Stillwater · Volcanic · Ontario

Lake Nipigon

Lake Nipigon — Lake Nipigon

Lake Nipigon is the cold, vast Shield lake behind the famous river — and a world-class trophy brook-trout water in its own right, with big 'coaster' brookies on the shoals and reefs alongside lake trout, walleye and pike.

Fair · Pike
Articulated leech · 12–16
Fairlive now
Summer pike — dawn and dusk topwater
Glassy and bright — hard work without a breeze. Hard work without breeze. Look for the dimples.
62% confidence
What moved it
  • WindSE 2 km/hCalm
Today's fly
AL
Articulated leech12–16
A dependable searching pattern for these waters.
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Calm
SE 2 km/h
N
SE
from the south-east
WaveFlat calm
Water temp—
Air temp15°C
CloudClear
Pressure1011 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for Pike
When
Pike are ambush-feeding from weed cover. Fry and small perch concentrate in the warm shallows, drawing pike in during low-light periods. Mid-day pike retreat to deeper weed channels.
Where
Summer pike on the fly. Fish early (first light) and late (last hour) when pike push shallow to feed. Topwater is king — poppers and gurglers over weed beds. Mid-day fish hold deep in weed channels. Take a break during the heat of the day. Use a 9-10wt rod with a stiff butt for turning big fish away from weed.
The plan
Plan A

Summer pike on the fly. Fish early (first light) and late (last hour) when pike push shallow to feed. Topwater is king — poppers and gurglers over weed beds. Mid-day fish hold deep in weed channels. Take a break during the heat of the day. Use a 9-10wt rod with a stiff butt for turning big fish away from weed.

Plan B

If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.

Watch for

Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.

Bank

Flat calm suits bank fishing near features — points, weed beds, and inflows where fish patrol.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Flying AntsHatch
1
1
CallibaetisHatch
1
2
2
2
1
Hexagenia (Western)Hatch
1
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Pike fly box
AL
Articulated leechTop
12–16 · Fly
A dependable searching pattern for these waters.
LB
Large baitfish/streamer
8–10 · Streamer
Strip it for fish chasing fry or in coloured water.
LP
Large pike streamer (deceiver)
8–10 · Streamer
Strip it for fish chasing fry or in coloured water.
CS
Clouser-style minnow
8–10 · Streamer
Strip it for fish chasing fry or in coloured water.
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • FMZ 9 size/limit rules
  • Verify the current OFRS.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
64%
Cloud25%
Wind65%
Temp100%

A reasonable day here, though cloud isn't quite in the sweet spot.

Other water nearby · 1
Nipigon River
48 km
Brook trout · Lake trout · Steelhead
Gallery · 2
  1. Lake Nipigon — Lake Nipigon
    Lake Nipigon
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Lake Nipigon is the cold, vast Shield lake behind the famous river — and a world-class trophy brook-trout water in its own right, with big 'coaster' brookies on the shoals and reefs alongside lake trout, walleye and pike. Strip streamers and leeches over the structure for the brook and lake trout in this big, remote, island-strewn water.

Under the surface

A vast, cold, island-strewn Shield lake that feeds the Nipigon River — world-class trophy brook trout cruising the shoals and reefs, with lake trout, walleye and pike. Big remote water where the brookies run to coaster size.

Wading: Vast cold lake, sudden weather — a boat fishery

  • Lake
  • Volcanic
  • Stillwater
  • Shoal
Why this score
  • Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 January → 30 September
Related guides
Thermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperatureEuro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Booking & contacts