Tomlinson Lake in Oakview: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Tomlinson Lake is an Oakview water, Manitoba side. The bank is 579 metres above sea level. With some 25 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Bank access stretches around 2.0 km in total. The nearest town is Minnedosa, 8.5 km away. After that come Neepawa at 34 km and Rivers at 36 km. Neighbouring water: Jacksons Lake just 1.5 km, Bones Lake 2.6 km away, Cameron Lake just 2.7 km, Antons Lake 3.1 km away and Gourlay Lake just 3.6 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Tomlinson Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Fish documented in Oakview include northern pike, walleye, johnny darter and white sucker. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Tomlinson Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 18°C on average, January about -19°C. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. The open-water window runs from around late April to about mid November in an average year. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Time your trip to Tomlinson Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Records show it does not hold water year-round. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Jacksons Lake at 1.5 km is the nearest alternative. For Tomlinson Lake in particular, ask before you travel.