Southern Manitoba

Lake Wahtopanah

StockedWalleye Northern PikeRock BassYellow Perch

About this lake

Also known as the Rivers Reservoir, Lake Wahtopanah is a reservoir on the Little Saskatchewan River just east of Rivers. Provincial surveys list walleye, northern pike, rock bass and perch as the common species, and index netting found walleye the dominant catch. It has produced Master Angler walleye and pike, hosts an annual summer fishing derby, and offers boat launches plus camping at Rivers Provincial Park.

Size: 6.3 km²

Max depth: 17.8 m

🏆 Trophy catches

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

47″ Northern Pike

Orville Olson · July 07, 1993

119.4 cm

46.5″ Northern PikeReleased

Michael Perreault · July 27, 2010

118.1 cm

46″ Northern Pike

Donald Barber · September 15, 2000

116.8 cm

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

Where it is

📍 Lake Wahtopanah · Southern

2026 Manitoba Anglers' Guide

Fishing regulations

Southern 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 Southern 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)
Yellow Perch	25	No size restriction (provincially)	Open year-round (all divisions; waterbody-specific closures 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)

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

Largemouth BassMuskellungeNorthern PikeRainbow TroutSmallmouth BassWalleyeYellow Perch

Date	Species	Size	Quantity
May 21, 2025	Walleye	Fry	800,000
May 19, 2024	Walleye	Fry	800,000
May 23, 2023	Walleye	Fry	800,000
May 30, 2022	Walleye	Fry	200,000
May 21, 2021	Walleye	Fry	800,000
May 22, 2020	Walleye	Fry	1,500,000
May 29, 2019	Walleye	Fry	500,000
May 24, 2018	Walleye	Fry	500,000
May 20, 2017	Walleye	Fry	1,500,000
May 19, 2016	Walleye	Fry	1,100,000
May 15, 2015	Walleye	Fry	1,100,000
Jun 2, 2014	Walleye	Fry	400,000
May 31, 2014	Walleye	Fry	500,000
May 28, 2014	Walleye	Fry	1,000,000
May 29, 2013	Walleye	Fry	400,000
May 13, 2012	Walleye	Fry	1,000,000
May 22, 2011	Walleye	Fry	500,000
May 12, 2010	Walleye	Fry	300,000
May 25, 2009	Walleye	Fry	300,000
May 25, 2008	Walleye	Fry	800,000
May 19, 2007	Walleye	Fry	600,000
May 11, 2006	Walleye	Fry	500,000
May 17, 2005	Walleye	Fry	600,000
May 28, 2004	Walleye	Fry	600,000
May 15, 2003	Walleye	Fry	600,000
May 27, 2002	Walleye	Fry	1,500,000
May 19, 2001	Walleye	Fry	200,000
May 10, 2000	Walleye	Fry	1,500,000
May 17, 1999	Walleye	Fry	800,000
May 14, 1998	Walleye	Fry	900,000
May 28, 1997	Walleye	Fry	700,000
May 30, 1996	Walleye	Fry	600,000
May 28, 1995	Walleye	Fry	500,000
May 25, 1995	Walleye	Fry	200,000
May 22, 1994	Walleye	Fry	800,000
May 13, 1993	Walleye	Fry	800,000
May 23, 1984	Walleye	Egg/Fry	300,000
May 26, 1983	Walleye	Fry	300,000
May 20, 1982	Walleye	Fry	500,000
May 14, 1980	Walleye	Fry	300,000
May 21, 1975	Walleye	Fry	500,000
Jul 7, 1973	Yellow Perch	Adult (>30 cm)	5,000
Jul 6, 1972	Yellow Perch	Adult (>30 cm)	3,000
Jun 23, 1972	Smallmouth Bass	Fingerling	5,000
Jun 29, 1971	Smallmouth Bass	Fingerling	3,000
May 25, 1971	Walleye	Fry	200,000
Jul 8, 1969	Yellow Perch	Adult (>30 cm)	1,450
Apr 24, 1969	Northern Pike	Adult (>30 cm)	875
Jun 7, 1966	Muskellunge	Fry	10,000
May 27, 1966	Walleye	Egg	300,000
Jul 20, 1965	Rainbow Trout	Fingerling	10,000
Jun 8, 1965	Rainbow Trout	>1 year	5,000
Jul 23, 1964	Largemouth Bass	Fingerling	16,000
Jul 15, 1964	Rainbow Trout	Fingerling	20,000
May 30, 1964	Rainbow Trout	>1 year	4,000
Jul 17, 1963	Largemouth Bass	Fingerling	17,000
May 16, 1963	Rainbow Trout	Fry	40,000
May 16, 1963	Walleye	Egg	500,000
Jul 27, 1962	Largemouth Bass	Fingerling	7,500
Jul 3, 1962	Rainbow Trout	Fry	50,000
Jul 7, 1961	Rainbow Trout	Fingerling	40,000
May 24, 1961	Walleye	Egg	170,000
Oct 26, 1960	Largemouth Bass	Fingerling	6,075
Jul 5, 1960	Rainbow Trout	Fingerling	40,000
May 19, 1960	Walleye	Egg	1,000,000
—	Walleye	Fry	1,000,000
—	Walleye	Fry	750,000
—	Walleye	Fry	600,000
—	Walleye	Fry	800,000
—	Walleye	Fry	500,000
—	Muskellunge	Fry	100,000
—	Walleye	Fry	300,000
—	Walleye	Fry	250,000
—	Walleye	Fry	200,000
—	Northern Pike	Adult (>30 cm)	1,215

May 21, 2025

Walleye · Fry

800,000

May 19, 2024

Walleye · Fry

800,000

May 23, 2023

Walleye · Fry

800,000

May 30, 2022

Walleye · Fry

200,000

May 21, 2021

Walleye · Fry

800,000

May 22, 2020

Walleye · Fry

1,500,000

May 29, 2019

Walleye · Fry

500,000

May 24, 2018

Walleye · Fry

500,000

May 20, 2017

Walleye · Fry

1,500,000

May 19, 2016

Walleye · Fry

1,100,000

May 15, 2015

Walleye · Fry

1,100,000

Jun 2, 2014

Walleye · Fry

400,000

May 31, 2014

Walleye · Fry

500,000

May 28, 2014

Walleye · Fry

1,000,000

May 29, 2013

Walleye · Fry

400,000

May 13, 2012

Walleye · Fry

1,000,000

May 22, 2011

Walleye · Fry

500,000

May 12, 2010

Walleye · Fry

300,000

May 25, 2009

Walleye · Fry

300,000

May 25, 2008

Walleye · Fry

800,000

May 19, 2007

Walleye · Fry

600,000

May 11, 2006

Walleye · Fry

500,000

May 17, 2005

Walleye · Fry

600,000

May 28, 2004

Walleye · Fry

600,000

May 15, 2003

Walleye · Fry

600,000

May 27, 2002

Walleye · Fry

1,500,000

May 19, 2001

Walleye · Fry

200,000

May 10, 2000

Walleye · Fry

1,500,000

May 17, 1999

Walleye · Fry

800,000

May 14, 1998

Walleye · Fry

900,000

May 28, 1997

Walleye · Fry

700,000

May 30, 1996

Walleye · Fry

600,000

May 28, 1995

Walleye · Fry

500,000

May 25, 1995

Walleye · Fry

200,000

May 22, 1994

Walleye · Fry

800,000

May 13, 1993

Walleye · Fry

800,000

May 23, 1984

Walleye · Egg/Fry

300,000

May 26, 1983

Walleye · Fry

300,000

May 20, 1982

Walleye · Fry

500,000

May 14, 1980

Walleye · Fry

300,000

May 21, 1975

Walleye · Fry

500,000

Jul 7, 1973

Yellow Perch · Adult (>30 cm)

5,000

Jul 6, 1972

Yellow Perch · Adult (>30 cm)

3,000

Jun 23, 1972

Smallmouth Bass · Fingerling

5,000

Jun 29, 1971

Smallmouth Bass · Fingerling

3,000

May 25, 1971

Walleye · Fry

200,000

Jul 8, 1969

Yellow Perch · Adult (>30 cm)

1,450

Apr 24, 1969

Northern Pike · Adult (>30 cm)

875

Jun 7, 1966

Muskellunge · Fry

10,000

May 27, 1966

Walleye · Egg

300,000

Jul 20, 1965

Rainbow Trout · Fingerling

10,000

Jun 8, 1965

Rainbow Trout · >1 year

5,000

Jul 23, 1964

Largemouth Bass · Fingerling

16,000

Jul 15, 1964

Rainbow Trout · Fingerling

20,000

May 30, 1964

Rainbow Trout · >1 year

4,000

Jul 17, 1963

Largemouth Bass · Fingerling

17,000

May 16, 1963

Rainbow Trout · Fry

40,000

May 16, 1963

Walleye · Egg

500,000

Jul 27, 1962

Largemouth Bass · Fingerling

7,500

Jul 3, 1962

Rainbow Trout · Fry

50,000

Jul 7, 1961

Rainbow Trout · Fingerling

40,000

May 24, 1961

Walleye · Egg

170,000

Oct 26, 1960

Largemouth Bass · Fingerling

6,075

Jul 5, 1960

Rainbow Trout · Fingerling

40,000

May 19, 1960

Walleye · Egg

1,000,000

—

Walleye · Fry

1,000,000

—

Walleye · Fry

750,000

—

Walleye · Fry

600,000

—

Walleye · Fry

800,000

—

Walleye · Fry

500,000

—

Muskellunge · Fry

100,000

—

Walleye · Fry

300,000

—

Walleye · Fry

250,000

—

Walleye · Fry

200,000

—

Northern Pike · Adult (>30 cm)

1,215

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