‘I jumped for joy’: Nova Scotia lifts ban on recreational fishing

Social distancing rules must still be followed

Fly fishing and solitude are synonymous. At the beginning of every April, fishers in Nova Scotia grab their rods and head out to undisclosed fishing holes to scope out their prospects.

But not this year.

Due to COVID-19, the opening of the recreational fishing season was pushed back by a month to May 1st.

Angus Lethbridge is an anxious angler who was nervous about that date being extended. His prime target is trout, and catching them relies heavily on being there when the mayflies hatch.

He says he jumped for joy when he heard fishing was back on and was out with his rod the day after the announcement.

UGC: Mayflies mayfly fishing

Courtesy: Nathan Coleman/The Weather Network

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Looking back, he thinks cancelling was the right thing to do at the time but is imploring other fishers to obey social distancing rules.

"If you can't social distance, while you're out there fishing then stay the hell home out of it so other fishermen can get out there and do their fishing rather than the government shutting it back down," he says.

Be sure to watch the video above for my full interview with Angus Lethbridge.