This will be the first weekend that anglers have a chance to cast their line in Saskatchewan.

Angling season dates are divided into three zones; the southern zone season opens on May 5th, the central zone on May 15th and the northern zone on May 25th. There are a few exceptions with certain lakes having their own opening dates.

A license is needed to fish at any Saskatchewan lakes and can be purchased online, at any Saskatchewan angling license issuer, select provincial park offices or at a Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment office.

The Canadian Safety Council's Summer Safety week also coincides with the start of the fishing season. The week, which runs from May 1st to May 7th, highlights the importance of water safety.

Lewis Smith, Coordinator of Communications and Media with the Canadian Safety Council, said they are trying to bring drowning prevention awareness to people before they get on the water this summer. "We like taking a proactive approach to safety rather than a reactive. Most drowning incidents occur during the summer months and we figure we're better off getting the message in ahead of the curve to make sure drowning prevention is on everyone's mind before any incidents happen." 

Smith said they are seeing less and less drowning incidents each year, "Statistics are trending in the right direction and we're currently at the lowest number of water-related fatalities in 25 years but that number is still alarmingly high for a type of death that is preventable."

In 2014, there were 428 reports of people drowning. Around 61% of drowning incidents occur during a recreational activity, which includes swimming, boating and kayaking.

Personal flotation devices (PFD) are key to preventing drowning. Smith said they encourage everyone to have and wear their PFD while boating or taking part in any recreational activities on the water, "Our main message for this week is the importance of personal flotation devices, not only having them but wearing them at all times."

When purchasing a PFD, make sure it's approved by either Transport Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard or Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The fastening devices on the PFD should be regularly checked to make sure they work.