2026 Manitoba Anglers' Guide
Fishing regulations
Possession limits, size restrictions and seasons for every Manitoba division. 65 lakes also carry waterbody-specific rules — those are flagged on each lake page.
Official Anglers' Guide (PDF)Southern Division
Southern Manitoba, including Lake Winnipeg and waters south of it. Exact boundaries are map-based (Anglers' Guide p.16); text references include Areas A (eastern Manitoba, south of the Gammon/Bloodvein rivers) and B (southwestern Manitoba). Lake Winnipeg south basin, Red River, Assiniboine River, Winnipeg River system, Whiteshell, Duck Mountain, Turtle Mountain areas fall in this division.
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).
Channel Catfish
- Limit
- 4
- Size
- None may exceed 60 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)
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.
Largemouth Bass
- Limit
- 4 (province-wide, excluding Mary Jane Reservoir)
- Size
- None may exceed 45 cm (province-wide)
- Season
- Open year-round (all divisions; waterbody-specific closures apply)
Northwest Division
West-central Manitoba (Flin Flon, The Pas, Grand Rapids area). Exact boundaries are map-based (Anglers' Guide p.16). No live bait fish may be used or possessed in this division. Waters include Athapapuskow Lake, Clearwater Lake, Kississing Lake, Reed Lake, Wekusko Lake, Saskatchewan River.
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).
Channel Catfish
- Limit
- 4
- Size
- None may exceed 60 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)
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.
Largemouth Bass
- Limit
- 4 (province-wide, excluding Mary Jane Reservoir)
- Size
- None may exceed 45 cm (province-wide)
- Season
- Open year-round (all divisions; waterbody-specific closures apply)
North Central Division
Central/northern Manitoba (The Pas to Thompson corridor, Nelson River system). Exact boundaries are map-based (Anglers' Guide p.16). No live bait fish may be used or possessed in this division. Waters include Nelson River, Setting Lake, Kiski Lake, Thompson-area lakes.
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).
Channel Catfish
- Limit
- 4
- Size
- None may exceed 60 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)
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.
Largemouth Bass
- Limit
- 4 (province-wide, excluding Mary Jane Reservoir)
- Size
- None may exceed 45 cm (province-wide)
- Season
- Open year-round (all divisions; waterbody-specific closures apply)
Northeast Division
Northeastern Manitoba, generally east/north of the Nelson River toward Hudson Bay (Gods Lake, Nueltin Lake, Berens/Bloodvein/Pigeon rivers, east shore Hudson Bay watersheds). Exact boundaries are map-based (Anglers' Guide p.16). No live bait fish may be used or possessed. Generally open to angling all year.
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).
Channel Catfish
- Limit
- 4
- Size
- None may exceed 60 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)
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.
Largemouth Bass
- Limit
- 4 (province-wide, excluding Mary Jane Reservoir)
- Size
- None may exceed 45 cm (province-wide)
- Season
- Open year-round (all divisions; waterbody-specific closures apply)
Before you fish
These tables summarize the 2026 Manitoba Anglers' Guide. Limits, seasons and waterbody-specific rules can change — always confirm against the official guide and carry a valid Manitoba angling licence unless exempt.