A Lake In Canada Surrounded By Resort Towns Is World-Renowned For Premier Ice Fishing

Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba, Canada, is known for its magnificent outdoor recreation, where embracing the cold is a world-class sport. Skiing, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing are all favorite activities to be enjoyed in the brisk chill of winter. For those who prefer their outdoor recreation sitting down, ice fishing is a way of life in Lake Winnipeg, and creates an inspiring community.

Anglers camp out in small shacks that dot Lake Winnipeg in Gimli, where fishermen come from all over Manitoba to poke their augers into the deep ice. If you don't have ice fishing equipment, don't worry. There are fishing shack rentals situated on the ice that offer reels, rods, lines, augers to cut through the ice, life jackets, and more. While thermal-lined jackets, hats, and gloves are a must, an ice shack and heater are also recommended to help withstand bone-chilling temperatures. Bring plenty of food and water, along with extra clothing so you can add or peel off layers as needed. 

What do lucky anglers catch? Walleye is the predominant species in Lake Winnipeg, also known as pickerel, but so are perch and Northern Pike. If you don't catch enough pickerel on your own, check out the many great restaurants in town that serve it pan-fried and battered, an authentic local treat. If competition is in your blood, look for the annual Ice Fishing Derby in Gimli (March 1), where you can catch the biggest fish for cash prizes. The Gimli Ice Festival (March 7 through 9, 2025) is all-out family fun where you can see Vikings reenact life on the lake, watch motorcycles speed across the ice, and enjoy a frozen fish toss. This makes Winnipeg one of the best lakes for ice fishing in North America.

Nearby Lake Winnipeg are delightful resort towns that beckon, offering a winter wonderland of outdoor fun. In Winnipeg is the famous Thermea Nordic Spa, where you enjoy thermal therapy. Start in the warm sauna, then take a dip in the cold pool, then rest and repeat for total relaxation. Try Beausejour, (about 38 minutes away) which means "it's a beautiful day" in French, and you'll agree with the name. Go snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, or participate in the many winter festivals. 

Discover the track at the Canadian Power Toboggan Championships Raceplex, and take a ride around the racetrack in the Beausejour Handivan on the weekends. Bring your favorite peddler and go for a fat bike adventure in Riding Mountain National Park. Rent a snowmobile and take to the 600 km of snowy trails in the area.

Along the way, you'll find seven warm-up shelters thanks to the Interlake Snow Trackers Club. Downhill skiing is as close as 30 minutes away at Stony Mountain Ski Area, with six trails and a terrain park. A little further away is The Pas (about 168 miles) where you can look for dog sled races and ice castles frozen in the snow. Appropriate for one of the coldest cities in the world, but also one of the most underrated.