Whiteshell's waterways provide links to its past, and there are plenty of them. Over two hundred lakes are scattered throughout the park—many of them connected by portages—making this a great place to paddle and explore. Trip lengths can range from 2 to 200 kilometers. The Caddy Lake canoe route provides an opportunity to follow the historical route along the Whiteshell and Winnipeg River systems, and present-day paddlers can even utilize old portages used by the Indians and voyageurs. The trip passes under railway tunnels, along rocky shorelines with tall pines, through lakes filled with wild rice, and around reefs, islands and several falls. The entire journey forms a 161-km (100 mile) loop and is scattered with campsites and shelters along the way. On many of the lakes, the common loon can be seen diving for fish during the day, and heard making its plaintive calls at night.

Fishing

Below these waters' surfaces lurk more than a dozen species of gamefish. Most lakes contain walleye, yellow perch, and northern pike, while others hold whitefish, smallmouth bass, lake trout, and the curious looking lake sturgeon. With its bony plated body and protruding snout, the sturgeon looks prehistoric, and remains little changed from its fossil ancestors of 100 million years ago. It is one of the largest freshwater fish in North America, weighing up to 300 pounds and capable of living more than 150 years. Once pursued for its roe, the sturgeon is now under a strict catch and release policy that is part of an effort to preserve this unique resource.

Licenses are required of all anglers 16 years or older and are valid from April 1 until and including the following March. A conservation license is available at a reduced fee, which entitles the holder to the same rights as a regular license holder except for reduced limits for some species. In 1990, Manitoba instituted a province-wide barbless hook policy requiring anglers to use only barbless hooks in an effort to minimize injury to hooked fish and decrease handling time.

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