Mother’s Day Weekend the first of four this year offering a chance for everyone to try fishing

One of the best feelings is being on a dock or a lake with a line in the water and feeling that first bite.

A quick jerk to get the hook in and then it’s reeling it in! Or for bigger fish, perhaps, it’s a bit of a battle first. But, once that fish is caught, the excitement and satisfaction are palpable.

That’s the sentiment behind the Mother’s Day free fishing weekend in Ontario, part of three weekends of free fishing across the province, explains Muskoka-Parry Sound MPP Graydon Smith.

The first week took place in February, while Father’s Day Weekend (June 15 to 16) and Family Fishing Week (June 29 to July 7) are still to come.

“There has been free fishing for a number of decades, but in 2018 our government doubled the number of free-fishing events in Ontario by adding Mother’s Day and Father’s Day weekends to the mix,” says Smith, who is also the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. “It’s a great family activity and an opportunity to get people out in the springtime enjoying what the great outdoors has to offer, grabbing the rod and reel and going and having a great time.”

For those who have never had the pleasure of spending time by or on the water with a rod and reel (and bait or lures), this is a chance to find out what all the fuss is about without needing to pay for a licence.

“If it’s someone’s first time fishing or they used to fish and they haven’t been out for a while or don’t have a licence anymore, it’s a good way to rediscover it,” explains Smith. “That’s what this weekend and the opportunity for free fishing is all about, it’s the opportunity to connect with loved ones, connect with nature, and make some memories here in Ontario.”

Smith himself has many fond memories of fishing, both with his dad and with his own friends.

“I remember when I was about 11 or 12 years old out on a boat on Lake Muskoka with my dad and a couple of my dad’s friends,” he recalls. “We were trying to catch some bass, but ended catching something that was a lot more exciting: a big pike, which I had never seen a pike that big before.”

No true angler will give away his or her prime spots or all the fish will be gone, however Smith is happy to share a well-known locale that seems to be a nice place to pull a fish or two: where the Muskoka River meets Lake Muskoka (and the surrounding area) tends to have a few people dropping a line in.

When he was younger, it was as simple as finding a small area within walking distance.

“There are all these little waterways, or little ponds, down dirt roads or a short walk away,” says Smith. “I grew up in Port Sydney, and you would drop a line in, they weren’t big fish, but they were always exciting to catch.”

Smith’s goal is to get out and do some fishing himself this weekend. Of course, he and his kids will be celebrating with their mom and his mom first.

“I think there is a really good chance,” says Smith. “When the afternoon hits, it might be a great time to teach my kids how great fishing can be just like my dad taught me.”

Those heading out to fish for free on the Mother’s Day weekend should be aware that all conservation licence catch limits, size limits, sanctuaries and all other fishing regulations and rules still apply.

For full rules and regulations, visit: https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-fishing-regulations-summary