Everything you need to fish Lake Athapapuskow legally, in one place. Licenses, fees, seasons, limits and the rules that catch first-timers off guard. Updated for the 2026-27 season.
Please note: This page summarizes the Manitoba Anglers’ Guide 2026 (regulations in effect April 1, 2026). Regulations can change at any time, and the official regulations always take priority over this summary. Read the official 2026 guide to confirm before you fish.
Questions? Call us toll free at 1-866-603-6390
Summary only, based on the Manitoba Anglers’ Guide 2026. Confirm in the official guide before you fish. Page last reviewed October 2026.
Yes. Anyone fishing in Manitoba needs a valid Manitoba Angling Licence on them unless they are exempt. You can carry it printed or on your phone, and you must be able to show it to a Conservation Officer when asked. Licences are not transferable or refundable.
Licences are not sold or printed at Bakers Narrows Lodge. Buy yours before you leave home.
Prices in Canadian dollars, plus GST. The annual licence is valid May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027.
| Who you are | One-Day | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Canadian resident, 16+ (most US anglers) | $26 | $69 |
| Canadian resident outside Manitoba, 16+ | $18 | $43 |
| Manitoba resident, 16 to 64 | $13 | $28 |
| Manitoba resident, 65+ | Free | Free |
Fishing more than two days? The annual licence pays for itself on day three.
Visiting anglers under 16 can fish without a licence as long as they fish with a licensed adult. Their catch counts toward that adult’s limit. If you want your child to keep their own limit, buy them their own licence.
Manitoba’s Family Fishing Weekends let anyone fish without a licence on June 12-14, 2026 and February 20-22, 2027. All other rules and limits still apply.
Bakers Narrows Lodge is in Manitoba’s Northwest Fisheries Division. These rules apply on Lake Athapapuskow and the surrounding waters.
Summary of the 2026 Manitoba regulations. Subject to change. Always confirm in the official Manitoba Anglers’ Guide.
Every hook on every line you fish must be barbless. Pinching the barb flat against the hook counts. Barbed hooks can stay in your tackle box.
Bringing worms or crawlers into Canada requires a federal import permit, and leeches, frogs and salamanders cannot be imported at all. Live minnows cannot be used or even possessed in the Northwest Division. The easy answer: leave your bait at home and pick it up at the lodge when you arrive.
The south end of the lake is closed to all fishing September 15 to October 15. Quarry Bay, Pickerel Bay and their channels are closed May 1 to May 31. Our guides know exactly where these lines are.
You may use one line in open water and two when ice fishing, with no more than two hooks or lures per line. Keep your line in sight in open water and stay within 50 m of it on the ice.
Leave a 6 square cm patch of skin on every fillet so an officer can identify the species. Do not freeze fillets into one solid block. Your possession limit includes fish in your cooler, your vehicle and at home.
Bringing your own boat? Remove all weeds, drain all water and pull the drain plug before you leave the launch. Pull the plugs on your livewell and baitwell too, because crossing into Canada with those plugs still in can result in a fine. Fines apply for Aquatic Invasive Species offences.
Open liquor, including beer, is not allowed in boats. Fishing on the Saskatchewan side of Athapap? Saskatchewan rules apply. Need a boat? See our boat and gear rentals.
Our guides know Athapap’s closures, size limits and best spots season to season. Book an 8-hour guided fishing day or a full lodge package, and all you need to bring is your licence.
Please note: Season dates and limits below are taken from the Manitoba Anglers’ Guide 2026 and can change at any time, including mid-season. Bakers Narrows Lodge is not responsible for regulation changes. Read the official guide to confirm seasons, limits and any waterbody-specific rules before you fish.
| Species | Closed | Open |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | May 1 to May 15, 2026 | May 16, 2026 to April 30, 2027 |
| Lake sturgeon (catch and release only) | May 1 to June 30 | July 1 to April 30 |
| All other species | Open year-round | Open year-round |
Ice shelters must be off the ice in the Northwest Division by April 15. Planning an ice trip? See our winter packages.
In Manitoba, your daily limit and possession limit are the same. Once a fish is not released right away, it counts, and that includes fish already in your freezer at home. Lengths are total length, nose to tail with the tail laid flat. See the species you can catch on Athapap.
| Species | Limit | Size rule |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger (combined) | 4 | None over 55 cm (21.7 in) |
| Lake trout | 1 | None over 65 cm (25.6 in) |
| Northern pike | 4 | None over 75 cm (29.5 in) |
| Smallmouth bass | 4 | None over 45 cm (17.7 in) |
| Yellow perch | 25 | No size rule |
| Lake whitefish | 10 | No size rule |
| Burbot | 6 | None over 70 cm (27.6 in) |
| Lake sturgeon | 0 | Catch and release only |
These are Manitoba’s general limits, which apply on Athapap. Some other lakes have their own limits. Check the Manitoba Anglers’ Guide before fishing elsewhere.
One printable page with everything to sort out before you head north: your licence, crossing the border into Canada, bait tips, what to pack and how to bring your fish home legally.
We’ll also send occasional fishing reports and trip deals. Unsubscribe anytime.
For anglers who live outside Canada, a one-day licence is $26 and an annual licence is $69, in Canadian dollars plus GST. Canadians from other provinces pay $18 for one day or $43 for the year.
No. Licences are not sold or printed at Bakers Narrows Lodge. Buy yours online at manitobaelicensing.ca before your trip and keep a printed copy as backup.
No. You can carry your licence printed or on your phone. We still recommend a printed copy in case your phone dies or gets wet.
Visiting anglers under 16 do not need one if they fish with a licensed adult, but their fish count toward that adult’s limit. Buy them a licence if you want them to have their own limit.
No. Live bait fish cannot be used or possessed anywhere in Manitoba’s Northwest Division. Leeches, nightcrawlers and frozen or preserved bait fish are allowed, and you can buy bait right here at the lodge.
We strongly recommend you don’t. Nightcrawlers and worms need a Canadian Food Inspection Agency import permit to enter Canada, and leeches, frogs and salamanders cannot be imported at all. Bait is available at Bakers Narrows Lodge, so buy it when you get here.
Yes. Every hook on every line you fish must be barbless. Pinching the barb flat with pliers is enough. Barbed hooks can stay in your tackle box.
Walleye season is closed May 1 to May 15 and opens May 16. For 2026-27, it runs May 16, 2026 through April 30, 2027, so ice fishing for walleye is open all winter.
Four walleye and sauger combined, and none can be over 55 cm (about 21.7 inches). Your daily and possession limits are the same, so fish in your freezer count too.
The 2026-27 annual licence is valid from May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027, covering both open-water and ice seasons.
For visitors, only during Family Fishing Weekends. In 2026-27 those are June 12-14, 2026 and February 20-22, 2027. All other rules and limits still apply.
No. This page is a summary of the Manitoba Anglers’ Guide 2026 to help guests plan their trip. Regulations can change at any time, and the official regulations always apply. Read the current Manitoba Anglers’ Guide or contact Manitoba Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures to confirm before you fish.
Walleye, trophy pike and lake trout on Lake Athapapuskow, with drive-to lodge comfort or a fly-in outpost for the trip of a lifetime. Open-water and ice season trips available. Need directions? Here’s how to get here.
Regulation disclaimer: The information on this page is a summary of the Manitoba Anglers’ Guide 2026 (regulations in effect April 1, 2026) and is provided for trip-planning purposes only. It is not a legal document. Fishing regulations are set by the Province of Manitoba and the Government of Canada and may change at any time without notice. Anglers are responsible for knowing and following the current regulations. Always read the official Manitoba Anglers’ Guide before fishing. Page last reviewed October 2026.
Join Our Newsletter
Deals Sent Straight to Your Inbox
Be the first to know about exclusive offers, special packages, and can’t miss last-minute deals.
