The lake is in the Woody River Block of Porcupine Hills Provincial Park.

[4][5] The lake was named in memory of Rifleman Archie Isbister of the Regina Rifle Regiment who died on 6 June 1944 fighting in World War II.

[7][8] Prior to the formation of Porcupine Hills Provincial Park in 2018, the parkland around Isbister Lake was a provincial recreation site called Woody River Recreation Site.

At Isbister Lake there's a small campground, dock, fish cleaning station, and picnic tables.

[9][10] Fish commonly found in the lake include northern pike, perch, and walleye.