Outdoors Notebook: Manitoba to ban live baitfish, leeches beginning in April 2027

If you visit a fish camp in Manitoba, changes are coming. Starting in 2027, the province will ban the use of baitfish and leeches to protect its waters from invasive species and fish diseases. While the move is part of a broader conservation plan, it’s sending ripples through local businesses like Smoke N Fish, which expects losses of up to $400,000. Anglers can still use nightcrawlers and artificial bait, but this shift underscores a growing urgency to balance fishing traditions with protecting vital ecosystems.