Ice fishing in the Northwest Division

The Northwest Division of Manitoba's angling regulations takes in Flin Flon, Grass River, Snow Lake and The Pas. 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 20 waters here with rules of their own, 6 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.

• Dolomite Lake: Closed to all fishing from April 1 to and including May 15.
• Osborne Lake, Osborne Lake Creek and Wekusko Brook: Closed to all fishing from April 1 to and including June 30.
• Pickerel Creek: Closed to all fishing, including dip netting, from April 20 to and including May 15.
• Rocky Lake: Goose Bay is closed to all fishing from November 1 to and including May 15.
• Saskatchewan River from Grand Rapids Generating Station to 1 km downstream (tailrace channel): Closed to fishing all year.
• Wekusko Lake: Herb Bay north of the hydro line on Wekusko Lake is closed to all fishing from April 1 to and including June 30. Grass River from the outlet on Wekusko Lake on a line from the mouth of Rex Creek, southeast to the southwest corner of Campbell Island to the rapids downstream (including Missipisew and Wuskatasko Rivers) is closed to all fishing from April 1 to and including June 30.

Waterbody rules (20)

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

• Athapapuskow Lake: The south end is closed to all fishing from September 15 to and including October 15. Quarry Bay and Quarry Bay Channel are closed to all fishing from May 1 to and including May 31. Pickerel Bay and Pickerel Bay Channel are closed to all fishing from May 1 to and including May 31. Check Saskatchewan angling regulations if fishing on the Saskatchewan side.
• Clearwater Lake: The west side is closed to all fishing from September 15 to and including October 15, on a line northeast from the end of Sunset Point (Spawn Camp Point) to the west side of the inlet of Pike Bay.
• Dolomite Lake: Closed to all fishing from April 1 to and including May 15.
• Grass River: See Wekusko Lake and Reed Lake for specific regulations.
• Grass River from the CN rail line just north of Iskwasum Lake to the inlet of Reed Lake (including Iskwasum, Loucks, and Flag lakes): Closed to all fishing from May 1 to and including May 31.
• Kisseynew Lake and Kississing River from Kisseynew Lake to Kississing Lake: Closed to all fishing from May 1 to and including May 31.
• Kississing Lake and its tributaries, including Bartlett 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.
• Morgan Lake: Closed to all fishing from May 1 to and including June 30.
• Morton Lake: Walleye limit is 2 and northern pike limit is 2. 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.
• Osborne Lake, Osborne Lake Creek and Wekusko Brook: Closed to all fishing from April 1 to and including June 30.
• Pickerel Creek: Closed to all fishing, including dip netting, from April 20 to and including May 15.
• Reed Lake, including Krug Lake, Jackfish Lake, Jackfish Lake Creek, Woosey Creek between Reed Lake and Halfway Lake, and all other tributaries to Tramping Lake: Walleye limit is 2 and northern pike limit is 2.
• Rocky Lake: Goose Bay is closed to all fishing from November 1 to and including May 15.
• Saskatchewan River from Grand Rapids Generating Station to 1 km downstream (tailrace channel): Closed to fishing all year.
• Snow Creek from Compton Lake to Snow Lake: Closed to all fishing from May 1 to and including May 31.
• Wabishkok Lake: Closed to all fishing from May 1 to and including May 31.
• Wekusko Lake: Herb Bay north of the hydro line on Wekusko Lake is closed to all fishing from April 1 to and including June 30. Grass River from the outlet on Wekusko Lake on a line from the mouth of Rex Creek, southeast to the southwest corner of Campbell Island to the rapids downstream (including Missipisew and Wuskatasko Rivers) is closed to all fishing from April 1 to and including June 30.
• Whitefish Lake and Pineroot River from Whitefish Lake to and including Wabishkok Lake: Closed to all fishing from May 1 to and including May 31.
• Woosey Creek between Woosey Lake and Morgan Lake: Closed to all fishing from May 1 to and including June 30.
• Woosey Lake: Closed to all fishing from May 1 to and including May 31.

Stocked trout waters (8)

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 109 lakes in the Northwest Division. The species it records most often: northern pike (46 lakes), walleye (41 lakes), lake whitefish (36 lakes), white sucker (29 lakes), cisco (29 lakes), yellow perch (25 lakes). The largest of them, each with its own page:

Snow in the Northwest 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

Clearwater Lake 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, Northwest 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.