Thomas Lake

Thomas Lake sits in the Kawishiwi district of the Boundary Waters, about 27 miles northeast of Ely and entirely inside the wilderness boundary. At 1,465 acres it's one of the larger lakes in that part of the BWCA, and every way in covers real distance: the closest entry points are on Snowbank, Moose, and Kawishiwi Lakes, none of them nearby.

The lake drops to 110 feet in its deepest basin, though close to a third of it stays shallow enough to fish from the surface down. More than 26 miles of shoreline fold that shallow water into bays and around points rather than leaving one open crossing, so the lake reads as broken and varied instead of a single big sheet of water.

Both walleye and lake trout hold here, an uncommon pairing that the depth makes possible. Cisco stay down in the cold water as forage for the trout, while northern pike work the shallower bays and weed edges.

Seventeen campsites are spread around that much shoreline, leaving real room to find one away from other parties. A 212-rod portage reaches Cacabic Lake off one end, long enough on its own to keep casual traffic off that side of the lake.

Thomas Lake suits paddlers after a big lake trout and walleye fishery well beyond the nearest entry points, with enough shoreline and campsites to spend more than a night or two without feeling crowded.