Manitobans are encouraged to experience the beauty of the frozen lakes by taking to the ice to go fishing with the family.

Natural Resources and Northern Development Minister Greg Nesbitt announced today that the Winter Family Fishing Weekend would take place this next weekend.

"Everyone can enjoy ice fishing for free this weekend without requiring an angling licence," says Nesbitt. "There’s no better way to spend a winter day in Manitoba than ice fishing with family and friends, while also enjoying free admission to provincial parks during the month of February."

No license is required to go fishing from February 18 to 20, except if someone wishes to ice fish in national parks, where a federal angling license is still needed.

Anglers are still required to follow the conservation limit of fish, which includes four walleye/sauger, four northern pikes, two smallmouth bass, one lake trout, one channel catfish and two stocked trout. 

Regular limits apply for those who already have a standard angling licence and all other angling regulations apply during this weekend, including rules for individual waters.

For more information on all provincial angling regulations, refer to the 2022 Manitoba Anglers’ Guide at www.manitobafisheries.com.

To ensure anglers have a safe and enjoyable time, the public should check the ice conditions before proceeding, wear appropriate outdoor gear for current weather conditions and make sure to make someone aware of their fishing location should anything go wrong.

Anglers are also reminded that aquatic invasive species (AIS) requirements are in effect year-round. To review the winter (ice-covered) season checklist, a step-by-step resource to ensure compliance with AIS regulations, visit: https://www.gov.mb.ca/stopais/checklist/winter.html.

Bait taken into an AIS control zone must be discarded before leaving shore, if it:

  • is live bait,
  • has been handled (e.g. hooked), or
  • has come into contact with surface water from the control zone.

The requirements apply even with a valid three-day live bait fish transfer and use receipt. Additionally, all water from bait containers must be drained before leaving shore. For more information, visit: www.Manitoba.ca/StopAIS.

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