Thinking about heading into Thomas Lake next year in late May, early June. What EP do you use and what can anyone tell me about the lake and surrounding lakes? Thanks.

The only time I ever went through Thomas was entering through EP27 (Snowbank). My guess is this is how most get there. You can also go the EP30 (number chain) way, but you'd see alot more people. Late May on Thomas should offer great lake trout opportunities. From Thomas you can fish Fraser, Sagus and Alice. We were just passing through Thomas the time I went there (late may trip), so I can't give you any fishing info. But we did talk to some guys who trolled across it while they traveled and they caught some nice lakers.

How long is your trip, it might dictate on what loop/entry you take into Thomas.
I am not an experienced paddler. I do like to read the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Books. The Thomas Lake is described in the Eastern Region book as a stop in a 7 day loop trip from Knife to Hatchet. However, other than giving you some advice on getting the maps and some books, I still think the length of your trip and the level of difficulty you are willing to take might help others give you a good answer. Good luck!

Beutifull crystal clear lake. Northern, walleye and lakers. Look at where most of the camps are and you will see where the lakers are at :) Fraser has good fishing as well same species. I have heard nearby Hatchet is good for walleyes proably near the stream or their is a reef towards the middel of it.

I have been there a few times. For time tables we usually put in around 10 am on Snowbank and are settign up camp by 3pm on Thomas or Fraser. The portages are all easy but there are quite a few so if it is your fisrt trip or your not organized plan on a long day or 2 days to get there.

Have fun.

T

Thomas is beautiful and has some great campsites 1963

Thomas is a jewel and well worth the time you'll spend there. As others have said, you'll probably want to enter on Snowbank. If you can get the island campsite on Thomas that is in the SW part of the lake (island has two sites - I'm talking about the site on the W side of the island) it's a beauty. Lots of flat, bare rock along the shore with several nice canoe landings (depending on water levels) and there is a short trail from the site going east up to a cliff on the north side of the island that affords great views of nearly the entire lake.

A day trip to Fraser is also a must - be sure to check out the island in the northern part of Fraser with the old cabin foundations and other relics. I've also seen moose calves standing on the shore of that island while paddling past (decided not to stop to find out where the Mama moose was). The channel between Thomas and Fraser is also neat. Well worth stopping and hanging out there for a while (shore lunch) and I've also seen trout and walleye swimming back and forth through that channel.

If you like fishing for lake trout May is a great time to visit this lake. One spot to try is along the southern part of the middle section of the lake (to the east of the island with the campsite I mentioned above). Check out the lake depth maps and you'll see a submerged "hump" just off the portage to Cacabic. Trolling over that hump in the spring has produced some big trout for me in the past.

The group I go with are all experienced paddlers and we prefer to stay on one lake and day trip to others. Our trips are usually 6 day events. Good advise and info from all, thanks.

I went through Thomas this May from Snowbank. That's a pretty long stretch from Snowbank if you want to make the first day. I would stay on Ima the first night(se most campsite). I stayed at the first campsite south of the portage from hatchet on Thomas and found Lots of free bait(leeches and crawfish)near the shore at night. I don't know if all of the lake is that way or just that site. Huge leeches. When I went there was alot of algae in the lake. Fishing is good around the islands. Imo I actually liked Fraser better and the water was cleaner.

The only thing bad I can say about Thomas? I like it too much. Every year for 17 years I've done what your planning to do at about the same time. The distance isn't as daunting as it looks on the map. We put in on Snowbank around 9:am and make it to either of the north campsites with more than enough light to set up camp and get out and catch some supper, clean and cook'em up before dark.

2 kernels of advise are, when at the landing on Snowbank, get a visual on the point coming out of the bay going into the portage to Disappointment and head for that. Every year there is always a group or two in front of us that goes to far to the east around the back of the islands adding about 1/2 hour to their trip.

There is also a map discrepancy confusing paddle from portage between Hatchet lake and Thomas pond on some of the older maps. Stay with the feeder stream in that region and keep your eyes to the left. The landing is very easy to spot. I'm think'in we'll be there at about the same time, gimme a heads up right before trip time and maybe we'll see ya!

Bruceye,

Thanks for the info. How is the paddle across Snowbank? I would imagine it could be tough in windy conditions. Also, some of the portages along the way look to be pretty short. Have you done a "lift" over on any of them, or do you have to carry the canoe without any gear in it?

Fishscales

Snowbank can be quite a paddle if it gets windy. Not sure if the resorts on Snowbank still offer tows but it can save you some time and better your chances of getting to Thomas in one day.

About the only portage on that route that I remember being able to do a lift was the Adventure to Cattyman haul. In high water I've been able to line the canoe through a 15 yard channel with everything still in it. In really low water it can be a 20 rod portage.

What outfitter is the closest to support Snowbank?

quote Corndog: "What outfitter is the closest to support Snowbank?"

I don't know the geographic answer to your question, but I've used Kawishiwi Lodge twice and recommend them highly. They're up the shore (north) from the Lake One entry (EP30) and offer cabins, parking and shuttle service. They're only a few miles from Snowbank. If you decide to contact them, you'll most likely be talking with Frank or Nicole; tell them I sent you. (I'm using them in September.)

PS: I hope Kawishiwi Lodge is a BWCA.com advertiser so this post has less chance of being deleted.

quote fishguts: "Thomas is beautiful and has some great campsites 1963"

Cool vintage beans!!!

Fishscales, yes and yes, the longest portage as you can most likely see on your map will be the first, SB to Disappointment, however its an easy and steady grade with no surprises, after that its a breeze.

Yes there are a couple of portages we'll cheat, gear and all, however,my canoe's are the Old Town river barges, I wouldn't re
commend doing that if yours is a kevlar or composite, look'em over when your there and use your own discretion.

Mornings are generally calm in the B-dub, your bigger concern going in other than Snowbank, will be Ima. Snowbank can and does get real nasty, but usually not till late morning then throughout the day, keep that in mind on your trek out. More times than not, big wind is usually at the head of a front and won't last more than 20 minutes to an hour. It pays more than most know, to wait it out.

If you were doing a solo in a few weeks and putting in at snowbank and wanted to do some fishing would you go towards thomas or ensign?

I was initially going towards thomas and then did some research and thought ensign might have better fishing but now thinking thomas might be better and fewer people!

Love this lake, although I'm surprised to hear people talk about shorter travel times. My wife and I planned to go from Snowbank to Alice earlier this year. We move briskly, but don't kill ourselves, double-portage etc. It took us 6 hours to get to Ima the first day. Saw a favorite campsite was open so decided to stop and camp there. Took a day trip from there to Thomas and it took an hour and a half to get there. I know people travel at different speeds, but I just wanted to chime in so you don't have false expectations on travel time. Personally, I'd plan 7-8 hours to get to Thomas. Enjoy your trip!!

Thomas is really worth the trip. I came in from Lake One this year but would use Snowbank for a direct route. I agree with the earlier comment about getting an early start to avoid big wind on SB.

Just to echo the earlier Ima wind comment from bruceye: On the 2nd trip I took through the Thomas area (a Snowbank to the Gunflint Tr trip) we got a tow across Snowbank and expected to easily reach Thomas or even Fraser by the 1st night. And with the early start we got, the tow, and the pace we were at we should have. When we hit Ima the lake was relatively calm and we took the most direct route straight across the lake on our way to the portages to Thomas. 1/2 way out onto Ima the wind picked up and we found ourselves in 2+1/2 foot breakers and a rather dangerous situation. We managed to turn the boat in a patch of calmer water and bailed on an island site on southern Ima and ended up paddling through Thomas and Fraser the next morning. Point is, set a goal but be prepared to have to change your plans and obtain a lower goal. You'll get where you want to be eventually - it's better to get there late and in one piece than to not get there at all.

Sidenote: After we got onto the site on Ima the trees were bending in the wind something fierce. For an hour or so we stood on the shore of the site, as far away from the trees as we could, for fear one of them was going to come crashing down on us!