[3] The Fishing Lakes all follow the course of the Qu'Appelle River, which flows from the west to the east and is part of the Hudson Bay drainage basin.

The lakes sit in the deep-cut Qu'Appelle Valley that was formed about 14,000 years ago during the last ice age.

Meltwater from the glaciers carved out the valley and as water levels rose and fell, alluvium was left in the wake.

Because the flow of water through the lakes is very sluggish—the Qu'Appelle river is little more than a small creek at this point in the Valley—and because the runoff from the surrounding farmland contains large amounts of farm fertilizer, the lakes have since the middle of the 20th century been subject to severe attacks of algae as summer draws on.

It is located between Echo and Mission Lakes and was originally a Hudson's Bay Company trading post.

The Fishing Lakes are home to two provincial parks, public swimming beaches, hiking trails, a ski resort, and are intermittently built up with private cottages and youth summer camps.

Public boat launches are available at B-Say-Tah Beach, Katepwa Point, Fort Qu’Appelle Town Centre, Echo Valley Provincial Park, and Lebret.

Near Katepwa Lake at the eastern end is the historic Fort Ellice-Fort Qu'Appelle trail.