Ice fishing in the North Central Division

The North Central Division of Manitoba's angling regulations takes in Thompson. Walleye and sauger are open May 16, 2026 to April 30, 2027, and most other species all year. Ice fishing shelters have to be off the ice by April 15, 2027. The 2026 Anglers' Guide lists 8 waters here with rules of their own, 2 of them with a closure that starts between November and April or lasts all year.

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Seasons

On every Manitoba lake: two lines through the ice, barbless hooks, stay within 50 m of your lines. All province-wide ice rules and possession limits →

Closures from November to April

Waters, or parts of them, with a closure that starts between November and April or lasts all year. Spring spawning closures that start in early April take in the last weeks of ice on many lakes.

• Fish Lake and Setting Creek (Fish Creek) and including that part of Setting Lake within 2 km of the mouth of Setting Creek: Closed to all fishing from March 15 to and including July 15.
• Nelson River and its tributaries from Whitemud Falls (outlet of Cross Lake) to Kelsey Generating Station, including Duck and Sipiwesk lakes: Within that area; a portion of the Nelson River extending 8 kms upstream and 8 kms downstream of the mouth of the Landing River, including the Landing River is closed to lake sturgeon fishing all year.

Waterbody rules (8)

The Waterbody Specific Regulations for the North Central Division, as printed. They replace or add to the provincial limits and the division seasons.

• Fish Lake and Setting Creek (Fish Creek) and including that part of Setting Lake within 2 km of the mouth of Setting Creek: Closed to all fishing from March 15 to and including July 15.
• Kiski Lake and Kiski Creek: Closed to all fishing from May 1 to and including July 15.
• McLaren Creek: Closed to all fishing from May 1 to and including May 31.
• Nelson River and its tributaries downstream of Kettle Generating Station: Closed to brook trout fishing from September 1 to and including September 30.
• Nelson River and its tributaries from Whitemud Falls (outlet of Cross Lake) to Kelsey Generating Station, including Duck and Sipiwesk lakes: Closed to lake sturgeon fishing from May 1 to and including June 15. Within that area; a portion of the Nelson River extending 8 kms upstream and 8 kms downstream of the mouth of the Landing River, including the Landing River is closed to lake sturgeon fishing all year.
• Owl Creek: Closed to all fishing from May 1 to and including May 31.
• Thompson Creek: Closed to all fishing from May 1 to and including May 31.
• Velde Creek (including Joey Creek): Closed to all fishing from May 1 to and including May 31.

Stocked trout waters (11)

The stocked trout waters below are open all year; walleye follow the division season. No dip netting, seining or bow fishing.

What lives in the lakes here

The province's waterbody data covers 86 lakes in the North Central Division. The species it records most often: walleye (45 lakes), northern pike (45 lakes), lake whitefish (43 lakes), cisco (28 lakes), yellow perch (28 lakes), white sucker (26 lakes). The largest of them, each with its own page:

Snow in the North Central Division now

Daily snow on the ground at Environment and Climate Change Canada climate stations, refreshed daily. Reports run a few days behind, and snow cover can differ a lot over short distances.

Provincial parks with winter trails

Paint Lake Provincial Park, Pisew Falls Provincial Park. Ice fishing shelters on lakes in provincial parks must also meet Manitoba Parks' size, location and use standards, and may not be slept in.

Source: Manitoba Anglers' Guide 2026, North Central Division Regulations; lake species: Manitoba Waterbody Data; division boundary: Manitoba Fishing Divisions (both Manitoba Open Data Licence). The guide is a summary, not the regulation. Lake names are linked where we could match them to a lake on our map by name and division. No regulation makes ice safe: check it yourself.