Freestone · Volcanic · Ontario

Nipigon River

Nipigon River venue image
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The Nipigon is the most storied brook-trout river on the planet — Lake Superior's biggest tributary, draining Lake Nipigon through huge diabase-canyon water, and home of the longest-standing world record in sport fishing (a 14.

Species

About as good as it gets

River high but settled. Fish are looking up — bigger flies, confident takes.

The water temperature should be close to 14°C, about where the pike want it, sitting at a steady height, running clear.

90% confidence in this read
Water temperature for pike
Ideal
14°C est.ideal 8–18°C
0°14°28°
The full read · show the working · for pike · confidence 90%
How the 85 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature100 × 28%28.0
Flow90 × 22%19.8
Clarity85 × 18%15.3
Feeding Time70 × 13%9.1
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity61 × 12%7.3
Conditions total= 85
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Conditions
●Live gauge
Level
27.86 m
Water temp
13.5°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
14°C
Wind
SW 18 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1001 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.9 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
3.3 mm
Light rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6am

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 12 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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How to fish it · for pike
When
Brook trout summer (canyon pools) into early autumn; steelhead spring and fall.
Where
The Nipigon is the most storied brook-trout river on the planet — Lake Superior's biggest tributary, draining Lake Nipigon through huge diabase-canyon water,…
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though insect activity could be better.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Quill GordonHatch
2
2
Blue QuillHatch
2
3
2
HendricksonHatch
2
2
Eastern March BrownHatch
2
2

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

Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • FMZ 9: 22-inch brook-trout minimum, one-fish limit
  • Verify the current OFRS.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

The Nipigon is the most storied brook-trout river on the planet — Lake Superior's biggest tributary, draining Lake Nipigon through huge diabase-canyon water, and home of the longest-standing world record in sport fishing (a 14.5-lb brookie, 1915). It still grows brook trout past 20 inches, with lake trout, steelhead and salmon in the system. Big water, a 7–8 weight, and a 22-inch minimum that tells you everything about the size of fish here.

Under the surface

Lake Superior's largest tributary, draining Lake Nipigon through big, powerful diabase-canyon water — the most famous brook-trout river on earth, holding the long-standing world-record brook trout and still growing brookies of 20 inches and more, with lake trout, steelhead, salmon and pike in the system.

Wading: Big powerful regulated river, slick rock — boat/guide and careful wading

  • Volcanic
  • Confined
  • Pool riffle
  • Large river
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 January → 30 September
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