Winter Sport Fishing in Nova Scotia
Anglers will once again have a variety of winter sport fishing opportunities available to them in 2004 in Nova Scotia, including a new season for rainbow trout in Kings County.
"Nova Scotia's winter sport fishing is growing in popularity. According to a national sport fishing survey, Nova Scotia leads the country in winter fishing activity," said Chris d'Entremont, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Nova Scotia anglers spend an average of 9.55 days every winter sport fishing, the highest number of days in Canada.
The winter fishery offers anglers numerous opportunities to fish this winter. Anglers require a 2003 general fishing licence to participate in the winter sport fishery for chain pickerel, white and yellow perch and rainbow trout. A 2003 fishing licence is valid until March 31, 2004. Licences can be purchased at offices of the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources.
"We are very excited to be able to provide winter sport fishing opportunities in Nova Scotia," said Mr. d'Entremont. "By opening selected lakes and streams to fishing for chain pickerel, white and yellow perch and stocked rainbow trout, anglers will have an opportunity to enjoy their sport without impacting on brook trout, smallmouth bass and Atlantic salmon".
Anglers in Kings County will have a new opportunity available to them with the opening of Silver Lake for rainbow trout. The season on this lake will be from Jan. 1 to Feb. 29, with a bag limit of two rainbow trout per day.
The Bras d'Or Lakes are open for winter angling of rainbow trout from Jan. 1 to March 31. The bag limit is two fish per day. 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.
Several other lakes will also reopen this winter for rainbow trout fishing: 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 No. 20 Dam, Cape Breton Co. and Hidden Hills Lake, Queens Co. The seasons on these lakes run from Jan. 1 to March 31. Bag limit 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. 29. The bag limit is two fish per day.
Chain pickerel anglers will be able to enjoy fishing opportunities for this species in numerous lakes throughout the province this season. In Digby County the Meteghan River, including all lakes and tributaries, is open. Also open are the Annis River and Kiack Brook (near Belleville South) in Yarmouth Co., including all lakes and tributaries.
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. In Halifax County, Fish, Morris and Round lakes will also be open for this species. Lily Lake (Cogamun Pond) Hants Co.; Shortts Lake, Colchester Co. and both Black Lake and West Branch Lake in 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. and Woodward Sanford Lake, Hants Co. Springfield Lake in Annapolis County will also be open this winter for white and yellow perch. The bag limits for each of these species is 25 fish.
Anglers are reminded to practice caution during the winter fishery whether they were fishing from shore, in boats or on the ice.
For more information on the lakes and season openings, contact the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries or see the website at www.gov.ns.ca/nsaf/sportfishing .