A Weekend in the Interlake: Hunting, Fishing, and Exploring Manitoba’s Heartland

Manitoba’s Interlake is a landscape defined by contrasts. To the north lies the beginnings of the Canadian Shield, to the south the wide-open prairies, and between them stretch endless wetlands, rivers, creeks and forests. It’s a region built for outdoor adventure, and when fall arrives, the Interlake becomes a playground for hunters and anglers alike. From early-morning waterfowl hunts to afternoon fishing on Lake Winnipeg or the Red River, and evening deer sits under glowing prairie skies, a weekend here can easily fill up with some of the province’s best outdoor experiences.

Below, we explore everything that makes a fall weekend in Manitoba’s Interlake so special - including its hunting opportunities, legendary fisheries, and the outfitters who help visitors make the most of this incredible region.

Waterfowl Hunting Across the Interlake

Few places in Canada offer the kind of waterfowl diversity found in Manitoba’s Interlake. The region’s unique blend of farmland, marsh, and boreal transition zone creates a migration corridor that attracts everything from giant Canada geese to flocks of snows and blues.

In the southern Interlake, broad prairie fields become staging areas for thousands of geese and ducks each fall. It’s here that Stanley’s Goose Camp - owned and operated by Daryl Stanley- has built its reputation for unforgettable field hunts. Whether you’re setting up a spread for big honkers or working robo-ducks for mallards, the spectacle of a prairie sunrise with distant honks rolling across the horizon is something every hunter should experience at least once.

Moving north, the farmland gradually blends into the more rugged transition zones between the prairies and the Canadian Shield. The mix of grain fields, isolated potholes, and shallow lakes attracts everything from geese and puddle ducks to divers. Sleeve Lake Outfitters, operated by Evan Proctor, and Harvest Lodge on the Waterhen River offer incredible guided waterfowl experiences in this northern landscape, combining their specialty field hunts for geese and ducks with classic marsh shoots for divers and everything in between.

In the Interlake, hunters can expect encounters with greater and lesser Canada geese, snows, blues, and Ross’s geese. Ducks range from dabblers like mallards, pintails, gadwalls, wigeons, and teal to divers like buffleheads, redheads, canvasbacks, goldeneyes, and bluebills. And if you’re lucky, you might hear the prehistoric croak of a Sandhill crane echoing across the marsh, a bird that’s as thrilling to hunt as it is to eat.

Upland Game Bird Hunting in the Interlake

When you trade your goose calls for a shotgun and a bird dog, the Interlake offers another world of excitement. This region is an upland hunter’s dream, home to an impressive mix of sharp-tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge, ruffed grouse, spruce grouse, and woodcock.

Open prairie and rolling pastures in the southern and central Interlake are prime territory for sharptails and huns. Hunters often find success walking through fields and along the edges of poplar and willow bluffs, where these birds feed and loaf during the day. Further north, thick poplar and spruce forests provide cover for ruffed and spruce grouse, while moist lowlands attract migrating woodcock each fall.

Few places capture the upland experience quite like the North Interlake. Hunters can explore unmaintained roads, trails, and cutlines that wind through mixed woods, scattered hay fields, and pockets of farmland. This blend of forest and open country creates prime habitat for a variety of upland birds. It’s the kind of setting where you can spend a crisp October morning following a dog through golden poplar stands, pausing only to hear the sudden thunder of wings as a ruffed grouse bursts from the leaves. The northern Interlake’s combination of spruce, poplar, and light agriculture makes it ideal for both ruffed and spruce grouse, while open fringes and pastures nearby provide opportunities for sharptails and partridge.

Fishing the Interlake: Greenbacks, Catfish, Walleye and more!

If you pack a rod along with your shotgun or rifle, you’ll find that the Interlake’s waters rival its woods. Few regions in North America offer so many world-class fisheries within a few hours’ drive.

Lake Winnipeg is the centrepiece, famous for its emerald-backed walleye that draw anglers from across the continent. Fall brings the annual greenback run, when these massive fish push into the lake’s southern reaches and up the Red River, stacking below the dam at Lockport and along the west-side beaches up to Hecla Island. For visitors wanting to maximize their chances, several top-tier guiding services operate here, including Blackwater Cats, City Cats, Red River Cats, CatDaddy Fishing Guide Service and Cat Eye Outfitter, each known for putting anglers on trophy walleye and channel catfish.

Karen Grzenda's 29-inch Master Angler walleye on the Red River.

The Red River in particular shines during the fall. It’s not unusual for anglers to hook into double-digit channel cats on one cast and a Master Angler walleye the next. In September, the Manitoba Master Angler program saw an incredible run of submissions from this region, including Oden Juba's massive 36.12-inch Channel Catfish and Karen Grzenda's 29-inch walleye, which serves as proof of the world-class fishing this system offers.

Oden Juba's 36.12-inch Master Angler channel catfish on the Red River

To the west, Lake Manitoba is a lesser-known gem that continues to surprise anglers with its walleye quality and numbers. From St. Ambroise to St. Laurent and Steep Rock, this sprawling lake delivers both scenery and action. Its fall bite is fast and furious, with schools of golden walleye gathering along windswept points and sandy bays. The Fairford River, flowing from Lake Manitoba’s north end, also offers accessible multi-species fishing for those looking to cast from shore. Pike, walleye, perch, and drum are all possible in a single afternoon.

Logan Osborne-Richards 28.5-inch Lake Manitoba Master Angler walleye

Deer Hunting: Whitetail Paradise of the Interlake

Autumn in the Interlake wouldn’t be complete without mentioning whitetail deer. This region holds one of Manitoba’s strongest deer populations, with a mix of farmland whitetails fattening up on harvested grain fields and deep-woods bucks that seem to appear from nowhere.

The diverse terrain offers hunters endless opportunities. In the south, hunters often set up over alfalfa or oat fields where deer feed heavily at dawn and dusk. Further north, stands of aspen, willow, and spruce create the perfect habitat for big, mature bucks that rarely see people.

The Interlake’s whitetail hunting is accessible to both seasoned hunters and beginners. For those looking for help or a guided experience, Sandy River Outfitters, Davis Point Lodge, and Outland Outfitting all offer excellent guided deer hunts throughout the region. Whether you prefer the quiet of a treestand during bow season, the anticipation of pre-rut muzzleloader hunts, or the adrenaline of rifle season when bucks are chasing hard, the Interlake has a hunt to match your style.

Bonus Adventures: Elk and Black Bear Hunting

Beyond the staple hunting and fishing experiences, the Interlake offers even more for those seeking a new challenge.

Elk Hunting

The region supports pockets of healthy elk populations, particularly in its forested northern and central areas. Manitoba residents can enter the big game draw for a chance at one of these coveted tags. The season structure offers hunters multiple options: an early archery season from late August through mid-September, an early rifle season in select zones that extends into October, and a late rifle season in December. Harvesting an Interlake elk is no easy feat, but the reward of packing out meat from one of Manitoba’s most impressive game animals is hard to match.

Black Bear Hunting

The Interlake also boasts excellent black bear numbers, with both spring and fall seasons open to hunters. While spring hunts are more common, fall bear hunting brings its own rewards. Bears are heavier and their coats are prime, providing great opportunities for hunters seeking quality hides and plentiful meat. Guided fall bear hunts are available through outfitters such as Agassiz Outfitters and Interlake Safaris, and many world-class operators throughout the region can help you make the most of the Interlake’s rich fall bounty. For a full list of licensed outfitters, visit our website.

A Weekend to Remember

Whether you spend your Interlake weekend chasing mallards across the marsh, walking a grouse trail, or setting hooks into greenbacks on the Red River, one thing is certain, you’ll never run out of things to do here. The Interlake embodies what makes Manitoba’s outdoors so special: vast spaces, thriving wildlife, and a rhythm of life that follows the seasons.

From sunrise goose hunts to sunset casts, from the call of cranes echoing over a harvested field to the splash of a trophy walleye, every moment spent in the Interlake captures a piece of what makes fall in Manitoba unforgettable. Pack your shotgun, fishing rod, and a camera for those Master Angler-worthy catches, and see for yourself why the Interlake remains one of the province’s most rewarding outdoor destinations.

Know Before you Go

Before embarking on your Interlake adventure, be sure to review all seasons, bag limits, and regulations. Checking official provincial hunting and angling resources, including the Manitoba Hunting Guide and Manitoba Anglers’ Guide, is the best way to stay informed. You may also want to consider working with a local outfitter to make the most of your experience.

Author

Keevin Erickson | Hunt Fish Consultant

Keevin Is a passionate hunter and angler with a love for filming, photography, and writing. Watch for his blogs where he'll share his tips, techniques and stories as he explores the province.

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