Winter Sportfishing Season Opens Jan. 1

Anglers can enjoy the province's winter sportfishing season starting Jan. on 33 lakes for angling rainbow trout, chain pickerel or white and yellow perch.

"Winter sportfishing is a great way to enjoy Nova Scotia's winter," said Ronald Chisholm, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. "It's an excellent opportunity for both experienced and beginner anglers who love the outdoors."

Because of the growing interest in the winter sport fishery, the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture will open winter seasons for stocked rainbow trout, chain pickerel and white and yellow perch throughout Nova Scotia.

Anglers hoping to ice fish this winter will be able to take advantage of the annual winter sportfishing weekend on Saturday, Feb. 16 and Sunday, Feb. 17. During that weekend, resident and non-resident anglers, can fish in areas that are open for winter sportfishing without a general fishing licence.

"Winter angling offers a unique outdoor experience, and we remind everyone to have fun and be safe," said Mr. Chisholm. "I encourage all anglers to use caution during the winter fishery, whether they are fishing from shore, in boats or through the ice."

A 2007 general fishing licence, which can be purchased at Department of Natural Resources offices, is needed to winter fish. The licences are valid until March 31, 2008.

The Bras d'Or Lakes are open for winter angling of rainbow trout from Jan. 1 to March 31, with a bag limit of 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 Regional Municipality; Gairloch Lake, Pictou County; Goose Harbour Lake, Guysborough County; Sucker Lake, Lunenburg County; Levers Lake and No. 20 Dam, Cape Breton County; Hidden Hills Lake, Queens County and Everitts Lake, Digby County. The season on these lakes runs from Jan. 1 to March 31 with a bag limit two fish per day.

In addition, Meadow Pond, Hants County and Silver and Sunken lakes, Kings County, will be open for rainbow trout from Jan. 1 to Feb. 29. The bag limit is two fish per day.

Anglers who enjoy fishing chain pickerel can do so in Digby County on the Meteghan River, including all lakes and tributaries and on the Annis River and Kiack Brook (near Belleville South) in Yarmouth County, including all lakes and tributaries. Other lakes open for chain pickerel include Louis Lake, Queens County; Walls Lake, The Ponds in Port LaTour and Bakers Flats on Cape Sable Island and Lake George, Shelburne County; Morris, Russell, Fish and Kinsac lakes in Halifax Regional Municipality; Lily Lake (Cogamun Pond), Hants County; Shortts Lake, Colchester County; and Black Lake and West Branch Lake, Pictou County. The season runs from Jan. 1 to March 31 with a bag limit of 25 fish per day.

Angling for white and yellow perch is 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 Regional Municipality; Shortts Lake, Colchester County; Lake George, Shelburne County; and Woodward Sanford Lake, Hants County. The bag limit for each species is 25 fish per day.

For more information, visit the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture website at www.gov.ns.ca/fish/sportfishing/angling/winterangling.shtml