Free fishing weekend open to provincial residents, visitors

SASKATOON If you’re planning on going fishing this summer but haven’t been out yet, this weekend is your chance to do it for free, during Saskatchewan’s free fishing weekend.

Any of the province’s public waters open to sport fishing will be available for residents and visitors to fish, without purchasing a fishing licence, on Saturday and Sunday. However, people planning to take fish out of Saskatchewan must purchase a licence. The annual free fishing weekend also doesn’t apply to national parks.

All other regulations, such as gear restrictions, size limits, and possession limits will remain in effect.

Throughout the weekend, there will also be learn-to-fish sessions with Jason and Jeff Matity, for those interested in learning more about how to pack a tackle box, fish identification, and cleaning and filleting. The free sessions will be at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Douglas and Moose Mountain provincial parks on Saturday, and Buffalo Pound and Echo Valley provincial parks on Sunday.

“Saskatchewan offers some of the best freshwater fishing in the world,” Environment Minister Dustin Duncan said in a release. “Free fishing weekend is a great opportunity for families and visitors to make summer memories at one of our province’s many lakes.”

About 250,000 people sport fish in the province annually, including more than 50,000 from outside Saskatchewan. To increase awareness of the variety of fishing opportunities, and to encourage participation in sport fishing, the first free fishing weekend was held in the summer of 1989. In 2015, the province also held the first free winter fishing weekend.