Winter Sportfishing Season Opens Jan. 1
Nova Scotia anglers can once again head to selected lakes and streams to enjoy some winter fishing in 2006, including a new season for rainbow trout in Everitts Lake, Digby Co.
Anglers need a 2005 general fishing licence to fish for chain pickerel, white and yellow perch, and rainbow trout. The fishing licence is valid until March 31, 2006. Licenses can be purchased at Department of Natural Resources offices.
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. Five areas of the Bras d'Or Lakes are closed to all angling to protect brook trout and Atlantic salmon. 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.
Several other lakes will reopen this winter for rainbow trout fishing: Cameron and Gillis lakes, Antigonish County; Angevine Lake, Cumberland County; Albro Lake, Halifax County; Gairloch Lake, Pictou County; Goose Harbour Lake, Guysborough County; Sucker Lake, Lunenburg County; Levers Lake and No. 20 Dam, Cape Breton County; and Hidden Hills Lake, Queens County. The season on these lakes runs from Jan. 1 to March 31. The bag limit is two fish per day. In addition to Everitts Lake, Digby County; Meadow Pond, Hants County; and Silver and Sunken lakes, Kings County, will also be open for rainbow trout from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28. The bag limit is two fish per day.
Chain pickerel anglers will enjoy fishing opportunities in many areas of the province this season. In Digby County the Meteghan River, including all lakes and tributaries, is open, as is the Annis River and Kiack Brook (near Belleville South) in Yarmouth County and their lakes and tributaries.
Other lakes open for chain pickerel this winter include Louis Lake, Queens County; Walls Lake, The Ponds in Port LaTour and Bakers Flats on Cape Sable Island, Shelburne County; Morris, Russell, Fish and Kinsac lakes in Halifax County; Lily Lake (Cogamun Pond), Hants County; Shortts Lake, Colchester County; and Black Lake and West Branch Lake, Pictou County. The season is from Jan. 1 to March 31. The bag limit for chain pickerel is 25 fish per day.
Angling for white and yellow perch will be permitted from Jan. 1 to March 31 on Springfield Lake, Annapolis County; Angevine (Dewars Lake), Cumberland County; Cameron and Gillis lakes, Antigonish County; Meteghan River, including all lakes and tributaries, Yarmouth County; Albro Lake, Halifax County; Shortts Lake, Colchester County; and Woodward Sanford Lake, Hants County. The bag limit for each of these species is 25 fish per day.
Anglers are reminded to use caution during the winter fishery whether they were fishing from shore, in boats or on the ice.