NB Ice Fishing - To buy a license or not?

Ice Fishing is a major recreational sport in most of Canada and the northern States of the U.S., a boon to the local economies and in some ways even more popular than 'soft water' fishing.   Now that we are on the verge of our annual freeze, it is time once again to consider wether or not it is worth it to pay the $22.60 for a license that is of questionable use.

NB Ice Fishing Regulations

Here in Quispamsis, the ice fishing license grants us access to a couple of close by and interesting pickerel ponds such  as McManus Lake and Oram Lake.   There is of course Fisher Lakes in the city of Saint John and a couple of others, but those are not lakes I'd be likely to fish should they were free, let alone having to pay for the right to do so.   Really there is very little incentive to purchase a license for ice fishing for those of here, which is a shame.

In other areas of New Brunswick, the situation may be different and there may be more viable fishing waters available.    For folk living in those areas it may of course may perfect sense to get a license; especially if they live a considerable distance from tidal waters.   Check the ice fishing regulation in the link above to see what waters are available in your area. 

Here is the rare blue yellow perch my friend John Cail caught Ice Fishing last year in tidal waters!

 Of course, this does not mean that us in the Greater Saint John Area will not have a great ice fishing season ahead of us, it is just that our season will be on tidal waters.   Smelt (and the ever famous ice shack communities) is the main draw, though the tidal portions of the river also offer pickerel, burbot, perch and as I found out last year - the rare shark!    There is more than enough enjoyment to be had on the ice in tidal water to keep one happy in the ice fishing season along the Saint John and Kennebacasis Rivers.

I contacted the NB Department of Natural Resources to inquire about rumors that more ponds will be opened to ice anglers.   I was very happy to get a detailed and informative response.  There are 77 additional lakes and ponds in NB that DNR wishes to have open to ice fishing, however they are not able to do so without an amendment to legislation at the Federal Level.   DNR is working with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to get an amendment passed which will then allow DNR to open these waters.   Unfortunately, I was told that the amendment is stalled at DFO and that I should contact my MP and DFO to find out more.

I sent e-mails to Rob Moore (our MP) and to the Minister at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to ask about this amendment, it's current status and any anticipated updates.    If getting these waters opened to ice fishing is important to you, then I urge you to do the same.  Hopefully I'll hear something hopeful back, and if I do I will post it here.   Though given the traditional speed at which Canadian Federal Agencies work, I'm not holding my breath.

I'll gladly buy my Ice Fishing License when these waters are opened in New Brunswick, but not before.   Hopefully, if enough people speak up and request information on what is taking the process so long, things may suddenly move forward!

The 77 new waters that are proposed to be opened for ice fishing are:

Lake or Pond	County
Amelia Lake	York
Big Duck Lake	York
Big Kedron Lake	York
Clear Lake	York
Davidson Lake	York
Deer Lake	York
East Brook Lake	York
First Lake	York
Indian Lake	York
Kilburn Lake	York
Lake George	York
Lily Lake	York
Little Lake	York
Little Magaguadavic Lake	York
Magaguadavic Lake	York
McAdam Pond	York
Mud Lake	York
Napadogan Lake	York
Second Eel Lake	York
Second Harvey Lake	York
Shogomoc Lake	York
Skiff Lake	York
Taffy Lake	York
Third Eel Lake	York
Peltoma Lake	Sunbury
Arnold Lake	Saint John
Bradley Lakes	Saint John
Dolan Lake	Saint John
Nelson Lake	Saint John
Perch Lake	Saint John
Quinn Lake	Saint John
Round Lake	Saint John
Taylor Lake	Saint John
Theobald Lake	Saint John
Treadwell Lake	Saint John
First Portage Lake	Restigouche
Hailes Brook Lake	Restigouche
Prichard Lake	Restigouche
Smith Lake	Restigouche
Stillwater Brook Lake	Restigouche
Lower Lake	Queens
Trout Lake	Queens
Upsalquitch Lake	Northumberland
McKendrick Lake	Northumberland
Mullin Stream Lake	Northumberland
Whitney Pond	Northumberland
Bates Lake	Kings
Belvidere Lake	Kings
Cassidy Lake	Kings
Clark Lake	Kings
Jenkins Lake	Kings
Mechanic Lake	Kings
Pickett Lake	Kings
Ritchie Lake	Kings
Unnamed (Crocketts Corner Pond)	Kings
Waltons Lake	Kings
Williams Lake	Kings
Bass River Lake	Gloucester
Lac St-Coeur	Gloucester
Boone Lake	Charlotte
Cranberry Lake	Charlotte
Cundy Lake	Charlotte
Digdeguash Lake	Charlotte
Gibson Lake	Charlotte
Goldsmiths Lake	Charlotte
Little Long Lake	Charlotte
Little McDougall Lake	Charlotte
McDougall Lake	Charlotte
Ormond Lake	Charlotte
Red Rock Lake	Charlotte
Sparks Lake	Charlotte
Stein Lake	Charlotte
Trout Lake	Charlotte
Victoria Lake	Charlotte
Wheaton Lake	Charlotte
Greens Lake	Carleton
Nashwaak Lake	Carleton