Ice Fishing Without a Snowmobile: Top 4 Places to Fish in Manitoba
Ice fishing without a snowmobile is more realistic than most people think. Every winter, Manitobans get on fish using plowed roads, community access points and short walk-on setups, especially on rivers and lakes where locals and community organizations maintain trails leading out to shack clusters and ice fishing villages. With a bit of planning, you can build a full-blown ice season around access that is simple, approachable and easy to repeat.
This guide highlights four proven options for anglers without winter transportation. Most of them are community-friendly spots where access is the main draw and the final location is a bonus for anyone who wants to get away from crowds and try something off the beaten path. If you want to simplify things even further, booking with a lodge, outfitter or guide can be a great option; they can handle travel and logistics while helping you focus on the fishing.
1. Lockport and Selkirk, Red River access that stays approachable
If you are looking for reliable ice fishing access without needing a machine, the Lockport and Selkirk stretch of the Red River is hard to beat. In a typical winter, you will find a mix of community pressure, established foot traffic and areas where anglers consistently target trophy-class walleye, fast-action sauger, northern pike, goldeye and even the odd channel catfish. This is one of the easiest places to get a full day on the ice with minimal logistics, especially if you are fishing with a buddy and keeping your setup simple.
Lockport is home to an ice-fishing village, where the LockportLIVE crew keeps the roads plowed and provides easy vehicle access onto the ice. For the latest updates on road conditions and access, check out their website before you head out. If you are not driving on the ice, there are still great walk-on opportunities nearby and you can fish effectively with a portable shelter, a sled and a short hike.
Even when you are fishing in areas with plowed roads or maintained trails, it is important to remember that ice conditions can change locally and quickly. A plowed route is a convenience, not a guarantee of safety, especially in heavy-snow years when drifts, slush pockets, and soft spots can develop, and vehicles can get stuck even on well-used roads. Always test ice thickness for yourself as you travel; keep checking as you move, and pay attention to wind forecasts, since wind can shift pressure cracks, change shore ice, and create problem areas quickly, even on maintained trails.
2. Lake Winnipeg, big water, big opportunities, and lots of access styles
Lake Winnipeg is famous for greenback walleye and it is also one of the best examples of how you can ice fish without a snowmobile by leaning on the access systems that develop around major communities. In some years, 4x4 access is possible from core entry points like Warner Road or Balsam Bay, especially when people travel in groups and come prepared with basic recovery gear. In other years, the safest travel options are track machines only, but that does not mean you are locked out of the lake; it just means your plan shifts toward community-maintained routes and walk-on fishing.
Ice fishing villages and plowed community trails can keep Lake Winnipeg approachable even without a sled. Areas like Gimli often become hubs for anglers, with locals, businesses, and clubs helping create a more organized access experience that makes it easier to get out, set up and enjoy a full day on the ice without having to travel far. For the latest updates on access and road conditions, check out the Go Fish Gimli Facebook page before you head out and check out our blog: Harbourfront Walleyes at Lakeview Gimli Resort to learn about the experience.
Sandy Bar near the town of Riverton can offer a similar vibe, a community-focused access point where anglers spread out along established routes and fish within a manageable distance of shore. It is also worth checking the Sandy Bar Fishing Club's Facebook page for updated information on access, plowed routes and current conditions.
If you want a Lake Winnipeg day that feels easy from start to finish, Gull Harbour on Hecla Island is worth a look. They offer an “ice taxi” option that can drive anglers to their fishing spots, drop them off for the day, then pick them up again, taking a lot of the travel and logistics stress off your shoulders.
It also works well as a full winter getaway. Gull Harbour offers a variety of accommodations, an awesome on-site restaurant, and a strong lineup of rentals, including snowmobiles and other winter gear. For anglers, they have some ice shacks that guests can use at no cost, plus luxury ice fishing shacks available to rent, and guided SnoBear fishing excursions for a warm, comfort-focused day on the ice. When you are not fishing, there are plenty of other winter activities to round out the trip.
If you want the simplest version of Lake Winnipeg, walk-on fishing is highly effective and accessible. On many days, a short walk from shore puts you into walleye water and gives you a real chance at a greenback, with bonus opportunities for perch and pike depending on where you set up. Keeping your gear light and staying willing to move a short distance if the bite stalls is often the difference maker on this lake.
3. Pelican Lake, Ninette area community access with easy walking distances
Pelican Lake is a strong southern Manitoba option for anglers who want solid fishing without the need for winter transportation. This reservoir offers great opportunities for chunky walleye, football perch and northern pike and the nature of the lake helps; it is not so wide that you feel forced to travel far to get into fishy water. With multiple access points around the lake, you can choose a plan that matches your comfort level, from a short walk to a slightly longer hike with a sled.
A popular community area near Ninette often features plowed trails leading toward clusters of ice shacks. Depending on conditions and the year, those routes can sometimes support vehicle access, but even when they do not, they often create a manageable walk-on path that makes the day easier and puts you right in the action. This is the kind of lake where a portable shelter setup shines. You can fish comfortably, move if you need to and still enjoy a scenic winter day without the pressure of big travel distances.
4. Lake Manitoba, the “without the crowds” pick for anglers who want space
If your goal is to fish without crowds, Lake Manitoba is the play. This massive, underutilized fishery offers excellent walleye potential, mixed with yellow perch, burbot and northern pike. Because the lake is so large, pressure is often spread out or concentrated in a few predictable community areas. For anglers willing to explore a bit, it is one of the best places in the province to experience true solitude on the ice without needing a snowmobile.
There are multiple locations where locals plow trails out to their ice shacks, creating vehicle access depending on location and recent weather. Community-style spots like Twin Lakes Beach near St Laurent and St Ambroise Beach can be great starting points, but the real advantage of Lake Manitoba is the number of lesser-used accesses in every direction. Areas like Steep Rock, Lake Manitoba Narrows, Moosehorn, Oak Point, Lundar, Beckville Beach, Langruth, Davis Point and Peonan Point all offer different ways to get onto the lake, and many of these accesses let you walk onto the ice, get set up in roughly 3 to 7 feet of water under the ice and enjoy a quiet day with real multi-species potential.
If you are heading into a more remote area, it is worth doing some digging ahead of time. Spend some time on Google Maps to identify access points, parking areas and shoreline routes and do not be afraid to use Manitoba fishing forums to ask a few questions and learn what locals are seeing. In some areas, cell service can be spotty once you are away from the main communities, so having a safety plan in place before you go matters. For more on how to be prepared, check out our ice fishing safety blog.
Booking with a Lodge, Outfitter, or Guide
If you want to make ice fishing even easier without owning winter transportation, booking with a lodge, outfitter or guide can be the best move you make all season. Instead of worrying about trail conditions, finding safe routes or hauling a full setup long distances, you get a plan that is already dialled for the day. In many cases, outfitters can provide transportation to and from fishing areas, heated shelters, quality electronics, bait and the local knowledge that helps you spend more time fishing and less time guessing.
This route also opens the door to experiences that are tough to replicate on your own, from targeting Lake Winnipeg greenbacks with a streamlined, comfortable setup to exploring Northern Manitoba’s world-class multi-species fisheries through established lodge operations. If you want a good starting point for planning a lodge or outfitter-style trip, check out our recent blog, Best Ice Fishing Spots in Manitoba: A Winter Guide to the Season Ahead.
No Snowmobile, No Problem, Your Winter Ice Plan Starts Here
You do not need a snowmobile to ice fish in Manitoba. With the right plan, you can fish proven community access areas like Lockport and Selkirk, tap into Lake Winnipeg’s ice villages and walk on potential, enjoy the approachable access and strong bite at Pelican Lake, or take it a step further and chase a quieter day on Lake Manitoba away from the crowds. If you want to simplify things even more, booking with a lodge, outfitter, or guide can handle the travel and logistics so you can focus on fishing and comfort.
Start with safety, keep your setup simple and pick a destination that matches the kind of day you want: busy and social or wide open and quiet. A little homework goes a long way. Check access points, plan your route and be ready to adjust as conditions change. No matter how you choose to get out there, winter in Manitoba is full of opportunity; now it is just about drilling the first hole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can you ice fish in Manitoba without a snowmobile?
A: Yes. Areas like Lockport, Selkirk, and Pelican Lake offer plowed roads and community trails for walk-on access.
Q: Where is the best place to walk onto the ice in Manitoba?
A: The Red River at Lockport and the Gimli Harbour on Lake Winnipeg are two of the most accessible walk-on spots.
