Fishing Shikwamkwa Lake in Algoma, Ontario

• Overview

  Shikwamkwa Lake stands in Algoma, Ontario. Boreal forest runs right down to the water. Surface area runs to roughly 5.15 sq km, so plan for one area rather than the whole. Some 36 km of shoreline means conditions can differ from one end to the other. It is among the larger waters listed here for Algoma. Wawa lies 48 km from the water. Further out sit Chapleau (62 km) and Hornepayne (133 km). The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Shikwamkwa Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Algoma records list walleye, northern pike, Iowa darter, yellow perch and white sucker among the fish reported. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Fish Shikwamkwa Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 16°C in July and bottom out at -16°C in January. Open water is the exception rather than the rule here. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early May. Ice clears near early May and comes back about mid November in a typical year. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Shikwamkwa Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Failing this one, try West Lake, 1.4 km away. Check the current arrangement for Shikwamkwa Lake.