Bottle Lake in Yellowhead: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Yellowhead in Manitoba is where Bottle Lake sits. It stands 609 metres above sea level. The water covers around 7.97 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. At about 18 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. On our Yellowhead list it sits near the top for size. Nearest town is Minnedosa, 45 km off. Dauphin lies 59 km off, Neepawa another 62 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Bottle Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Yellowhead, recorded fish include northern pike, yellow perch, walleye and Iowa darter. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Bottle Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -20°C in January and 18°C in July. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early May. Climate figures give an open season running early May to mid November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Bottle Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Pigeon Lake, 2.7 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm before you fish Bottle Lake.