Eastern Manitoba
Jessica Lake
Photo: Felspar13 (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons
About this lake
One of the Whiteshell's premier walleye lakes, Jessica Lake has received hundreds of thousands of stocked walleye fry nearly every year since 2010, and the province's 2022 fisheries assessment found walleye, smallmouth bass, black crappie, northern pike and yellow perch in its survey nets. The lake is also noted as an important traditional fishing area for Manitoba First Nations. Like most eastern Manitoba waters, it falls under the Area A rule that all walleye over 45 cm must be released.
🏆 Trophy catches
The biggest documented fish caught here, from the Manitoba Master Angler record book.
44″ Northern PikeReleased
Joey Vasareuic · June 06, 2009
111.8 cm
43″ Northern Pike
Elmer Neufeld · June 07, 1998
109.2 cm
42″ Northern PikeReleased
Maiko Dueck · May 28, 2015
106.7 cm
21.75″ SuckerReleased
David Barrett · July 20, 2006
55.3 cm
20.08″ SuckerReleased
Jacob Brown · January 05, 2025
51.0 cm
20.08″ SuckerReleased
Matt Drew · September 03, 2009
51.0 cm
18″ Smallmouth BassReleased
Rob Penner · June 01, 2019
45.7 cm
16.5″ Black CrappieReleased
Robert James · July 04, 2024
41.9 cm
16.5″ Black CrappieReleased
Brent Maxwell · January 24, 2020
41.9 cm
16″ Black CrappieReleased
E Derksen · September 15, 2024
40.6 cm
Source: Manitoba Master Angler record book (anglers.travelmanitoba.com)
Where it is
📍 Jessica Lake · Eastern
2026 Manitoba Anglers' Guide
Fishing regulations
Southern Division (best match — confirm in the guide)
No waterbody-specific rules listed — general Southern Division limits apply.
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)
Smallmouth Bass
- Limit
- 4
- Size
- None may exceed 45 cm
- Season
- Open year-round (all divisions; waterbody-specific closures apply)
Yellow Perch
- Limit
- 25
- Size
- No size restriction (provincially)
- Season
- Open year-round (all divisions; waterbody-specific closures apply)
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
May 15, 2025
Walleye · Fry
300,000
May 25, 2023
Walleye · Fry
300,000
May 31, 2022
Walleye · Fry
300,000
May 19, 2021
Walleye · Fry
300,000
May 21, 2020
Walleye · Fry
300,000
May 29, 2019
Walleye · Fry
300,000
May 22, 2018
Walleye · Fry
250,000
May 22, 2015
Walleye · Fry
100,000
May 22, 2015
Walleye · Fry
100,000
May 22, 2015
Walleye · Fry
100,000
May 28, 2014
Walleye · Fry
100,000
May 28, 2014
Walleye · Fry
100,000
May 28, 2014
Walleye · Fry
100,000
May 31, 2013
Walleye · Fry
400,000
May 31, 2013
Walleye · Fry
400,000
May 31, 2011
Walleye · Fry
200,000
May 22, 2010
Walleye · Fry
400,000
May 29, 2009
Walleye · Fry
300,000
May 16, 2003
Walleye · Fry
500,000
May 25, 2002
Walleye · Fry
100,000
May 11, 1998
Walleye · Fry
300,000
Jun 1, 1996
Walleye · Fry
6,000
May 24, 1996
Walleye · Fry
300,000
May 18, 1994
Walleye · Fry
300,000
Jun 2, 1965
Kokanee · Fingerling
6,000
May 25, 1964
Kokanee · Fingerling
5,000
—
Walleye · Fry
300,000
—
Walleye · Egg
150,000
—
Largemouth Bass · Fingerling
1,700
—
Walleye · Egg
150,000
—
Largemouth Bass · Fingerling
1,500
—
Walleye · Egg
150,000
—
Walleye · Egg
150,000
33 stocking events · Source: Manitoba Waterbody Stocking Records, Manitoba Wildlife and Fisheries Branch (open.canada.ca)