Ice fishing in the Northeast Division
The Northeast Division of Manitoba's angling regulations. Fishing is generally open all year here. Ice fishing shelters have to be off the ice by April 15, 2027. The 2026 Anglers' Guide lists 12 waters here with rules of their own, 4 of them with a closure that starts between November and April or lasts all year.
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Seasons
| Species | Closed | Open |
|---|---|---|
| All species | — | Generally open all year; see the waterbody rules below |
- Several fly-in lakes (Bear, Gods, Nueltin and Utik lakes, Molson Lake and Paimusk Creek) require non-residents of Manitoba to stay with a licensed tourist operator and get a free Special Angling Licence.
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.
- Berens River from the mouth upstream to Sturgeon Falls, including the Etonami River upstream to Makik Falls and including the North Etonami River upstream to Miskomapinna Rapids: Walleye season closed April 6 to and including May 8.
- Bloodvein River from the mouth upstream to Meekisiwi Rapids: Walleye season closed April 6 to and including May 8.
- Bradbury River: Walleye season closed April 6 to and including May 8.
- Pigeon River from the mouth upstream to Sturgeon Falls: Walleye season closed April 6 to and including May 8.
Waterbody rules (12)
The Waterbody Specific Regulations for the Northeast Division, as printed. They replace or add to the provincial limits and the division seasons.
- Bear Lake: All non-residents of Manitoba who fish must be registered and staying with, and obtain a Special Angling Licence (free) from, a licensed Manitoba tourist operator with an allocation for this fishery.
- Berens River from the mouth upstream to Sturgeon Falls, including the Etonami River upstream to Makik Falls and including the North Etonami River upstream to Miskomapinna Rapids: Walleye season closed April 6 to and including May 8. Lake sturgeon season closed May 1 to and including June 30.
- Bloodvein River from the mouth upstream to Meekisiwi Rapids: Walleye season closed April 6 to and including May 8. Lake sturgeon season closed May 1 to and including June 30.
- Bradbury River: Walleye season closed April 6 to and including May 8. Lake sturgeon season closed May 1 to and including June 30.
- Gods Lake: All non-residents of Manitoba who fish must be registered and staying with, and obtain a Special Angling Licence (free) from, a licensed Manitoba tourist operator with an allocation for this fishery.
- Gods River (from Gods Lake to Great Bear Falls): All brook trout must be released.
- Molson Lake and its tributaries (except Paimusk Creek): Closed to fishing from May 1 to and including May 15. All non-residents of Manitoba who fish must be registered and staying with, and obtain a Special Angling Licence (free) from, a licensed Manitoba tourist operator with an allocation for this fishery.
- Nelson River and its tributaries: Closed to brook trout fishing from September 1 to and including September 30.
- Nueltin Lake: All non-residents of Manitoba who fish must be registered and staying with, and obtain a Special Angling Licence (free) from, a licensed Manitoba tourist operator with an allocation for this fishery.
- Paimusk Creek: Closed to fishing from May 1 to and including May 31. All non-residents of Manitoba who fish must be registered and staying with, and obtain a Special Angling Licence (free) from, a licensed Manitoba tourist operator with an allocation for this fishery.
- Pigeon River from the mouth upstream to Sturgeon Falls: Walleye season closed April 6 to and including May 8. Lake sturgeon season closed May 1 to and including June 30.
- Utik Lake: All non-residents of Manitoba who fish must be registered and staying with, and obtain a Special Angling Licence (free) from, a licensed Manitoba tourist operator with an allocation for this fishery.
Single barbless hook waters (30)
Only single barbless hooks may be used on these far-northern waters:
Askey Lake, Bagg Lake, Bangle Lake, Blevins Lake, Booth Lake, Chatwin Lake, Corbett Lake, Cuddle Lake, Fort Hall Lake, Goose Lake, High Hill Lake, John Osborn Lake, Kapusta Lake, Kasmere Lake, MacMillan Lake, Muskasew Lake, Muskosemunomin Lake, Nahili Lake, Nueltin Lake, Pritchard Lake, Putahow Lake, Putahow River (between Putahow Lake and Nueltin Lake), Ragged Basin Lake, Shannon Lake, Silsby Lake, Snyder Lake, Thanout Lake, Thlewiaza River (from Fort Hall Lake to Nueltin Lake), Tice Lake, Timewe Lake.
What lives in the lakes here
The province's waterbody data covers 117 lakes in the Northeast Division. The species it records most often: northern pike (59 lakes), lake whitefish (58 lakes), walleye (53 lakes), yellow perch (33 lakes), white sucker (32 lakes), cisco (32 lakes). The largest of them, each with its own page:
Snow in the Northeast Division now
| Climate station | Elevation | Snow on the ground | 7 days earlier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tadoule Lake Cs | 262 m | 13 cm (Oct 31) | 3 cm |
| Berens River Cs | 222 m | 0 cm (Oct 30) | — |
| Churchill Climate | 29 m | 0 cm (Oct 31) | — |
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.
Source: Manitoba Anglers' Guide 2026, Northeast 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.