Stillwater · Glacial Till · Saskatchewan, CA

Gem Lakes (Narrow Hills)

Little Jade Lake, Narrow Hills PP

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).

Fair · Rainbow
Balanced Leech · 8-12
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
49% confidence
limited data

Gem Lakes (Narrow Hills) is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindW 20 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 20 km/h
N
W
from the west
Wave40 cm chop
Water temp15.2°C
Air temp18°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure998 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

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

Head to
Wind driftW wind
Eastern end

A westerly has held for 19 hours at much the same temperature as the 15°C water. No thermal steer either way, but the drift still stacks food against the eastern end — the bank it is blowing into — so start there. This reads the upper water, though — a bottom bait at range feels it far less than a floater or a fish in the margins. Treat it as a tiebreaker between good swims rather than an override — features and angling pressure usually count for more.

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.
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

Top nymph shown — see all 3 guilds as a supporter.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 3 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
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.

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; per-lake rules
  • Verify the 2026–27 SK Anglers Guide.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
59%
Cloud50%
Wind65%
Temp60%

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

Other water nearby · 2
Narrow Hills Provincial Park lakes
14 km
Pike · Rainbow trout · Brook trout
Candle Lake
57 km
Pike
Gallery · 2
  1. Little Jade Lake, Narrow Hills PP
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
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
Why this score
  • autumn conditions with overcast skies and breezy wind.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 15 May → 31 March
Related guides
Stocked Trout Variantsblue, tiger & golden troutSmall Stillwater Playbookstillwater tacticsThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperature
Booking & contacts