Nipigon River

The Nipigon is Lake Superior's largest tributary, and the river where Dr. J.W. Cook caught the world record brook trout in July 1915: 14.5 pounds, still the record. It runs about 48 km from Lake Nipigon to Nipigon Bay at Red Rock and is 50 to 200 m wide. Three Ontario Power Generation dams now step it down, and fish from Lake Superior can climb only to Alexander Dam, about 24 km above the mouth. That lower river is the fishery most people mean. It holds brook trout that often pass 50 cm, coasters that move between the river and Nipigon Bay, lake trout from May into late June, steelhead in late April and May, and chinook, coho and pink salmon from late August through September.

It is big, fast water, and most of it fishes from a boat. Guides launch at the Nipigon Marina and below Alexander Dam, and you can fish from shore at the Nipigon River Bridge and at the dam off Highway 585. Nipigon brook trout grow big on smelt, sculpins and dace, so streamers in sizes 2 to 8 on 7 and 8 weight rods with sink tips do most of the work. Swing them through the heads of runs and along the seams beside boulders. Dry flies such as Stimulators and hoppers take fish when they rise, and there are caddis and Hex hatches in season. June and July are the best brook trout months, with a second push in late August and early September. The flow is the dams' release, so read the gauge below Alexander. Salmon gather in the tailwater from late August, and on a good day dozens of trolling boats work the water below the dam.

Plan around the rules and the current. The brook trout limit is one fish over 56 cm, and a fish that size is worth putting back. The river's brook trout collapsed after the dams went in, and they came back under that rule and years of work by the province and local anglers. Walleye are closed all year on the river and in Nipigon Bay. Three pools close to all fishing from January 1 until late May and again after Labour Day: the Backpool below Alexander Dam, Gapen's Pool at the Lake Helen outlet, and the Parmacheene pool at the CN bridge. The water below the spillways is fast and dangerous, so keep boats well back and wear a life jacket. Above Alexander there are no lake-run fish, but the upper river above Pine Portage Dam holds big resident brook trout for anglers with a boat. Nipigon and Red Rock have motels and a lodge, and Thunder Bay is about an hour and a half west.