Stillwater · Glacial Till · Saskatchewan, CA

Fern Lake

Fern Lake terrain map

Fern Lake is a big stocked lake by Saskatchewan standards — about four hundred acres, north of Meadow Lake — and the hatchery treats it that way: thirteen thousand or more rainbows every year, with splake added every other year.

Marginal · Rainbow
Balanced Leech · 8-12
A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Slow going — pick your moments and do not force it.
33% confidence
limited data
What moved it
  • WindW 12 km/hGentle breeze
Today's fly
Balanced Leech
Balanced Leech8-12
Proven pattern for this period
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Gentle breeze
W 12 km/h
N
W
from the west
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp6.1°C
Air temp4°C
CloudClear
Pressure1021 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Ice-off through June; September–October.
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.
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.

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

Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.

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

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 2 as a supporter.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Gray DrakeHatch
2
2
CallibaetisHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Hexagenia (Western)Hatch
2
2
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
CH
Chironomid
12-16 · Pattern
Proven pattern for this period
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Central zone
  • Stocked trout limit 3, only 1 over 43 cm; open all year
  • Verify the current Saskatchewan Anglers Guide before fishing.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
54%
Cloud70%
Wind65%
Temp25%

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

About this water

Fern Lake is a big stocked lake by Saskatchewan standards — about four hundred acres, north of Meadow Lake — and the hatchery treats it that way: thirteen thousand or more rainbows every year, with splake added every other year. A lake that size spreads fish out, so the ones that survive the first winter have room to grow. The limit is three, only one over 43 cm, which tells you what the province hopes you'll find.

Under the surface

A 401-acre lake about 79 km north-north-east of Meadow Lake, stocked every year with around 13,000 rainbow trout and, in alternate years, splake.

Wading: Remote northern lake; boat or float tube

  • Lake
  • Glacial till
  • Stillwater
  • Shoal
Why this score
  • autumn conditions with clear skies and breezy wind.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout Year-round (stocked trout water — open all year) → Year-round (stocked trout water — open all year)
Related guides
Small Stillwater Playbookstillwater tacticsThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperatureEuro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Booking & contacts