Fishing Thomas Lake in Viking, Alberta

• Overview

  Within Viking, Alberta, you have Thomas Lake. The surface lies 676 metres up. At 5.71 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. The shoreline runs about 22 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. The nearest town is Viking, 5.3 km away. It is 128 km to Edmonton, the nearest city. Also on the doorstep: Wavy Lake at 36 km, Betty Lake lies 54 km on, Sandy Lake at 57 km and Crossing Lake lies 58 km on. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Thomas Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name brook trout. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The shape of Thomas Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 16°C on average, January about -14°C. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late April. The water is typically free of ice between late April and mid November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Time your trip to Thomas Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is Wavy Lake, 36 km out. Signs at Thomas Lake carry more weight than any list.