Winter Sportfishing Season Announced
NOTE: A list of waterways open for winter sportfishing and any restrictions follows this release.
The province is expanding winter sportfishing opportunities when the season opens on New Year's day. A total of 38 waterways across Nova Scotia will open for rainbow trout, chain pickerel or perch on Thursday, Jan. 1.
"Winter sportfishing has a strong history in Nova Scotia," said Ronald Chisholm, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. "I am pleased to announce there will be three new lakes opened for rainbow trout and two opened for chain pickerel and perch this season."
The new waterways open this year for rainbow trout are Oathill, Maynard and Penhorn lakes in the Halifax Regional Municipality. Lake George and Lake Paul in Kings County are open for chain pickerel and white and yellow perch.
"I encourage all winter anglers to enjoy the season," said Mr. Chisholm. "Whether they are fishing from shore, in boats or through the ice, anglers should note changing conditions which could compromise their safety."
A 2008 general fishing licence is needed to winter fish. Licences can be purchased at Department of Natural Resources offices throughout the province, Access Nova Scotia's Maritime Centre location, or selected authorized vendors. Licences are valid until March 31.
The annual winter sportfishing weekend takes place Saturday, Feb. 14, and Sunday, Feb. 15. During that weekend, resident and non-resident anglers can fish in areas that are open for winter sportfishing without a general fishing licence.
For more information, visit the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture website at www.gov.ns.ca/fish/sportfishing/angling/winterangling.shtml .
The following is a list of waterways open for winter sportfishing, and any restrictions in place.
Rainbow trout, bag limit two fish per day:
- Antigonish County - Cameron Lake and Gillis Lake
- Cape Breton - Bras d'Or Lakes (see note), Levers Lake and No. 20 Dam
- Cumberland County - Angevine Lake (Dewars Lake)
- Digby County - Everitts Lake
- Guysborough County - Goose Harbour Lake
- Halifax Regional Municipality - Albro Lake, Oathill Lake, Maynard Lake, and Penhorn Lake
- Hants County - Meadow Pond (Jan. 1 to Feb. 28 only)
- Kings County - Silver Lake and Sunken Lake (Jan. 1 to Feb. 28 only)
- Lunenburg County - Sucker Lake
- Pictou County - Gairloch Lake
- Queens County - Hidden Hills Lake
NOTE: 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.
Chain pickerel, bag limit of 25 fish per day:
- Colchester County - Shortts Lake
- Digby County - Meteghan River, including all lakes and tributaries
- Halifax Regional Municipality - Morris Lake, Russell Lake, Fish Lake and Kinsac Lake
- Hants County - Lily Lake (Cogamun Pond)
- Kings County - Lake George and Lake Paul
- Pictou County - Black Lake and West Branch Lake
- Queens County - Louis Lake
- Shelburne County - Walls Lake, Lake George, and the ponds in Port LaTour and Bakers Flats on Cape Sable Island
- Yarmouth County - Annis River and Kiack Brook (near Belleville South), including all lakes and tributaries
White and yellow perch, bag limit 25 fish per day:
- Annapolis County - Springfield Lake
- Antigonish County - Cameron Lake and Gillis Lake
- Colchester County - Shortts Lake
- Cumberland County - Angevine (Dewars Lake)
- Halifax Regional Municipality - Albro Lake
- Hants County - Woodward Sanford Lake
- Kings County - Lake George and Lake Paul
- Shelburne County - Lake George
- Yarmouth County - Meteghan River, including all lakes and tributaries