Nova Scotians are encouraged to gear up and head to one of the province’s open waterways to enjoy this winter’s sportfishing season.

“Winter sportfishing is a great way for people of all ages to enjoy the outdoors,” said Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Keith Colwell. “I would like to remind anglers to put safety first while fishing from the shore, in a boat or through ice.”

Freshwater lakes open for winter will give anglers a chance to fish for brook, brown or rainbow trout, white or yellow perch and chain pickerel. The bag limit for trout is two fish per day, except in the Cape Breton Highlands Management Area where anglers can keep 10 fish per day. The daily bag limit for perch and chain pickerel is 25.

A 2016 general fishing licence, valid until March 31, is required to fish through the winter and can be purchased at Department of Natural Resources offices throughout the province.

Anglers may also purchase one-day licences at a reduced rate or take part in the annual open winter free fishing weekend, held from Feb. 18 to 20, without a licence.

Dalem Lake in Victoria County and McKeen Lake in Guysborough County are new to the list of open waterways for winter fishing in Nova Scotia this year, increasing the number of open waterways to 65.

For a list of open waterways, size and bag limits and restrictions for winter sportfishing visit http://novascotia.ca/fish/sportfishing/laws-regs/docs/2017_Winter_Angling_Notice.pdf

Nova Scotia’s winter sportfishing season runs from Jan. 1 to March 31.

Source: Release