The Gem Lakes are five lovely glacial potholes strung along a five-kilometre hiking trail in Narrow Hills Provincial Park — clear, cool, jewel-coloured waters stocked with brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout (and splake). Walk-in, bank-and-float-tube fly fishing at its prettiest, a short hike from the road.
Season closed
Trout season closed — opens 15 May
Central zone. Stocked trout, walk-in. Verify the 2026–27 Saskatchewan Anglers Guide.
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
48% confidence — limited data
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
NW 18 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
40 cm chop
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
7°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
1008 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for rainbow trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
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.
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.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
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
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.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
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.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
5 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- summer conditions with overcast skies and breezy wind.
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
About this water
Gem Lakes (Narrow Hills), on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedGem Lakes (Narrow Hills) · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
The Gem Lakes are five lovely glacial potholes strung along a five-kilometre hiking trail in Narrow Hills Provincial Park — clear, cool, jewel-coloured waters stocked with brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout (and splake). Walk-in, bank-and-float-tube fly fishing at its prettiest, a short hike from the road.
Under the surface
Five clear glacial-pothole lakes along a hiking trail, stocked with brook/brown/rainbow/tiger trout and splake. Intimate walk-in stillwater fly fishing in the jack pines.
Wading: Walk in potholes — bank/float tube
- Lake
- Glacial till
- Stillwater
- Shoal
Gem Lakes (Narrow Hills) · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Gem Lakes (Narrow Hills) · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout15 May → 31 March
Gem Lakes (Narrow Hills) · permits
Good to know
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Central zone; per-lake rules
- Verify the 2026–27 SK Anglers Guide.
Gem Lakes (Narrow Hills) · learn
Related guides
Learn-zone playbooks for this water
Related guides
Gem Lakes (Narrow Hills)
Google Places
The Gem Lakes are five lovely glacial potholes strung along a five-kilometre hiking trail in Narrow Hills Provincial Park — clear, cool, jewel-coloured waters stocked with brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout (and splake).
Species
Season closed
Trout season closed — opens 15 May
Central zone. Stocked trout, walk-in. Verify the 2026–27 Saskatchewan Anglers Guide.
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
48% confidence — limited data
Conditions
Wind
NW 18 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
40 cm chop
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
7°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
1008 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
59%
Cloud50%
Wind65%
Temp60%
A reasonable day here, though cloud isn't quite in the sweet spot.
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
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.
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
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.
Why this score
- summer conditions with overcast skies and breezy wind.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
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.
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Central zone; per-lake rules
- Verify the 2026–27 SK Anglers Guide.
Directions
About this water
The Gem Lakes are five lovely glacial potholes strung along a five-kilometre hiking trail in Narrow Hills Provincial Park — clear, cool, jewel-coloured waters stocked with brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout (and splake). Walk-in, bank-and-float-tube fly fishing at its prettiest, a short hike from the road.
Under the surface
Five clear glacial-pothole lakes along a hiking trail, stocked with brook/brown/rainbow/tiger trout and splake. Intimate walk-in stillwater fly fishing in the jack pines.
Wading: Walk in potholes — bank/float tube
- Lake
- Glacial till
- Stillwater
- Shoal
Seasons & zones
- Trout15 May → 31 March
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
The Gem Lakes are five lovely glacial potholes strung along a five-kilometre hiking trail in Narrow Hills Provincial Park — clear, cool, jewel-coloured waters stocked with brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout (and splake). Walk-in, bank-and-float-tube fly fishing at its prettiest, a short hike from the road.
Other water nearby · 2
Related guides