout, we allow anglers to enjoy their sport without affecting brook trout, smallmouth bass and Atlantic salmon."

Nova Scotia's winter fishery accounts for about seven per cent of the province's recreational fishing sector. The first year of the winter fishery was 1995.

The winter fishery seasons were developed in consultation with the department's Recreational Fishery Advisory Councils, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Inland Fisheries Division.

Chain pickerel anglers will be able to enjoy fishing opportunities in three new lakes this winter. West Branch Lake in Pictou County as well as Morris and Rocky lakes in Halifax County will be open for this species.

In Digby County, the Meteghan River, including all lakes and tributaries, is open. The Annis River and Kiack Brook, in Yarmouth County, including all lakes and tributaries, are open. Other lakes open for chain pickerel include Louis Lake, Queens Co.; Walls Lake, The Ponds in Port LaTour and Bakers Flats on Cape Sable Island, Shelburne Co.; and Fish Lake, Halifax Co. Lily Lake (Cogamun Pond), Hants Co.; Shortts Lake, Colchester Co.; and Black Lake, Pictou Co., will also reopen this winter. All pickerel lakes are open from Jan. 1 to March 31. The bag limit for chain pickerel is 25 fish.

Angling for white and yellow perch will be permitted from Jan. 1 to March 31 on Angevine (Dewars) Lake, Cumberland Co.; Cameron and Gillis lakes, Antigonish Co.; Meteghan River, Yarmouth Co.; Albro Lake, Halifax Co.; Shortts Lake, Colchester Co.; Middle River Lake, Pictou Co.; Woodward Sanford Lake, Hants Co.; and Springfield Lake, Annapolis Co. The bag limit for each of these species is 25 fish.

Rainbow trout anglers in the province can also fish from Jan. 1 until March 31. The Bras d'Or Lakes are open for winter angling of rainbow trout. Four areas of the Bras d'Or Lakes are closed to all angling to protect brook trout and Atlantic salmon. They are: 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 River Bridge in Dundee.

Other lakes that will reopen for rainbow trout include: Cameron and Gillis lakes, Antigonish Co.; Albro Lake, Halifax Co.; Gairloch Lake, Pictou Co.; Goose Harbour Lake, Guysborough Co.; Sucker Lake, Lunenburg Co.; Levers Lake and Number 20 Dam, Cape Breton Co.; and Hidden Hills Lake, Queens Co. The bag limit for rainbow trout is two fish per day.

Meadow Pond, Hants Co., will also be open for rainbow trout this winter. The season on the pond runs from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28. The bag limit is two fish per day.

Arichat Harbour will not be open for sport fishing this winter.

Anglers can use their 2002 general fishing licence until March 31, 2003. Licences can be purchased at Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources offices.

The minister reminds anglers to practice caution during the winter fishery, whether they fish from shore, in boats or on the ice.

More information about the winter sport fishery is available from the Inland Fisheries Division by calling 902-485-5056 or from the department's Web site, at www.gov.ns.ca/nsaf/sportfishing .