Stillwater · Granite · Manitoba

West Hawk Lake

West Hawk Lake terrain map

West Hawk Lake, a meteorite-crater lake in the eastern Whiteshell, is Manitoba's deepest lake — cold, clear Shield water holding lake trout, smallmouth bass and stocked rainbows.

Marginal · Rainbow
Large Baitfish Streamer · 1/0-4
A patient day, if you fancy it
Water temperature is the limiting factor today, not the wave. Fish dawn or dusk if you go at all, and handle everything with extra care.
31% confidence
limited data

West Hawk Lake is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindNW 10 km/hLight breeze
Today's fly
LB
Large Baitfish Streamer1/0-4
Proven pattern for this period
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Light breeze
NW 10 km/h
N
NW
from the north-west
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp—
Air temp24°C
CloudBroken
Pressure1017 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
No strong hatch signals at the moment — general searching tactics should work best. The ripple is helpful — fish should move onto the feed and a slow-drifted team or single wet will cover water well. Dusk on the lake is prime time for surface feeding — stay out as long as light allows.
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point. Keep a sedge-style dry or emerger on a short leader for the evening rise. When no hatch is visible, a buzzer team — black stripped quill on the point, attractor or pearl-rib on the top dropper — is the default starting point on any UK stillwater.
The plan
Plan A

Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point. Keep a sedge-style dry or emerger on a short leader for the evening rise. When no hatch is visible, a buzzer team — black stripped quill on the point, attractor or pearl-rib on the top dropper — is the default starting point on any UK stillwater.

Plan B

If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.

Watch for

Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.

Boat — drift

A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds with Pro.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Through the year
0–3 scale · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Flying AntsHatch
1
1
Gray DrakeHatch
1
1
CallibaetisHatch
1
2
2
2
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
LB
Large Baitfish StreamerTop
1/0-4 · Pattern
Proven pattern for this period
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Eastern Manitoba (Whiteshell); verify the current Manitoba Anglers' Guide.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
69%
Cloud70%
Wind100%
Temp25%

A reasonable day here, though temperature isn't quite in the sweet spot.

Other water nearby · 2
Whiteshell stocked trout lakes
4.0 km
Rainbow trout · Brook trout · Brown trout
Caddy Lake
6.0 km
Rainbow trout · Brook trout · Brown trout
About this water

West Hawk Lake, a meteorite-crater lake in the eastern Whiteshell, is Manitoba's deepest lake — cold, clear Shield water holding lake trout, smallmouth bass and stocked rainbows. The depth keeps the lakers cold all summer; fly anglers take them shallow at ice-off and work the rocky shorelines for smallmouth.

Under the surface

Manitoba's deepest lake — a clear granite meteorite-crater lake with lake trout, smallmouth bass and stocked rainbows.

Wading: Deep clear lake, sudden weather — boat fishery

  • Lake
  • Granite
  • Stillwater
  • Shoal
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 January → 31 December
Related guides
Thermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperatureEuro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Booking & contacts