Nickel Lake Fishing near Schreiber, Ontario

• Overview

  Nickel Lake is one of the Thunder Bay District waters in Ontario. The surface lies 445 metres up. It measures about 15 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The edge runs 2.8 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Most waters listed here for Thunder Bay District are larger. Head to Schreiber, 27 km away, for anything you forgot. The big place round here is Thunder Bay, 162 km distant. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Nickel Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Thunder Bay District cover cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. At Nickel Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -17°C to 16°C. The year here is short and sharp: a long lid, then a burst of open water. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early May. The water is typically free of ice between early May and mid November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Anyone fishing Nickel Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Northline Lake at 0.6 km is the nearest alternative. For Nickel Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.