Interlake Manitoba

Lake Winnipeg

StockedWalleyeSaugerNorthern Pike Yellow Perch Burbot Lake WhitefishCisco (Tullibee)Freshwater DrumGoldeye Channel CatfishLake Sturgeon

Photo: Shahnoor Habib Munmun (CC BY 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons

About this lake

The 10th largest freshwater lake in the world, Lake Winnipeg is a shallow prairie lake (mean depth only 12 m) split into distinct north and south basins. It supports Manitoba's most famous walleye fishery - the iridescent greenback walleye - plus a major commercial fishery where walleye is the most important species. More than 50 fish species live in the lake.

Size: 24,387 km2

Max depth: 36 m

🏆 Trophy catches

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

54″ Lake SturgeonReleased

Jason Sippola · November 06, 2014

137.2 cm

54″ Lake SturgeonReleased

Theodore Turk · June 02, 2005

137.2 cm

53″ Lake SturgeonReleased

Michael Centeno · July 22, 2022

134.6 cm

48″ Northern PikeReleased

Bruce Shelest · December 19, 2011

121.9 cm

47″ Northern PikeReleased

Daniel Stagg · May 22, 2026

119.4 cm

47″ Northern PikeReleased

Daniel Stagg · April 04, 2025

119.4 cm

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

Where it is

📍 Lake Winnipeg · Interlake

2026 Manitoba Anglers' Guide

Fishing regulations

Southern Division

Special rules for this waterbody

Walleye/sauger season closed Apr 6 to May 15. All walleye and sauger shorter than 35 cm must be released (includes tributaries up to the first impassable barrier).

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)
Channel Catfish	4	None may exceed 60 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)
Lake Sturgeon	0	N/A (zero limit)	Southern Division: closed May 1 to June 15; open June 16 to April 30. Northwest and North Central Divisions: closed May 1 to June 30; open July 1 to April 30. Conservation closures on the Winnipeg River and Nelson River systems remain in place.

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)

Channel Catfish

Limit: 4
Size: None may exceed 60 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)

Lake Sturgeon

Limit: 0
Size: N/A (zero limit)
Season: Southern Division: closed May 1 to June 15; open June 16 to April 30. Northwest and North Central Divisions: closed May 1 to June 30; open July 1 to April 30. Conservation closures on the Winnipeg River and Nelson River systems remain in place.

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

KokaneeLake TroutLake WhitefishWalleye

Date	Species	Size	Quantity
May 28, 2002	Walleye	Fry	2,000,000
May 7, 2002	Lake Whitefish	Fry	480,000
May 21, 2001	Walleye	Fry	500,000
May 8, 2000	Walleye	Fry	2,000,000
May 14, 1998	Walleye	Fry	2,000,000
Jun 3, 1997	Walleye	Fry	2,000,000
Jun 3, 1996	Walleye	Fry	1,000,000
May 27, 1994	Walleye	Fry	2,000,000
May 26, 1994	Walleye	Fry	1,400,000
May 20, 1994	Walleye	Fry	250,000
Jun 13, 1984	Walleye	Fry	1,000,000
Jun 13, 1984	Walleye	Fry	1,000,000
May 7, 1981	Lake Whitefish	Fry	3,600,000
May 1, 1981	Lake Whitefish	Fry	2,900,000
May 7, 1980	Lake Whitefish	Fry	2,000,000
Jun 8, 1979	Lake Whitefish	Fry	1,350,000
Jun 7, 1979	Lake Whitefish	Fry	4,000,000
May 20, 1979	Lake Whitefish	Fry	2,000,000
May 4, 1978	Lake Whitefish	Fry	1,500,000
Jun 21, 1973	Walleye	Fry	3,750,000
Jun 16, 1972	Walleye	Fry	5,900,000
Jun 14, 1971	Walleye	Fry	1,000,000
Jun 14, 1971	Walleye	Fry	2,000,000
Jun 7, 1965	Kokanee	Fingerling	280,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	2,000,000
—	Walleye	Fry	5,000,000
—	Walleye	Fry	350,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	2,579,725
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	41,500,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	28,475,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	14,750,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	14,000,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	29,000,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	42,970,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	70,569,500
—	Walleye	Fry	7,800,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	49,375,000
—	Walleye	Fry	6,450,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	37,200,000
—	Walleye	Fry	3,800,000
—	Kokanee	Fry	255,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	54,700,000
—	Lake Trout	Fingerling	268,600
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	71,000,000
—	Lake Trout	>1 year	3,859
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	62,500,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Egg	13,600,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Egg	87,100,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Egg	57,000,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Egg	91,050,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Egg	67,450,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	67,550,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Egg	24,000,000
—	Walleye	Fry	7,480,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	47,245,000
—	Walleye	Fry	7,735,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	63,620,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	84,669,000
—	Walleye	Fry	11,800,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	35,997,000
—	Walleye	Fry	11,800,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Egg	4,620,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Egg	17,500,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	53,400,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	74,325,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	27,000,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	8,900,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	8,900,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	6,150,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	7,300,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Egg	3,000,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	35,000,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	27,000,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	47,335,000
—	Lake Whitefish	Fry	90,000,000

May 28, 2002

Walleye · Fry

2,000,000

May 7, 2002

Lake Whitefish · Fry

480,000

May 21, 2001

Walleye · Fry

500,000

May 8, 2000

Walleye · Fry

2,000,000

May 14, 1998

Walleye · Fry

2,000,000

Jun 3, 1997

Walleye · Fry

2,000,000

Jun 3, 1996

Walleye · Fry

1,000,000

May 27, 1994

Walleye · Fry

2,000,000

May 26, 1994

Walleye · Fry

1,400,000

May 20, 1994

Walleye · Fry

250,000

Jun 13, 1984

Walleye · Fry

1,000,000

Jun 13, 1984

Walleye · Fry

1,000,000

May 7, 1981

Lake Whitefish · Fry

3,600,000

May 1, 1981

Lake Whitefish · Fry

2,900,000

May 7, 1980

Lake Whitefish · Fry

2,000,000

Jun 8, 1979

Lake Whitefish · Fry

1,350,000

Jun 7, 1979

Lake Whitefish · Fry

4,000,000

May 20, 1979

Lake Whitefish · Fry

2,000,000

May 4, 1978

Lake Whitefish · Fry

1,500,000

Jun 21, 1973

Walleye · Fry

3,750,000

Jun 16, 1972

Walleye · Fry

5,900,000

Jun 14, 1971

Walleye · Fry

1,000,000

Jun 14, 1971

Walleye · Fry

2,000,000

Jun 7, 1965

Kokanee · Fingerling

280,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

2,000,000

—

Walleye · Fry

5,000,000

—

Walleye · Fry

350,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

2,579,725

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

41,500,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

28,475,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

14,750,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

14,000,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

29,000,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

42,970,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

70,569,500

—

Walleye · Fry

7,800,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

49,375,000

—

Walleye · Fry

6,450,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

37,200,000

—

Walleye · Fry

3,800,000

—

Kokanee · Fry

255,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

54,700,000

—

Lake Trout · Fingerling

268,600

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

71,000,000

—

Lake Trout · >1 year

3,859

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

62,500,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Egg

13,600,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Egg

87,100,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Egg

57,000,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Egg

91,050,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Egg

67,450,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

67,550,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Egg

24,000,000

—

Walleye · Fry

7,480,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

47,245,000

—

Walleye · Fry

7,735,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

63,620,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

84,669,000

—

Walleye · Fry

11,800,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

35,997,000

—

Walleye · Fry

11,800,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Egg

4,620,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Egg

17,500,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

53,400,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

74,325,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

27,000,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

8,900,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

8,900,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

6,150,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

7,300,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Egg

3,000,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

35,000,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

27,000,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

47,335,000

—

Lake Whitefish · Fry

90,000,000

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