Celebrate Family Day Weekend With an Ice Fishing Adventure

PETERBOROUGH, ON--(Marketwired - January 27, 2015) - With a long cold winter in our midst, the Ontario Family Fishing Events (OFFE) is sure to warm people's spirits and encourage them to get outdoors and go ice fishing. OFFE provides an opportunity for Canadian residents to fish Ontario waters license-free February 14 to 16 (12:01 a.m. Saturday to 11:59 p.m. Monday), and encourages new and young anglers to drop a line and start jigging.

With family-oriented community events planned across the province, organizers are eager to share their fishing passion with those who are excited to get started. Whether anglers join an event in their community or go out on their own, the license-free fishing days are a great way to spend the Family Day weekend.

"There is no better time to try ice fishing than during the license-free days," says Angelo Lombardo, executive director of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH). "This is also a great opportunity for experienced anglers to fire up the auger and take a friend out to experience this great tradition."

Celebrating six years of panfishing in the Kawartha's, the OFAH will be hosting the OFAH Family Ice Fishing Day on February 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Chemong Lake in Ennismore. Past events have brought out more than 1,000 participants, including many who had never gone ice fishing before. The OFAH/OPG TackleShare crew will be on site pre-drilling holes and handing out fishing equipment, bait and ice safety information, all at no cost. Regardless of their catch, each youth participant will walk away with a goody bag, prize item and smile on their face.

Fast Facts:

• The Ontario Family Fishing Events initiative is an OFAH and Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry partnership, supported by the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association, Lucky Strike Bait Works, Ontario OUT of DOORS Magazine and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. For more details and a complete list of all events, visit www.ontariofamilyfishing.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@onfamfish).
• Open to all Canadian residents -- participants must follow conservation license limits as set out in the 2015 Ontario Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary, found online at www.ontario.ca/fishing.
• Safety first. Never travel on ice unless you know it's safe.

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters is Ontario's largest, non-profit, fish and wildlife conservation-based organization, representing 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters and 725 member clubs. To learn more, visit www.ofah.org and follow us on Facebook (ofah.org/facebook) and Twitter (@ofah).

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