Manitoba’s first Winter Family Fishing Weekend will be held on the Louis Riel long weekend, Feb. 19 to 21, Water Stewardship Minister Christine Melnick announced.
“We encourage Manitobans and visitors to take advantage of this free ice-fishing weekend as a healthy winter activity and an opportunity to enjoy Manitoba’s great outdoors,” said Melnick. “This is a great way to share time with family and friends and take advantage of Manitoba’s world-class fisheries.”
For this weekend only, Manitobans and visiting anglers will be able to ice fish without a provincial licence in all waters except those in federal parks where a federal licence will still be required. Fishers are reminded to check ice conditions and keep fishing sites clean and litter free. Rules regarding liquor consumption in fishing huts and in public will be enforced.
Each adult angler who would normally require a licence will be allowed to keep a limit of four walleye or sauger, four pike, two smallmouth bass, two stocked trout, one channel catfish and one lake trout, keeping with the limits normally in place for a conservation licence. Limits for other species remain the same as a regular angling licence. Children under the age of 16 who are Manitoba residents are exempted from licensing year-round and entitled to their own limits as per an adult angling licence.
“The summer fishing season Family Fishing Weekend held during June of each year has been a great success so we are now inviting fishers of all ages and skills to enjoy a winter outing,” said the minister.
More information and specific regulations by area is available in the 2010 Manitoba Anglers’ Guide. For more information call 945-6784 or visit manitobafisheries.com.
