By Michael Joel-Hansen

Fishing

Free fishing weekend set to go in Saskatchewan

Feb 13, 2019 | 2:00 PM

This weekend, people looking to get out on the ice and drop a line in the water can do so without the need for a fishing license.

The province’s free fishing weekend will be running on both Saturday and Sunday and is in effect for all of the province’s lakes. Lakes located in national parks are not part of the weekend.

Don Earhardt, the vice president of the Prince Albert Wildlife Federation, told paNOW the free fishing weekend is good for the sport.

“It can encourage the sport of fishing and if we can get more young people or whatever involved in the activity I think that’s great,” he said.

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Earhardt said the P.A. area is home to a number of great lakes, which provide optimal spots for people looking to get out.

“Montreal Lake, Bittern Lake are pretty popular locations, you’re usually never out there alone,” he said.

The local wildlife federation vice president said getting out and fishing is in general a fun and social activity.

“It’s always nice to get out there with a group of folks and have a fire, cook some hot dogs, and that sort of stuff and if you’re lucky and find the right spot on the lake and catch a few fish that’s a bonus,” he said.

The free fishing weekend is not the only angling-related activity which will be going on. The Northern Waters Fly Fishers are set to hold a fly casting practice Friday at the Alfred Jenkins Fieldhouse. The practice will getting underway at 7 p.m. Kendall Kerr, who serves as president of the fly fishers said the club welcomes non members.

“It’s also an opportunity for the general public who are interested in maybe learning about fly casting and have never done it to come out and use some club rods to try it,” he said.

Kerr, who has been fly fishing for 10 years said while fly fishing is not as popular as other forms of the sport he explained a number of people in Saskatchewan do take part in it.

Some of the hurdles people face when it comes to getting involved with fly fishing, according to Kerr, include the cost of the sport as well as the challenge to learn proper techniques. There are also some popular misconceptions about the activity.

“Most people think that you can only fly fish in streams and creeks, because they’ve watched the movie a River Runs Through it and that’s not the truth, basically anywhere fish swim, we can catch them,” said Kerr.

The club president added while it can be challenging to learn the proper technique, it is something that can be done and those who take part enjoy the experience it provides.

“A lot of people enjoy fly fishing because you get into a rhythm and you become part of the water and you’ve got to be focused on what you’re doing or it doesn’t work for you,” Kerr said.

While people looking to get out to fly fish will have to wait until the ice thaws and the temperatures warm up, Kerr said he thinks the free fishing weekend is a good way to get people interested in fishing and thinking about other important issues as well.

“It’s also an opportunity for conservation to bring to the forefront the need to preserve our water bodies,” he said.

(File Photo/paNOW Staff)

MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn