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| This brook trout from Lake Nipigon is typical of the fish an angler can expect when fishing at or near the spring ice out. Nipigon is a barbless fishery and lures can only be equipped with one hook. |
QUESTION FROM WEB PAGE
◦ Message Mark,
I watched both of your episodes (pike & brook trout) fishing on Nipigon
Lake, and am very interested in going in May/early June 2017. I have done some
research and from your show, it looks like Pasha Cabins is a great place to
stay. Just some questions: we are tentatively planning a trip sometime w/n a
few weeks of ice off. At that time of the year, can we target both species? Any
tips, suggestion, etc. I know it is a huge lake, and don't mind exploring, but
would also appreciate narrowing it down a tad. The barbless rule and one hook
rule, does that apply to everything in your tackle box, or just the lures that
are in the water? I am a real C & R fisherman, only keeping a few...here
and there for dinners. Just looking to really have a chance to hook into some
giant pike and brook trout. Thanks... PS I have my own 16 ' Mirrocraft w/ 40
tiller
MARK’S
REPLY
Glad to help. Brook
trout and pike are both open early in the season and it’s possible to target both species right at or soon after ice out.
The brook trout are
found around all the islands of Nipigon and typically close to shore where
points and or boulders provide ambush sites. Shakespeare Island is a
good place to start, but all the small islands surrounding this area are also
good brook trout water. I’d recommend covering the shorelines as quickly as
possible casting ahead of the boat with small spoons and in-line spinners.
We’ve had exceptional success casting Yakima Rooster Tails and Vibric Rooster
Tails in the 3/8 ounce size. When you catch a fish, slow down to work the area
more throughly. Brook trout are going to be found in small schools, so when you
catch one, others are nearby and it’s not uncommon to pull half a dozen fish
from one small spot!
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| Lake Nipigon harbors some amazing northern pike. The spring ice out period is a good time to find adult fish in shallow water. Weedless jerk baits and spoons are good lures for targeting pike in shallow water. |
The pike are
sometimes found chasing the trout along the rocky shorelines, but more often we
encounter them in protected bays or the back end of bays. Usually the pike are
relating to soft bottoms, areas with dead cattails and bullrush. Soft plastic
jerkbaits rigged Texas style with no weight have been our best producing lures
for fishing pike among dead vegetation.
The barbless hook
rule applies to the lure you are fishing. A lure can have a treble hook as that
is considered to be one hook, but lures with multiple hooks (crankbaits) are
not allowed unless you remove all but one of the hooks. So long as you use a
pliers to firmly pinch down the barb, you’re in compliance with the Ontario
laws.
Your 16 foot boat is
big enough to fish Nipigon on calm days and on windy days, no one is fishing
regardless of the boat they have.
We watch the weather very closely and that’s
one of the great things about staying at Pasha Lake Cabins is Chad has daily
weather reports he shares with all his guests. Lake Nipigon is a great fishery,
but a lake you have to respect and avoid when the weather is threatening.
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| Lake Nipigon is a huge body of water (Ontario’s largest inland lake) that demands respect from those who venture out. The author recommends fishing Nipigon out of multi-species boats in the 18-22 foot range. This Starcraft Freedom 180 has served the author well on Nipigon many times. |
Best fishes,
Mark Romanack
