Bailey Sutherland, Daily Herald
Saskatchewan’s annual summer free fishing weekend is set for July 13 and 14. The province’s public waters will be open to residents and visitors alike. Individuals can fish without purchasing a licence, but all other fishing regulations, including possession limits, gear restrictions and size limits on some lakes and rivers, remain in effect.
The first fishing weekend in the summer of 1989 was used to encourage sports fishing and spread awareness of the value of angling opportunities in Saskatchewan. Every year, there are upwards of 250,000 people that sport fish within the province, including more than 50,000 out-of-province anglers.
“Free fishing weekend is a great opportunity for families and visitors to make summer memories at one of our province’s many lakes,” Environment Minister Dustin Duncan said in a press release. “And Saskatchewan offers some of the best freshwater fishing in the world.”
For new fishers looking to take advantage of this weekend, the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation is launching a brand-new summer-long program called GoFishSK, an equipment-lending program that provides new anglers an opportunity to try out fishing at no cost. Everything you need to cast a line, including rods, reels, and tackle, can be located at the campground head office, free of charge. Wakamow Valley is the official launch site for GoFishSK, but more locations are expected to pop up across the province later in the year.
“We’re hoping to get kids hooked on fishing this summer, and to make fishing accessible for people, whether they don’t have their gear with them, or they’re looking to try something totally new”, said James Villeneuve in a press release, fisheries biologist and program head at the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation.
Free fishing weekend does not apply in national parks and a licence must be purchased if fish are taken out of province. For more information regarding fishing in Saskatchewan, visit the 2019 Anglers’ Guide at www.saskatchewan.ca/fishing.
