Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Manitoba, Canada (Guide)
Manitoba offers some of the best fishing in Canada. Understanding the best seasons and times to fish in Manitoba can greatly impact your success.
The best times to fish in Manitoba are early morning and late evening. Summer and fall are the best months for most species in Manitoba.
| Month | Manitoba Fishing Location |
| January | Lake Winnipeg for walleye and sauger |
| February | Lake Manitoba for whitefish |
| March | Red River for channel catfish |
| April | Red River for channel catfish and goldeye |
| May | Winnipeg River for walleye |
| June | English River for northern pike |
| July | Churchill River for lake trout |
| August | Manitoba’s Interlake region for smallmouth bass |
| September | Winnipeg River for musky |
| October | Saskatchewan River for walleye |
| November | Lake Manitoba for lake trout |
| December | Whitemud River for brook trout |
In this article, we will discuss the best times and seasons to fish in Manitoba. We will also talk about where some of the best fishing in the province is on a month-by-month basis.
Check out this helpful guide to the best times to fish in Canada. You’ll learn the best seasons and times to fish in both salt and freshwater across Canada.
Best of Creeks/Rivers to Fly Fish in Manitoba
Whitemouth River: Best time: May to September, Targeted Fish: Brown Trout
Grass River: Best time: June to August, Targeted Fish: Northern Pike, Walleye
Burntwood River: Best time: July to August, Targeted Fish: Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Walleye
Red River: Best time: May to October, Targeted Fish: Channel Catfish, Walleye
Berens River: Best time: June to September, Targeted Fish: Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Walleye
Seal River: Best time: July to August, Targeted Fish: Arctic Char, Brook Trout
Assiniboine River: Best time: May to September, Targeted Fish: Walleye, Northern Pike, Channel Catfish
Winnipeg River: Best time: May to September, Targeted Fish: Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Muskie
Brokenhead River: Best time: May to September, Targeted Fish: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout
Poplar River: Best time: June to August, Targeted Fish: Northern Pike, Walleye, Lake Trout
Little Saskatchewan River: Best time: May to September, Targeted Fish: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout
English River: Best time: June to August, Targeted Fish: Northern Pike, Walleye
Fishing River: Best time: May to September, Targeted Fish: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout
Bloodvein River: Best time: June to August, Targeted Fish: Northern Pike, Walleye
Gods River: Best time: July to August, Targeted Fish: Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Walleye
Shoal River: Best time: May to September, Targeted Fish: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout
Swan River: Best time: May to September, Targeted Fish: Walleye, Northern Pike, Channel Catfish
Whiskey Jack River: Best time: May to September, Targeted Fish: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout
Winnipeg River East Branch: Best time: May to September, Targeted Fish: Walleye, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Muskie
Bertrand Creek: Best time: May to September, Targeted Fish: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout
Check out this helpful guide to the best times to fish in Quebec. You may also be interested in this complete guide for the best times to fish in British Columbia.
Best Lakes/Rivers to Fish in Manitoba
Lake Winnipeg – June to August – Walleye and Northern Pike
Red River – May to September – Channel Catfish, Walleye, and Sauger
Clearwater Lake – June to August – Lake Trout, Walleye, and Northern Pike
Lake Manitoba – May to September – Walleye, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch
Churchill River – July to September – Northern Pike, Lake Trout, and Grayling
Nopiming Provincial Park – May to September – Lake Trout, Walleye, and Northern Pike
Grass River – June to August – Walleye, Northern Pike, and Smallmouth Bass
Swan River – May to September – Walleye, Northern Pike, and Smallmouth Bass
Turtle Mountain Provincial Park – May to September – Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout
Carrot River – May to September – Walleye, Northern Pike, and Smallmouth Bass
Saskatchewan River – July to September – Walleye, Northern Pike, and Lake Sturgeon
Cedar Lake – June to August – Walleye, Northern Pike, and Lake Trout
Winnipeg River – May to September – Walleye, Northern Pike, and Smallmouth Bass
Lake of the Prairies – May to September – Walleye, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch
Dauphin Lake – May to September – Walleye, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch
Grass River Provincial Park – June to August – Walleye, Northern Pike, and Smallmouth Bass
Swan Valley – May to September – Walleye, Northern Pike, and Smallmouth Bass
Riding Mountain National Park – May to September – Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout
Pembina River – May to September – Walleye, Northern Pike, and Smallmouth Bass
Paint Lake – June to August – Walleye, Northern Pike, and Lake Trout
Species Seasonal Breakdown
Arctic Char
If you want to fly fish for arctic char in Manitoba, the best time is during the summer months of July and August. Early morning and late afternoon are the most productive times of day. Some great locations for fly fishing arctic char in Manitoba include the Seal River, the Nueltin Lake, and the Churchhill River.
Brook Trout
If you want to fly fish for brook trout in Manitoba, the best time is during the spring and early summer months of May and June. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times of day to fish for brook trout. Some great locations for fly fishing brook trout in Manitoba include the Nopiming Provincial Park, the Gammon River, and the Atikaki Provincial Wilderness Park.
Brown Trout
The best time to fly fish for brown trout in Manitoba is during the fall months of September and October, when the trout are more active and feeding heavily. Early morning and late afternoon are the most productive times of day. Some of Manitoba’s best locations for fly fishing brown trout include the Whitemouth River, Winnipeg River, and Riding Mountain National Park.
Rainbow Trout
If you’re looking to fly fish for rainbow trout in Manitoba, the best time is during the spring and early summer months of May and June. Early morning and late afternoon are the most productive times of day. Some great locations for fly fishing rainbow trout in Manitoba include the East Blue Lake and the North Seal River.
Cutthroat Trout
If you’re looking to fly fish for cutthroat trout in Manitoba, the best time is during the late summer and early fall months of August and September. Early morning and late afternoon are the most productive times of day. Some great locations for fly fishing cutthroat trout in Manitoba include the Whitefish River, the Mountain Creek, and the Morris River.
Lake Trout
If you want to fish for lake trout in Manitoba, the best time is during the late spring and early summer months of May and June. Early morning and late afternoon are the most productive times of day. Some great locations for fishing lake trout in Manitoba include Clearwater Lake, Wekusko Lake, and Nueltin Lake.
Freshwater Drum
The best time is during the late spring and early summer months of May and June. Early morning and late afternoon are the most productive times of day. Some great locations for fishing freshwater drum in Manitoba include the Winnipeg, Red, and Assiniboine rivers.
Northern Pike
The best time is during the late spring and early summer months of May and June. Early morning and late afternoon are the most productive times of day. Some great locations for fishing northern pike in Manitoba include Lake Winnipeg, Lake Manitoba, and the Red River.
Musky
If you’re looking to fish for musky in Manitoba, the best time is during the summer months of July and August. Early morning and late afternoon are the most productive times of day. Some great locations for fishing musky in Manitoba include the Winnipeg River, Lake of the Woods, and the English River.
Crappie
The best time to fish for crappie in Manitoba is during spring and fall months, particularly in May, June, September, and October. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times of day to fish for crappie. Good locations to fish for crappie in Manitoba include Lake Manitoba, Dauphin Lake, and Lake Winnipegosis.
Whitefish
Whitefish can be caught year-round in Manitoba, but the best time to fish for them is in the fall and winter months. The best time of day to catch them is during low light conditions such as early morning or late evening. Some of the best locations to catch whitefish in Manitoba include Lake Winnipeg, Lake Manitoba, Cedar Lake, and Wekusko Lake.
Walleye
The best time to fish for walleye in Manitoba is from late May to early July, as they spawn during this time. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times of the day to catch walleye. The top locations for walleye fishing in Manitoba include Lake Winnipeg, Cedar Lake, and the Red River.
Catfish
The best time to fish for catfish is in the summer months, usually from June to September. They’re most active at night, so fishin’ in the evening or early morning is your best bet.
As for locations, try fishin’ in the Red River, Assiniboine River, or Lake Winnipeg. These spots have some of the biggest and tastiest catfish in Manitoba.
Largemouth Bass
The best time is from late May to early July, and then again in September. They like it when the water’s warm, so try fishin’ in the afternoon when the sun’s had time to heat things up. Some good locations to try are the Red, Winnipeg, and Lake Winnipeg.
Smallmouth Bass
When fishing for smallmouth bass in Manitoba, it’s best to fish during the summer months, from June to August. Early mornings and late evenings are the best times to catch them, as they tend to be more active. Some of the best locations to fish for smallmouth bass in Manitoba include Lake Winnipeg, Lake of the Woods, and the Winnipeg River.
Carp
The best times to fish for carp are in the summer, particularly June and July. They tend to bite best in the early morning or late evening. You might try looking in some of the larger rivers like the Red River or the Assiniboine River, as well as some bigger lakes like Lake Winnipeg or Dauphin Lake.
Yellow Perch
The best time to fish for yellow perch is during the months of May to September when the water temperature is warmer. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to fish for yellow perch. Some of the best locations to fish for yellow perch in Manitoba include Lake Winnipeg, Dauphin Lake, Lake Manitoba, and the Red River.
Best Fishing in Manitoba on a Seasonal Basis
Winter
- Lake Winnipeg: Lake Winnipeg is a popular spot for ice fishing in the winter. You can catch a variety of fish here, including walleye, northern pike, and whitefish.
- Lake Manitoba: Lake Manitoba is another great destination for ice fishing in the winter. You can find a variety of fish here, including walleye, perch, and northern pike. Just be sure to check the ice conditions before heading out onto the lake.
- Cedar Lake: Cedar Lake is a smaller lake that is perfect for ice fishing in the winter. You can catch a variety of fish here, including lake trout, whitefish, and walleye.
- Dauphin Lake: Dauphin Lake is a large lake with plenty of fish to catch in the winter. You can find northern pike, walleye, and yellow perch here, and the fishing is usually pretty good throughout the season.
Spring
- Red River: The Red River is a great spot for catching catfish in the spring. As the water starts to warm up, the catfish become more active and are more likely to bite.
- Lake Manitoba: Lake Manitoba is a popular destination for walleye fishing in the spring. The walleye start to move into shallower waters as the ice melts, so you’ll have a good chance of catching a big one.
- Lake Winnipeg: Lake Winnipeg is another great spot for walleye fishing in the spring. You can also catch northern pike and perch here, so there’s a good chance of bringing home a variety of fish.
- Clearwater Lake: Clearwater Lake is a beautiful spot with crystal clear waters and plenty of fish to catch in the spring. You can find lake trout, northern pike, and whitefish here, and the fishing is usually pretty good throughout the season.
Summer
- Lake Winnipeg: This massive lake is a popular destination for fishing in the summer. You can catch a variety of fish here, including walleye, northern pike, and perch.
- Falcon Lake: Falcon Lake is a great spot for trout fishing in the summer. You can find rainbow, brook, and lake trout here, and the fishing is usually pretty good throughout the season.
- The Whiteshell: The Whiteshell is a beautiful area with plenty of lakes and streams that are perfect for fishing in the summer. You can catch a variety of fish here, including bass, walleye, and pike.
- West Hawk Lake: West Hawk Lake is a small, deep lake that is perfect for fishing in the summer. You can catch a variety of fish here, including lake trout, whitefish, and walleye.
Fall
- Lake Manitoba: This lake is a popular spot for catching walleye in the fall. The fish tend to be more active as the weather cools down, so you’ll have a good chance of reeling in a big one.
- Lake Winnipeg: Another great spot for walleye fishing in the fall is Lake Winnipeg. This massive lake is also home to a variety of other fish species, such as northern pike and lake trout.
- Red River: The Red River is a great spot for catching catfish in the fall. As the temperatures drop, the catfish become more active and are more likely to bite.
- Whiteshell Provincial Park: This beautiful park is home to a number of lakes and streams that are great for trout fishing in the fall. Whether you’re looking for rainbow trout, brown trout, or brook trout, you’re sure to find them here.
