Fishing at Hunt Lake, Candle Lake, Saskatchewan

• Overview

  Candle Lake in Saskatchewan is where Hunt Lake sits. The bank is 501 metres above sea level. The water covers around 1.65 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. With 8.9 km or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. Start from Prince Albert, 62 km down the road. Beyond it, Nipawin at 83 km and Melfort at 93 km. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Hunt Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Open biodiversity records for Candle Lake list northern pike, lake whitefish and johnny darter. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The shape of Hunt Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 17°C and January about -18°C. This is a two-season water: locked, then wide open. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near early November: that is the shape of an average year. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. It holds true on Hunt Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Birchbark Lake, 9.8 km away. Check the current arrangement for Hunt Lake.