With Father's Day weekend in full swing, the province of Ontario is hoping people will take advantage by offering more chances to fish.
The province offers free fishing on Saturday and Sunday, meaning you will not need a licence to fish for recreation.
"Father’s Day weekend is a great time to get out on one of Ontario’s beautiful lakes or rivers and enjoy fishing," said Natural Resources Minister Graydon Smith. "Fishing is a fun activity for everyone in the family and it’s a great way to spend time together, so I encourage you to cast a line June 15 and 16 to celebrate Father’s Day."
Most of Ontario is open for public fishing, with species including yellow perch, common carp, northern pike, lake trout, and walleye. There are exceptions, as indicated in the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary.
There is a catch for those fishing this weekend. Anglers will still need government-issued identification with name, photo, and date of birth.
The provincial government is also expanding its popular Learn to Fish program.
"Expansion of this program creates more opportunities for people to get out and explore Ontario’s many lakes and rivers and maybe even find a new hobby," said Smith.
Twenty locations across the province are holding Learn to Fish programs, including 11 mobile locations.
Locations, registration, and other information can be found on the Ontario Government website.