Fishing at Hatchet Lake, Stony Rapids, Saskatchewan

• Overview

  Hatchet Lake is a Stony Rapids water, in Saskatchewan. Everything around it is boreal forest. Supplies mean a trip to Pelican Narrows, 388 km off. Then La Ronge, 405 km, and Buffalo Narrows, 423 km. Not far off: Wollaston Lake after 49 km, Kewen Lake 51 km away, Moosonees Lake after 52 km, Parks Lake 54 km away and Lampin Lake after 55 km. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Hatchet Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Stony Rapids include cisco, northern pike and round whitefish. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. The shape of Hatchet Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -25°C in January and 15°C in July. Little of the calendar is open water, so timing counts for everything. The lid usually goes in late May, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Climate figures give an open season running late May to late October. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. It holds true on Hatchet Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Wollaston Lake, 49 km away. What applies at Hatchet Lake may have changed since it was mapped.