By Heather Killen
The Spectator
NovaNewsNow.com
Anyone angling to try ice fishing can plan to cast a line during the Everett Wile Memorial Catch the Rainbow tournament in February.
This event is organized each year by the Hants West Wildlife Association and will take place on Feb. 16 at Meadow Pond in Hants County. This event provides people of all ages with an opportunity to try a great new winter activity.
Shelters, hot drinks, food and plenty of advice will be available to get people hooked on the sport. It coincides this year with the province’s sportfishing weekend – which runs this year from Feb. 16-17, allowing Nova Scotians to fish without a general license.
For anyone who loves the outdoors, winter fishing is a fun way to meet others and enjoy the beauty of winter, say enthusiasts.
While ice fishing is very popular in other parts of Canada, until recently it hasn’t enjoyed the same level of support in Nova Scotia. In an effort to change this, the province began changing the regulations a few years ago.
This year, the province opened up ice fishing for brook trout on lakes in Cape Breton this winter and the tidal waters of the Bras d'Or Lakes for fishing brown trout and rainbow trout.
Locally, in areas 4 and 5, ranging from Digby to Hants, anglers can find a spot to drop a line for rainbow trout, speckled trout, chain pickerel or perch. However, ice fishing in Annapolis County is still somewhat restricted to Springfield Lake for white and yellow perch.
Reg Baird of Clementsvale says he prefers to fish during better weather, and when he does go out, he’s a catch and release angler. He added that maybe he would have gotten hooked on ice fishing if it had been legal when he was younger.
For many years, the regular fishing season in Nova Scotia started in April and ended in September. Now that winter fishing is available and new lakes are being stocked with fish, more opportunities are open.
He added that smelt fishing has been popular in parts of Annapolis, but even with the changes, there still aren’t many other opportunities for winter fishing in the county. Local anglers either go to Digby or Kings County lakes.
John MacMillan, a biologist with the province’s department of inland fisheries, says that while there aren’t any lakes in Annapolis County now open for trout fishing under the current regulations, that could change as the province is open to suggestions.
“We’re providing more opportunities for people to fish rainbow and speckled trout,” says MacMillan. “We want to make sure there are opportunities for people, as long as we know the interest is there.”
If enough interest is shown in Annapolis County, the department would consider opening up new venues, he says. Anglers who are interested in expanding their opportunities are encouraged to attend a meeting of the Recreational Fishing Advisory Council.
These meetings provide an opportunity for anglers, sport fishing organizations, community groups, federal and provincial enforcement and university researchers to exchange information on sportfishing in Nova Scotia.
A longer season was introduced last year - it now runs until March 31 - which also gives sports fishermen access to the lakes when the ice is breaking up and fish are really biting, according to a veteran Kings County angler.
Coldbrook’s Gerald Bishop says he first got hooked on fishing when he was a boy. In recent years, he has done some ice fishing and has already been out on Silver Lake a few times since the season opened on Jan. 1.
“It’s beautiful out there,” he said. “On a half-decent day, it’s really wonderful. You can see pheasants and birds flying overhead.”
And it’s a terrific way to meet other people, as ice fishing is the winter equivalent to golf, according to Bishop.
“It’s nothing to see 30 to 40 people out there on a good day,” he said. “Experienced fishermen are happy to help people get started. And you see men, women and children out there.”
The secret behind catching a trout is the bait, he says. Red or green power bait and shrimp, on tiny hooks, is his best tip. However if that doesn’t work, don’t be discouraged.
Bishop is quick to point out that fishing is a weird and tricky thing.
“The person next to you could be catching plenty of fish, and you hardly get a bite. It depends on the day.”
Fishing licenses are valid 2012 through March 31 and can be purchased at the Department of Natural Resource Office, or through Access Nova Scotia. One-day licenses are also available at a reduced price.
To be included on the Recreational Fishing Advisory Council mailing list contact:
Inland Fisheries Division at 485-5056. For more information on the recreational fishing regulations, visit www.gov.ns.ca/fish/sportfishing
Winter Angling Opportunities
RFA # 5 (Annapolis, Hants, & Kings Counties)
Rainbow Trout
Meadow Pond, Hants County
Silver & Sunken Lakes, Kings County
Speckled Trout (bag limit of two trout)
St. Croix Pond, Hants County
Meadow Pond, Hants County
White & Yellow Perch
Lake George, Kings County
Lake Paul, Kings County
Springfield Lake, Annapolis County
Woodward Sandford Lake, Hants County
Chain Pickerel
Lake George, Kings County
Lake Paul, Kings County
Lily Lake (Cogmagun Pond), Hants County
RFA # 4 (Digby, Queens, Shelburne, & Yarmouth Counties)
Rainbow Trout
Everitts Lake, Digby County
Hidden Hills Lake, Queens County
Speckled Trout
Victoria Lake, Queens County
White & Yellow Perch
Meteghan River, including all lakes and tributaries, Digby County
Lake George, Shelburne County
Chain Pickerel
Meteghan River, including all lakes and tributaries, Digby County
Annis River, including all lakes and tributaries, Yarmouth County
Kiack Brook (near Belleville South), including all lakes and tributaries, Yarmouth County
Louis Lake, Queens County
Walls Lake, Ponds in Port Latour, Bakers Flats on Cape Sable Island, Shelburne County
Lake George, Shelburne County
