From Feb. 15-17 anyone who wants to fish on the province's lakes can do so without a fishing licence. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Family Day Fishing

Free fishing weekend coming up

Feb 11, 2020 | 1:10 PM

The Family Day Long Weekend is coming up and those interested in dropping a line in one of the province’s lakes can do so without a fishing licence.

The free fishing event is from Feb. 15 to 17.

Murray Koob, recreational fisheries specialist with the Ministry of Environment said the province started offering free fishing weekends in the summer 1989. It’s the fifth year for the winter event.

“By offering the wintertime event, it’s an initiative to try and promote the sport a little more,” he said.

Koob said those interested in taking part in the weekend need to remember limits are still in effect. He added the free fishing weekend applies to any provincial body of water which is open to sport fishing.

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Before ice fishing, Koob reminds to check ice thickness before heading out. Ten centimetres thick is recommended for walking, while 30 centimetres is recommended for a light vehicle. Avoid moving water, Koob said.

“Moving water tends to degrade ice quality and thickness,” he said.

He recommends to drill the ice fishing hole between six to 10 inches wide.

Don Erhart, vice president of the Prince Albert Wildlife Federation said it nice to have a free fishing weekend in the winter to help get people out and promote the sport.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity,” he said.

Erhart said the P.A. area has many fishing lakes, including Montreal Lake, Anglin and Candle Lake.

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn