Provincial Park Access Also Free Until May: Bushie

Manitobans and visitors will be able to try ice fishing for free throughout the province during this year’s Winter Family Fishing Weekend from Feb. 14 to 16, Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures Minister Ian Bushie announced today.

“This is a great opportunity for Manitoba families to discover the excitement of ice fishing this long weekend,” said Bushie. “Manitoba offers some of the best ice fishing experiences and family fishing weekends make those experiences more accessible to Manitobans.”

From Feb. 14 to 16, anglers may fish without an angling licence in the province, except in national parks where a federal angling licence is required. Anglers must follow all possession limits and size restrictions, including regulations that apply to specific waters.

To help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, anglers should check ice conditions before travelling onto the ice, wear weather-appropriate clothing and inform someone of their fishing plans, the minister noted.

In addition to Winter Family Fishing Weekend, entry into provincial parks continues to be free until April 30. Vehicle permits are not required, but Snopasses are required for snowmobiles using groomed trails in the parks. For more information, visit: https://gov.mb.ca/sd/parks/.

Anglers are also reminded to clean, drain and dry their ice-fishing gear to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS). Freezing is an effective way to decontaminate items such as augers, scoops and lures when required.

The winter season checklist provides step-by-step guidance to ensure compliance with AIS regulations at https://gov.mb.ca/stopais/checklist/winter.html.

For more information on all provincial angling regulations, refer to the Manitoba Anglers’ Guide at: https://www.manitoba.ca/nrnd/fish-wildlife/pubs/fish_wildlife/fish/angling-guide.pdf.

For more information on AIS, visit: https://manitoba.ca/stopais.