Thunder Bay Marina – Lake Superior

About this water

The launching point for Thunder Bay's salmon and lake trout trolling fishery — local guides recommend a charter for anglers new to big water.

Big, cold, open Lake Superior water that can turn rough quickly. Deep water close to shore. FMZ 9.

FMZ 9 regulations — Lake Superior

The Canadian waters of Lake Superior — the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. Its northwestern boundary is the international border at the Pigeon River, it is bordered to the southeast by the compensating works on the St. Marys River at Sault Ste. Marie, and its southern boundary is the Canada–US border. It includes Lake Superior islands other than St. Ignace and Simpson Islands (FMZ 6) and Michipicoten Island (FMZ 10). Zone boundaries extend across tributary river mouths in most cases, so most streams flowing into Lake Superior are not FMZ 9 — above the boundary at the river mouth they follow the inland zone (FMZ 6, 7 or 10).

• Chinook / coho salmon: open all year in Lake Superior; check tributary sanctuaries.
• Lake trout: open year-round on Superior with S-3/C-1 (one over 65 cm).
• Brook trout (coaster): tributary sanctuaries protect spawning fish — respect closures.

Zone check: FMZ 9 set by review — Great Lakes water body: Lake Superior shore, bay or harbour. Coordinate falls on the land side of the mapped boundary, so the zone is set from the water actually fished. Reviewed 2026-08-12.

Summary only — always confirm current seasons and limits on the Ontario MNRF FMZ 9 page before your trip.

Seasonal availability

Open-season windows for the species found at Thunder Bay Marina – Lake Superior, taken from the FMZ 9 regulation summary. Green months are within a published open season — they are not a prediction of how well fish will bite.

Summary only, and seasons change annually. Confirm dates on the Ontario MNRF FMZ 9 page before your trip.

Fishing tips

• Superior weather turns fast — file a float plan and check marine forecasts.
• Steelhead runs peak in April and again in October in Michipicoten-area rivers.
• Salmon and lakers suspend at different depths — run a spread across the water column until you find the productive band, then match all rods to it.
• Access: Municipal lots at the marina.

Gear setup

Setup:

Downrigger trolling setup

Rod:

8'6" trolling rod

Reel:

Line-counter trolling reel

Line:

20 lb monofilament on downriggers

Best bait:

Cut bait

Best lures:

Spoon, Flasher and fly, Deep-diving plug