Tonimac Lake near Schreiber: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Tonimac Lake is a Thunder Bay District water, Ontario side. The bank is 424 metres above sea level. With some 93 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. At about 12 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. Start from Schreiber, 28 km down the road. After that come Terrace Bay at 36 km and Nipigon at 66 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Tonimac Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Across Thunder Bay District, recorded fish include cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt and bloater. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Tonimac Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 16°C in July and bottom out at -17°C in January. Ice holds for a long stretch, so the open weeks matter more here than further south. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early May. Climate averages put the opening at about early May and the closing near mid November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Plan around that when you fish Tonimac Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. A light spinning outfit with a small box of lures and some bait covers most of what swims here. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Failing this one, try Carib Lake, 3.7 km away. For Tonimac Lake in particular, ask before you travel.