Photo: Rob Swystun from Winnipeg, Canada (CC BY 2.0) via Wikimedia Commons
About this lake
Hunt Lake near West Hawk Lake is one of the Whiteshell's most reliable stocked trout fisheries, regularly stocked since the 1950s with brook trout the mainstay in recent decades plus periodic adult brook and brown trout for trophy potential. The 2024 provincial assessment describes a small lake (0.18 sq km, 13.1 m max depth) with a public dock and boat launch for electric or self-propelled craft. Special trout rules apply, including a limit of one and artificial lures and flies only. The lake is also the trailhead for the popular Hunt Lake hiking trail.
Size: 0.18 km2
Max depth: 13.1 m
🏆 Trophy catches
The biggest documented fish caught here, from the Manitoba Master Angler record book.
28.75″ Brown Trout
Brian Morash · May 21, 2013
73.0 cm
28″ Brown Trout
Brian Morash · May 15, 2013
71.1 cm
27.5″ Brown Trout
Casey Gibb · August 05, 2013
69.8 cm
27.4″ Rainbow TroutReleased
Stephen Ingram · July 06, 2025
69.6 cm
Source: Manitoba Master Angler record book (anglers.travelmanitoba.com)
Where it is
📍 Hunt Lake · Eastern
2026 Manitoba Anglers' Guide
Fishing regulations
Southern Division
Special rules for this waterbody
No possession limit or size restriction for largemouth bass. Stocked trout water.
None of this lake's species have their own row below, so here are the division's general limits instead.
Walleye (Pickerel) & Sauger (either or combined)
- Limit
- 4
- Size
- None may exceed 55 cm
- Season
- Southern Division: closed April 6, 2026 to May 8, 2026; open May 9, 2026 to April 4, 2027. Northwest Division: closed May 1 to May 15, 2026; open May 16, 2026 to April 30, 2027. North Central Division: closed May 1 to May 15, 2026; open May 16, 2026 to April 30, 2027. Northeast Division: generally open all year (waterbody-specific closures apply). Lake Winnipeg: walleye/sauger closed April 6 to May 15, 2026.
Northern Pike (Jackfish)
- Limit
- 4
- Size
- None may exceed 75 cm
- Season
- Open year-round (all divisions; waterbody-specific closures apply)
Lake Trout
- Limit
- 1
- Size
- None may exceed 65 cm
- Season
- Southern Division: closed September 15 to October 31, 2026; open November 1, 2026 to September 14, 2027. New 2026 rule: Area A (eastern Manitoba) — all lake trout over 55 cm must be released. Northwest/North Central: generally open year-round per general limits (check waterbody-specific closures).
Channel Catfish
- Limit
- 4
- Size
- None may exceed 60 cm
- Season
- Open year-round (all divisions; waterbody-specific closures apply)
Smallmouth Bass
- Limit
- 4
- Size
- None may exceed 45 cm
- Season
- Open year-round (all divisions; waterbody-specific closures apply)
Yellow Perch
- Limit
- 25
- Size
- No size restriction (provincially)
- Season
- Open year-round (all divisions; waterbody-specific closures apply)
Lake Sturgeon
- Limit
- 0
- Size
- N/A (zero limit)
- Season
- Southern Division: closed May 1 to June 15; open June 16 to April 30. Northwest and North Central Divisions: closed May 1 to June 30; open July 1 to April 30. Conservation closures on the Winnipeg River and Nelson River systems remain in place.
Largemouth Bass
- Limit
- 4 (province-wide, excluding Mary Jane Reservoir)
- Size
- None may exceed 45 cm (province-wide)
- Season
- Open year-round (all divisions; waterbody-specific closures apply)
Source: 2026 Manitoba Anglers' Guide (gov.mb.ca/nrnd/fish-wildlife/pubs/fish_wildlife/fish/angling-guide.pdf), Waterbody Specific Regulations pp. 18-23. Summaries only — confirm in the official guide.
Stocking history
May 17, 2024
Rainbow Trout · 18+ cm
1,000
May 17, 2024
Tiger Trout · 18+ cm
1,000
May 23, 2023
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
2,000
May 4, 2023
Brook Trout · Adult (>30 cm)
100
Jun 24, 2022
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
750
May 12, 2022
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
500
Apr 23, 2021
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
2,000
Sep 28, 2020
Brook Trout · Adult (>30 cm)
360
May 30, 2020
Brook Trout · Adult (>30 cm)
240
Apr 30, 2020
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
4,000
May 17, 2019
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
2,000
May 17, 2019
Brook Trout · Adult (>30 cm)
500
Apr 25, 2018
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
2,000
Apr 19, 2018
Brook Trout · Adult (>30 cm)
100
May 12, 2017
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
2,000
Apr 27, 2016
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
2,000
Oct 13, 2015
Brown Trout · Adult (>30 cm)
47
Aug 24, 2015
Brook Trout · Adult (>30 cm)
98
Apr 17, 2015
Brook Trout · 12-15 cm
2,000
May 19, 2014
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
2,000
May 13, 2013
Brown Trout · Adult (>30 cm)
60
May 8, 2013
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
2,000
Apr 26, 2012
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
2,000
Oct 31, 2011
Brook Trout · Adult (>30 cm)
51
May 6, 2011
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
2,000
May 6, 2011
Brown Trout · 18+ cm
1,000
Apr 12, 2010
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
2,000
Oct 9, 2009
Brook Trout · Adult (>30 cm)
200
Apr 30, 2009
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
2,000
Nov 12, 2008
Brown Trout · 12-15 cm
1,000
Oct 31, 2008
Brook Trout · Adult (>30 cm)
34
Oct 31, 2008
Brook Trout · Adult (>30 cm)
210
May 14, 2008
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
2,000
Nov 2, 2007
Brown Trout · 12-15 cm
1,000
Apr 24, 2006
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
4,000
Jun 15, 2004
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
1,500
May 21, 2004
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
3,000
Jun 11, 2002
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
600
Jun 10, 2002
Rainbow Trout · 18+ cm
1,500
May 15, 2002
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
4,000
Sep 16, 2001
Arctic Char · Adult (>30 cm)
47
Sep 16, 2001
Lake Trout · Adult (>30 cm)
47
Aug 14, 2001
Brook Trout · 12-15 cm
5,000
Jun 5, 2001
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
4,000
Apr 23, 2001
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
7,000
Apr 17, 2000
Rainbow Trout · 18+ cm
5,000
Apr 29, 1999
Rainbow Trout · Adult (>30 cm)
177
Jul 28, 1998
Rainbow Trout · Fingerling
15,000
Sep 2, 1997
Rainbow Trout · Fingerling
10,000
Oct 2, 1996
Brook Trout · 12-15 cm
10,000
Oct 26, 1994
Brook Trout · 18+ cm
10,000
May 17, 1994
Rainbow Trout · 12-15 cm
7,500
May 16, 1994
Rainbow Trout · 12-15 cm
7,500
Sep 16, 1993
Rainbow Trout · Adult (>30 cm)
201
Aug 17, 1993
Rainbow Trout · Fingerling
10,000
May 4, 1993
Rainbow Trout · Fingerling
10,000
Jun 22, 1984
Rainbow Trout · >1 year
2,100
Aug 31, 1983
Brook Trout · >1 year
3,000
May 13, 1983
Rainbow Trout · >1 year
4,800
Jun 24, 1982
Rainbow Trout · >2 years
500
May 14, 1982
Rainbow Trout · >1 year
2,000
Aug 11, 1981
Brook Trout · Fingerling
4,300
May 15, 1981
Rainbow Trout · >2 years
1,000
May 9, 1980
Rainbow Trout · >1 year
1,000
May 6, 1980
Brown Trout · >1 year
2,000
May 16, 1979
Rainbow Trout · >2 years
1,000
May 7, 1976
Rainbow Trout · >2 years
2,000
Jul 22, 1975
Rainbow Trout · >1 year
261
May 6, 1975
Splake · >1 year
1,000
Aug 27, 1974
Rainbow Trout · >1 year
2,000
Jun 4, 1970
Rainbow Trout · >1 year
1,000
May 13, 1969
Rainbow Trout · >1 year
1,000
May 30, 1968
Brook Trout · >1 year
1,000
May 30, 1968
Rainbow Trout · >1 year
1,000
Jun 19, 1967
Rainbow Trout · >1 year
1,000
Jun 20, 1966
Brook Trout · >1 year
78
Jun 6, 1966
Rainbow Trout · >1 year
512
May 26, 1965
Brook Trout · >1 year
1,100
May 25, 1965
Rainbow Trout · >1 year
1,200
May 26, 1964
Brook Trout · >1 year
1,000
May 26, 1964
Rainbow Trout · >1 year
1,400
May 29, 1963
Rainbow Trout · >1 year
2,000
May 28, 1963
Brook Trout · >1 year
2,500
Sep 23, 1962
Brook Trout · Fingerling
4,900
May 24, 1962
Brook Trout · >1 year
2,400
Sep 7, 1961
Brook Trout · Fingerling
15,000
Aug 11, 1961
Brook Trout · Fingerling
3,000
Jun 14, 1961
Rainbow Trout · >1 year
1,180
Jul 23, 1960
Brook Trout · Fingerling
9,000
Jul 23, 1960
Rainbow Trout · Fingerling
4,000
Jun 1, 1960
Brook Trout · Fry
12,500
Jun 1, 1960
Rainbow Trout · Fry
12,500
May 11, 1960
Lake Whitefish · Fry
5,000
May 29, 1957
Splake · Fingerling
150
—
Rainbow Trout · >1 year
3,000
—
Arctic Grayling · Adult (>30 cm)
158
—
Rainbow Trout · >2 years
1,350
—
Rainbow Trout · >2 years
4,180
—
Rainbow Trout · >1 year
850
—
Brook Trout · Adult (>30 cm)
373
—
Brook Trout · >1 year
16,000
—
Brook Trout · >1 year
3,200
—
Rainbow Trout · >1 year
2,830
—
Rainbow Trout · >1 year
5,000
—
Rainbow Trout · >1 year
10,000
—
Rainbow Trout · >1 year
1,550
—
Splake · Fingerling
7,457
—
Smallmouth Bass · Adult (>30 cm)
67
108 stocking events · Source: Manitoba Waterbody Stocking Records, Manitoba Wildlife and Fisheries Branch (open.canada.ca)