Fishing at North Thomas Lake, Yellowhead, Manitoba

• Overview

  North Thomas Lake sits in Yellowhead, out in Manitoba. The setting is rolling bush on every side. It measures some 2.69 sq km, and wind has room to build across it. The shoreline runs about 13 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. Size puts it in the front rank of our Yellowhead list. The closest town, Minnedosa, is 47 km away. Rivers lies 62 km off, Dauphin another 64 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on North Thomas Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Yellowhead records list northern pike, yellow perch, walleye, Iowa darter and johnny darter among the fish reported. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. The shape of North Thomas Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 18°C for July and -19°C for January. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Ice-out usually falls in late April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Ice usually gives way near late April, and forms again about mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. On North Thomas Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is a campsite 740 m from the water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, South Thomas Lake at 2 km is the nearest alternative. For North Thomas Lake in particular, ask before you travel.