Manitoba · Canada
Lake Manitoba
Canada's 14th largest lake, Lake Manitoba is a very shallow prairie lake about 75 km northwest of Winnipeg. It has supported a commercial fishery since 1895 and a long-standing recreational fishery for walleye, northern pike and yellow perch. Delta Marsh at its south end is one of North America's premier waterfowl staging areas.
- Region
- Manitoba, Canada
- Nearest community
- Steep Rock
- Size
- 4,624 km2
- Depth
- 7 m
- Regulation zone
- Southern Division
Species in Lake Manitoba
Walleye
Sauger
Northern Pike
Yellow Perch
Burbot
Lake Whitefish
Cisco (Tullibee)
Freshwater Drum
Goldeye
Brown Bullhead
Bigmouth Buffalo
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Also stocked
Seasons & limits — Southern Division
| Species | Season | Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye (Pickerel) & Sauger (either or combined) | 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. | 4 | None may exceed 55 cm |
| Northern Pike (Jackfish) | Open year-round (all divisions; waterbody-specific closures apply) | 4 | None may exceed 75 cm |
| Yellow Perch | Open year-round (all divisions; waterbody-specific closures apply) | 25 | No size restriction (provincially) |
| Bigmouth Buffalo | Open year-round (all divisions; waterbody-specific closures apply) | 0 | No size restriction (provincially) |
| Burbot | Open year-round (all divisions; waterbody-specific closures apply) | 6 | None may exceed 70 cm |
| Freshwater Drum | Open year-round (all divisions; waterbody-specific closures apply) | 10 | None may exceed 60 cm |
| Goldeye & Mooneye (either or combined) | Open year-round (all divisions; waterbody-specific closures apply) | 10 | No size restriction (provincially) |
| Lake Whitefish | Open year-round (all divisions; waterbody-specific closures apply) | 10 | No size restriction (provincially) |
No waterbody-specific rules listed — general Southern Division limits apply.
Always confirm regulations with the official provincial guide before fishing — rules change, and waterbody-specific exceptions apply.
Manitoba Master Angler qualifying sizes
- Walleye — minimum 71 cm (28 in)
- Sauger — minimum 46 cm (18 in)
- Northern Pike — minimum 104 cm (41 in)
- Yellow Perch — minimum 33 cm (13 in)
- Burbot — minimum 76 cm (30 in)
- Lake Whitefish — minimum 56 cm (22 in)
- Freshwater Drum — minimum 61 cm (24 in)
- Goldeye — minimum 35.5 cm (14 in)
- Lake Whitefish — minimum 56 cm (22 in)
- Sauger — minimum 46 cm (18 in)
- Walleye — minimum 71 cm (28 in)
From the Manitoba Master Angler Program (Travel Manitoba).
More Manitoba lakes
Species & regulations: 2026 Manitoba Anglers' Guide, via the Bump Board dataset.