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.
A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
36% confidence — limited data
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
W 21 km/h
Moderate breeze
Wave
40 cm chop
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
10°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
1004 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
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.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
3 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
West Hawk Lake, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedWest Hawk Lake · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
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
West Hawk Lake · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
West Hawk Lake · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 January → 31 December
West Hawk Lake · permits
Good to know
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Eastern Manitoba (Whiteshell); verify the current Manitoba Anglers' Guide.
West Hawk Lake · learn
Related guides
Learn-zone playbooks for this water
Related guides
West Hawk Lake
Google Places
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.
Species
A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
36% confidence — limited data
Conditions
Wind
W 21 km/h
Moderate breeze
Wave
40 cm chop
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
10°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
1004 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
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.
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Eastern Manitoba (Whiteshell); verify the current Manitoba Anglers' Guide.
Directions
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
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 January → 31 December
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
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.
Other water nearby · 2
Related guides