Stillwater · Granite · Manitoba, CA

West Hawk Lake

West Hawk Lake Whiteshell Provincial Park Manitoba Canada Summer 2008

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.

Fair · Rainbow
Large Baitfish Streamer · 1/0–4
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

West Hawk Lake is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindNW 14 km/hGentle breeze · Gusts to 32 km/h
Today's fly
LB
Large Baitfish Streamer1/0–4
Proven pattern for this period
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Gentle breeze · Gusts to 32 km/h
NW 14 km/h
N
NW
from the north-west
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp5.5°C
Air temp2°C
CloudBroken
Pressure1034 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

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

Head to
Wind driftN wind
Northern end

A northerly has held for 7 hours, running colder than the water (-1°C air against 6°C water). The end it blows into is taking that chilled surface water, so try the sheltered northern end instead — off the back of the wind, where the undertow returns food along the bottom. That chill sits in the top of the water, though, and the bed is slower to feel it — on a bottom bait it is the undertow, not the temperature, that puts you at this end. 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. Fish Large Baitfish Streamer as your primary pattern.
The plan
Plan A

Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Fish Large Baitfish Streamer as your primary pattern.

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 · October 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
2
1
CallibaetisHatch
1
2
2
2
1
Hexagenia (Western)Hatch
1
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
74%
Cloud100%
Wind65%
Temp60%

A good match for West Hawk Lake — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.

Other water nearby · 2
Gallery · 2
  1. West Hawk Lake Whiteshell Provincial Park Manitoba Canada Summer 2008
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
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
  • Cloud cover (cloud) suits the fishery well.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 January → 31 December
Related guides
Booking & contacts