ANGLERS' GUIDE 2020 MANITOBAFISHERIES.COM 2 | www.manitobafisheries.com As Manitoba’s newly appointed Minister of Contents Agriculture and Resource Development, I welcome What’s New for 2020 .................................................................. 2 you to another year of world-class fishing in Possible Changes ......................................................................... 2 Manitoba. Licences ........................................................................................ 3 Please use the information in this 2020 Fees .......................................................................................... 3 Manitoba Anglers’ Guide to help plan your next Exemptions .............................................................................. 3 angling adventure. If you are new to fishing in Outlets ..................................................................................... 3 Manitoba, get ready for the many exciting angling General Regulations .................................................................... 3 opportunities that Manitoba has to offer. Fishing Methods ..................................................................... 3 Barbless Hooks ....................................................................... 3 To make your Manitoba fishing experience more Angling and Ice Fishing .......................................................... 3 enjoyable, our government will soon launch Ice Fishing Shelters ................................................................. 3 an electronic licensing system that will enable Fish Remains ........................................................................... 4 Manitobans and visitors to our province to purchase an angling licence Bait ........................................................................................... 4 online, from the comfort of their own homes. Watch for more information at Aquatic Invasive Species ........................................................ 4 www.manitobaelicensing.ca. Dip Netting, Cast Netting, Seining, and Minnow Trapping ..... 4 Our government is working hard to keep aquatic invasive species out of our Spear Fishing ........................................................................... 4 waters. If you are an angler or boater, please do your part to stop the spread Bow Fishing ............................................................................. 4 of zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species. Remember to clean, Holding and Releasing Fish ................................................... 4 drain and dry your watercraft and equipment when leaving any body of water. Competitive Fishing Events .................................................... 4 Please dispose of all remaining bait and decontaminate your watercraft and Buying and Selling Fish .......................................................... 4 equipment when you leave an Aquatic Invasive Species Control Zone. Fishways (Fish Ladders) ......................................................... 5 Handling, Transport and Storage of Fish .............................. 5 Set fines for offences related to aquatic invasive species are in effect year- Border Waters ......................................................................... 5 round. Please help us protect Manitoba’s waters so current and future Limits ............................................................................................ 5 generations can enjoy our wonderful angling opportunities. Fishing Divisions Map and Seasons ........................................... 8 On behalf of the Manitoba government, I wish you a safe, fun-filled angling Southern Division Regulations ................................................... 8 season. Whether you are a resident of Manitoba, or just visiting, please enjoy Northwest Division Regulations ............................................... 13 the many benefits that a day of fishing in Manitoba has to offer. North Central Division Regulations .......................................... 16 Northeast Division Regulations ................................................ 16 Status Indian Information ..........................................................17 Original signed by Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development Offices .....17 Common Manitoba Fish Species .............................................. 18 Master Angler Application ........................................................ 19 Honourable Blaine Pedersen Minister, Agriculture and Resource Development Regulations are also available online at www.manitobafisheries.com. New regulations are in bold type. Possible Changes This publication is available in alternate formats, upon request. The following possible regulation changes are listed a year in advance to give anglers a chance to express their opinions. To comment on these What’s New for 2020 possible changes, email: [email protected] or call (204) 945-6640. The regulations in this guide are in effect on April 1, 2020. The following • Marge Lake – walleye limit is 2 and all walleye shorter than 35 cm must regulations are new for 2020. be released. • Lac du Bonnet Ponds – all brown trout and tiger trout must be released. • Bradley Lake – Provincial smallmouth bass limits and size restriction. • Wasp Lake – all tiger trout must be released. • Barbe Lake – trout limit is 2 and all trout over 45 cm must be released. • Freshwater Drum limit is 10 and none may exceed 60 cm. • Mirror Lake – trout limit is one, closed to all fishing from September 15 • Yellow Perch (Southern Division) limit is 25. to and including October 31. • Lake Winnipeg and its tributaries up to the first impassable barrier for fish - all walleye and sauger shorter than 35 cm must be released. • Red River from the Canada/US border to Lake Winnipeg and all tributaries between Lockport Dam and Lake Winnipeg – all walleye and sauger shorter Pending Changes than 35 cm must be released. The following changes fall under the Fisheries Act of Canada and require • Winnipeg River from Pine Falls Generating Station to Lake Winnipeg to and federal approval prior to becoming law. including Traverse Bay – all walleye and sauger shorter than 35 cm must be released. • West Blue Lake will be added to the stocked trout waters list. • Tees Lake will be added to the stocked trout waters list. Angling licences must now be purchased online. To purchase your • Elgin Reservoir will be added to the stocked trout waters list. licence please visit: www.manitobaelicensing.ca. Angling licences must • Lac du Bonnet Ponds - no motors, except electric motors, may be used. be printed, signed and carried on you when fishing. • Goose River from the water control structure downstream to Goose Lake will be added to the stocked trout waters list. • Beaver Lake (Duck Mountains) – will be removed from the stocked trout waters list. Front Cover – Lake trout from Clearwater Lake www.manitobafisheries.com | 3 PURCHASE AN ANGLING LICENCE Licence Fees (includes GST) A new online licensing system will be launching this year which will require Conservation Regular Manitobans and visitors to our province to purchase an angling licence Resident Senior online. Angling licences must be printed, signed and carried on you when (Manitobans 65 and over) ....Free .........................See Resident fishing. For more information and to purchase an angling licence visit: regular licence www.manitobaelicensing.ca. Resident (Manitobans age 16-64) ........$19.20 .....................$25.10 Online angling licences may be purchased at some sporting goods and hardware stores, fishing centres, and lodges. Please check ahead as Canadian Resident some vendors may not sell online angling licences. (age 16 and over) ...........$28.00 .....................$47.65 Non-resident General Regulations (age 16 and over) ...........$37.85 ......................$62.35 Recreational fishing in Manitoba is governed by regulations made Note: An administration fee will be added to all angling licence under The Provincial Fisheries Act and the Fisheries Act of Canada. This fees above, except Resident Senior Conservation Licence. guide provides a summary of those regulations. The actual regulations Note: Angling licences and fees are under review for the 2021 in force, not necessarily those in this guide, shall apply. Regulations angling season. other than those under the Fisheries Act of Canada may also apply while fishing, e.g. regarding Aquatic Invasive Species, the use of boats, motors, vehicles, etc. For more details on regulations contact your local Manitoba Angling Licences Agriculture and Resource Development Office (see page 17). All persons, except those exempt below, who engage in angling, dip NOTE: netting, cast netting, seining, minnow trapping, spear fishing, and bow • Open fires are prohibited in the Burning Permit Areas of Manitoba fishing, must have a Manitoba Angling Licence on their person. from April 1 to November 15, unless the fire is in an approved fire pit. If Licences are valid from May 1, 2020 through April 30, 2021. Licences must approved fire pits are not available, shore lunches and other meals must be signed to be valid, and are not transferrable or refundable. The time be cooked over a camp stove. For more information on Burning Permit of licence validity has no impact on season dates. See page 8 for general Areas, contact your local Manitoba Conservation and Climate office. season dates. • Littering is prohibited (under the Environment Act) and regulations are Manitoba