Manitobans will have a great reason to get out and enjoy the province’s beautiful outdoors and world-class fisheries during this year’s Winter Family Fishing Weekend.
“This annual family fishing weekend gives Manitobans a great opportunity to personally experience the winter tradition of ice fishing,” said Natural Resources and Northern Development Minister Scott Fielding. “With free admission to provincial parks throughout the month of February, this is an ideal time for Manitobans to grab a rod and reel and safely head out onto the ice to ‘reel in’ a good time this weekend, while exploring the many fishing opportunities this province has to offer.”
From Saturday, Feb. 19, to Monday, Feb. 21, anglers may fish without a licence throughout the province, except in national parks where a federal angling licence is still required.
Anglers may retain up to a conservation licence limit of fish, which includes four walleye/sauger, four northern pike, two smallmouth bass, one lake trout, one channel catfish and two stocked trout. Regular limits apply for those who already have a regular angling licence and all other angling regulations apply during this weekend, including regulations for individual waters.
For more information on all provincial angling regulations, refer to the 2021 Manitoba Anglers’ Guide at manitobafisheries.com.
If visiting a provincial park in February, vehicle permits are not required, but Snopasses are still required for snowmobiles using groomed trails in the parks.
Anglers are encouraged to check ice conditions before travelling onto the ice. It is important to let someone know where you are fishing and to wear appropriate clothing so that your ice-fishing adventure is safe and enjoyable.
Anglers are also reminded that aquatic invasive species (AIS) requirements are in effect year-round. The winter (ice-covered) season checklist is a step-by-step resource that can help you comply with the Manitoba government’s AIS Regulation.
Anglers cannot remove live bait from an aquatic invasive species control zone and retain the dead bait for future use.
Bait taken into an AIS control zone must be discarded before leaving the shore, if it:
- is live bait,
- has been handled (e.g. hooked), or
- has come into contact with surface water from the control zone.
These requirements apply even with a valid three-day live bait fish transfer and use receipt. Additionally, all water from the bait container must be drained before leaving the shore. For more information, visit manitoba.ca.
Manitobans looking for fisheries information, such as contour maps, fisheries assessment summaries and stocking information can use the interactive Lake Information for Anglers website, which provides valuable information in an easily accessible format. The Lake Information for Anglers website can be found at manitobafisheries.com.
