HLM

Houston Lake Mining Inc. (TSX-V: HLM), an advanced exploration company seeking gold, platinum group and rare metal deposits in Ontario, is pleased to announce that logging and sampling of the Phase II 22 hole, 2,232m (7,321 ft.) diamond drill program has now been completed. The diamond drill program targeted the vicinity of the Dubenski Shaft Zone site of a recent NI 43-101-compliant resource estimate. Gold fire assay results are pending from 205 drill core samples that were shipped just before Christmas to TSL Laboratories of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. A further 588 drill core samples have been shipped to complete the evaluation. Results will be announced as soon as they are available.

"The positive resource estimate received on the Dubenski Shaft Zone has started the year off on the right foot for Houston Lake," commented E. Grayme Anthony, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We expect the Phase II drill results in the next six to eight weeks. This drill program aims to more than double the strike length of the gold system hosting the resource and has the potential to positively impact the resource calculation. Having just closed a financing in December, we are carrying out an aggressive 2009 exploration program that consists of more drilling and geophysics on the West Cedartree property."

The recently completed Phase II drill program has added four new drill sections to the east and two new drill sections to the west of the four sections intersecting the highly altered rocks of the Shaft Zone. Drilling by Houston Lake last winter has defined the Shaft Zone for a strike length of 60 metres (197 feet) and to a depth of approximately 100 metres (328 feet). The altered rocks of the Shaft Zone have now been traced for a total strike length of 165 metres (541 feet). Drilling at depth encountered a north-south striking fault which has offset the zone approximately 25 metres (82 feet) to the north. However, the package of rocks hosting the gold zone continues on the other side (to the west) of the fault. It is noted that the altered rocks defining the Shaft Zone have been traced to vertical depth of 230 metres (754 feet) in a hole drilled by Avalon Ventures in 1997.

A deep IP survey was conducted in February and March of 2008 by Matrix GeoTechnologies Ltd. ("Matrix") of Toronto. The survey identified a strong conductive anomaly that is continuous for over 1,200 metres (3,936 ft.) and coincides with the Shaft, Central and East Zones of Dubenski. 3D modeling by Matrix appears to confirm that chargeability responses associated with the resistivity anomaly at Dubenski appear to strengthen with depth and may indicate the possible down plunge extension of the Shaft Zone mineralization on the property.

Houston Lake has reengaged Matrix to complete gaps in the deep IP coverage to the west of the Shaft Zone and to add fill in IP sections at 50 metre intervals over the Central Zone. Matrix will also be carrying out magnetic surveys over the entire Dubenski property. This work will provide the basis for follow up drilling in the vicinity of the Shaft, Central and East Zones. A 2,000 m (6,560 ft.) drill program is planned to begin in February.

Additional IP surveys are slated for late February/early March. The purpose of these surveys is to further define the Angel Hill, McLennan and Dogpaw Vein No. 1 trends on the adjacent West Cedartree and Dogpaw Lake properties.

About the Dubenski Property

The Dubenski property is one of eight contiguous properties comprising the Company's 100% owned and optioned 1,674 hectare (4,135 acre) West Cedartree Gold Project located near Kenora, Ontario. The project area encompasses three zones hosting gold resources at Angel Hill (NI 43-101 compliant), Dogpaw Lake No. 1 Vein (historic) and Dubenski Shaft (NI 43-101 compliant).

The Dubenski property contains an historic resource which was reported to extend to a depth of 150m (492 ft.) and includes the Shaft, Central and East Zones. Consulting geologists Watts Griffis and McOuat (WGM) of Toronto were contracted to carry out a technical review of the Dubenski Property and design and supervise a definition drilling program in order to prepare a NI 43-101 compliant Mineral Resource estimate for the Dubenski Shaft Zone portion of the historic gold resource (see Company Press Release dated January 16, 2009). The categorized Mineral Resources at a 1.0 g Au/t cutoff are:

TABLE 1. SUMMARY OF SHAFT ZONE MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE
                  (CUTOFF OF 1.0 G AU/T)
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|Category |Tonnes | Au (g/t) |  Ounces  |Au (g/t)| Ounces |
|         |       |(uncapped)|(uncapped)|(capped)|(capped)|
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|Indicated|177,400|   7.32   |  41,750  |  5.97  | 34,050 |
|Inferred |118,700|   5.63   |  21,500  |  5.02  | 19,150 |
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The NI 43-101 report is now available at www.sedar.com and at the Company's website at www.houstonlakemining.com.

Due Diligence

All samples reported were shipped to TSL Laboratories, an ISO accredited facility, of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Samples taken from the core of the mineralized zone were analyzed utilizing a screen metallic assay method. This methodology provides a higher level of assurance by testing a large quantity of sample (1,000g) and by monitoring the size distribution of the gold. Samples taken from the shoulders of the mineralized zone were analyzed by fire assay utilizing a 50 gram charge. All samples were assayed with an AA finish and those samples assaying above 3 g/mt gold were retested utilizing a gravimetric finish. The samples will also be re-checked at a second qualified laboratory in keeping with the Company's standard due diligence procedures.

E. Grayme Anthony, P. Geo., President of the Company, is the Qualified Person under the guidelines of NI 43-101 for the technical aspects of this news release.

About Houston Lake Mining Inc.

Houston Lake is an advanced, vertically integrated resource exploration company. The Company is actively exploring for gold, platinum group metal and rare metal deposits in northwestern Ontario with a strategic focus on the West Cedartree gold project. Houston Lake's objective is to become a gold producer by surface mining its West Cedartree gold project and developing its 100% owned and optioned properties. The Company has a total of 32,716,213 common shares issued and outstanding. For additional information, please visit us at www.houstonlakemining.com.

Forward-looking Statements

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements." All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future production, reserve potential, exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that the Company expects are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and those actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on the Company, Investors should review the Company's registered filings what are available at www.sedar.com.

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Company Contacts Houston Lake Mining E. Grayme Anthony P.Geo., MBA President and CEO Tel: 705-897-7622 Fax: 705-897-7618 Email Contact In Canada: Wanda Cutler Linx Partners Ltd. Tel: 416-303-6460 In United States: George Duggan ICS Tel: 818-542-6880