This Saturday and Sunday is free fishing weekend in Saskatchewan (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Outdoor activities

Free fishing weekend on the horizon

Jul 10, 2019 | 5:00 PM

This weekend anglers can head out on the province’s lakes and not worry about having to get a licence.

Free Fishing Weekend will run both Saturday and Sunday. The weekend, which has been going in the summer since 1989 is meant to encourage people to take part in the sport while raising awareness.

Lyle Banting, general manager for Canadian Tire in Prince Albert, said the weekend is a good chance for people to give the activity a try for the first time.

“That’s usually when we see a lot of lower end fishing tackle and stuff get purchased by these people taking advantage of it,” he said.

Banting said waving the licence is a big help in making fishing more accessible to people and a good way to get more people involved and grow the sport. In his experience the people interested in taking part in free fishing range from those visiting to residents.

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Banting explained when it comes to locations, it is hard to find a place which offers anglers more.

“There’s no better spot to be if you’re looking for fresh water fishing,” he said.

People looking to take part in Free Fishing Weekend can do so on any provincial bodies of water that are open to sport fishing. The free weekend does not include lakes in Prince Albert National Park. Those looking to partake are also reminded that limits and other regulations are still in place. Any fish caught over the weekend cannot be taken out of province without a licence. The provincial government encourages people with questions to look at the 2019 Anglers’ Guide.

Murray Koob, a fisheries biologist with the Ministry of Environment said fishing is important to promote in part because it is a large economic driver for the province.

“It generates over $300 million of economic activity into the province every year,” he said.

Koob added alongside regulations that are in place, fishing plays an important role in helping to keep the populations at healthy levels.

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn