Northern Manitoba

Big Sand Lake

StockedNorthern Pike Lake Trout WalleyeArctic Grayling

About this lake

A remote fly-in lake in the Seal River system of far northern Manitoba, 550 miles north of Winnipeg. Big Sand Lake Lodge - the only lodge on the lake's roughly 60,000 acres of water - offers the Canadian Grand Slam: northern pike, lake trout, walleye and arctic grayling, all strict catch-and-release.

Size: ~243 km2 (~60,000 acres)

🏆 Trophy catches

The biggest documented fish caught here, from the Manitoba Master Angler record book.

50.5″ Northern PikeReleased

Kenneth Burglund · June 12, 1994

128.3 cm

50″ Northern PikeReleased

Thomas J. Murphy · June 21, 2002

127.0 cm

50″ Northern PikeReleased

Chris L. Christian · July 26, 1992

127.0 cm

49″ Lake TroutReleased

Thomas Scheirer · August 30, 1994

124.5 cm

48″ Lake TroutReleased

Doug Pellant · June 19, 2001

121.9 cm

Source: Manitoba Master Angler record book (anglers.travelmanitoba.com)

Where it is

📍 Big Sand Lake · Northern

2026 Manitoba Anglers' Guide

Fishing regulations

Northeast Division (best match — confirm in the guide)

Heads up: this lake's division is our best match, not an official assignment. Double check it against the current Anglers' Guide before you fish.

No waterbody-specific rules listed — general Northeast Division limits apply.

Species	Possession limit	Size restriction	Season
Walleye (Pickerel) & Sauger (either or combined)	4	None may exceed 55 cm	Southern Division: closed April 6, 2026 to May 8, 2026; open May 9, 2026 to April 4, 2027. Northwest Division: closed May 1 to May 15, 2026; open May 16, 2026 to April 30, 2027. North Central Division: closed May 1 to May 15, 2026; open May 16, 2026 to April 30, 2027. Northeast Division: generally open all year (waterbody-specific closures apply). Lake Winnipeg: walleye/sauger closed April 6 to May 15, 2026.
Northern Pike (Jackfish)	4	None may exceed 75 cm	Open year-round (all divisions; waterbody-specific closures apply)
Lake Trout	1	None may exceed 65 cm	Southern Division: closed September 15 to October 31, 2026; open November 1, 2026 to September 14, 2027. New 2026 rule: Area A (eastern Manitoba) — all lake trout over 55 cm must be released. Northwest/North Central: generally open year-round per general limits (check waterbody-specific closures).

Walleye (Pickerel) & Sauger (either or combined)

Limit: 4
Size: None may exceed 55 cm
Season: Southern Division: closed April 6, 2026 to May 8, 2026; open May 9, 2026 to April 4, 2027. Northwest Division: closed May 1 to May 15, 2026; open May 16, 2026 to April 30, 2027. North Central Division: closed May 1 to May 15, 2026; open May 16, 2026 to April 30, 2027. Northeast Division: generally open all year (waterbody-specific closures apply). Lake Winnipeg: walleye/sauger closed April 6 to May 15, 2026.

Northern Pike (Jackfish)

Limit: 4
Size: None may exceed 75 cm
Season: Open year-round (all divisions; waterbody-specific closures apply)

Lake Trout

Limit: 1
Size: None may exceed 65 cm
Season: Southern Division: closed September 15 to October 31, 2026; open November 1, 2026 to September 14, 2027. New 2026 rule: Area A (eastern Manitoba) — all lake trout over 55 cm must be released. Northwest/North Central: generally open year-round per general limits (check waterbody-specific closures).

Source: 2026 Manitoba Anglers' Guide (gov.mb.ca/nrnd/fish-wildlife/pubs/fish_wildlife/fish/angling-guide.pdf), Waterbody Specific Regulations pp. 18-23. Summaries only — confirm in the official guide.

Stocking history

Lake TroutRainbow Trout

Date	Species	Size	Quantity
Jun 9, 1993	Lake Trout	Fingerling	150,000
—	Rainbow Trout	>1 year	3,000

Jun 9, 1993

Lake Trout · Fingerling

150,000

—

Rainbow Trout · >1 year

3,000

2 stocking events · Source: Manitoba Waterbody Stocking Records, Manitoba Wildlife and Fisheries Branch (open.canada.ca)