I am well into my 13th season of guiding for the lodge in Red Rock, Ontario, as I write this column. In fact, I have just come off the water after a day of chasing Nipigon system brook trout. With that fresh in mind, here is a look at the system, and spinning and fly-fishing gear that will help you catch one of the world’s largest brook trout.
The Nipigon System
The Nipigon River is large, deep, and swift. Lake Nipigon is vast, windy, and boulder-strewn. Nipigon Bay on Lake Superior is sprawling, wild, and can get rough. The brook trout here are larger and stronger than any brook trout you will ever catch. For this reason, tackle needs to be heavier than what many brook trout anglers are used to. Lures and flies will also lean to the big side.
Fly Gear
An 8-weight rod of about 9 or 10 feet will cover most of your needs here. A 7-weight is good for dries but will be on the edge for everything else. I highly recommend the 8-weight Coaster Brook Trout rod by JA Henry out of Michigan. They come in 9- and 10-foot rods. For boat fishing, the 10-foot model is sublime (jahenryusa.com).
Some anglers use a switch rod, but I recommend you be relatively proficient at it before trying it out on the Nipigon. That goes for fly fishing in general. This is challenging water and not really for the beginner. Mostly it’s chuck-and-duck fly fishing, so a full-sink or partial-sink line is a must. Bring a floating line if you want to try fishing on top. Leaders need to be shorter and relatively heavy. I use a 12- to 15-pound Maxima or Trilene XT leader.
Flies should be large as the brook trout are largely eating smelt and stickleback. Streamers and minnow patterns in white, olive, black, and purple work well. The Sex Dungeon, Butt Monkey, Sasquatch, and Lefty Deceiver are all good choices. Smelt-pattern flies are a staple, and a Clouser Minnow works well. The traditional Muddler (which was developed on the Nipigon) or Matuka Sculpin are also dependable. Think big. The odd time the trout are hitting dries, a large pattern like the #4 or #6 Stimulator is a great choice.
Spin Fishing
When spin fishing, an 8- to 9-foot rod is my preference, but you can get away with a 7-footer. The rod needs to be at least medium action. Medium-heavy is fine. Again, this is big water and often you will be in heavy current.
I prefer a good-quality 10- to 12-pound-test monofilament line. Braid is my preference (20-pound), but I recommend a fluorocarbon leader of at least 10- or 12-pound test. I will use 12- to 15-pound XT as my main leader. That weight of leader sounds like overkill, but these fish are not line shy and they will wrap you in trees and rub against rocks. Make sure your spinning reel has a smooth drag. It will get tested.
Spinning Lures
There are many options, but my favorites include the following:
Bucktail jigs (Mighty Mitch and Jungle Joe Jigflies are my favourite) of 1/4- to 3/8-ounce work extremely well. My favourites include a white head and orange body, black head and black body, brown head and brown body, and smelt patterns in black and white. The GE Jigfly style has a hackle around the base of the head and is based on the jigflies I tied for many years. Check out the selection on Mighty Mitch and Jungle Joe Jigflies Facebook page.
A 1/4- or 3/8-ounce Smeltinator jig head matched with a 4-inch Berkley Power minnow is very effective. White, grey, purple, and blue Smeltinator heads all work. Anything that looks like a smelt will catch brook trout.
Spoons are a classic presentation, with the Williams Nipigon spoon of silver/brass, red/silver, or gold/orange being the go-to. A Luhr Jensen Krocodile, Little Cleo, or EGB Blinker spoon (brass/green or brass/red) will also cover most situations.
If you like to throw spinners, the Mepps Aglia #3, #4 and #5 with a silver blade is a killer. The Mepps Comet #3, #4 and #5 in silver or white with red dots is a great trolling spinner. The Panther Martin is another spinner that seems to shine when trolled.
Many anglers think of crankbaits for bass and walleye, but not so much for trout. Yet the crankbait family of lures has accounted for a lot of very large brookies over the years. My number one is the Rapala Countdown (or Elite) #7-#9 in firetiger, silver/black, brook trout, or blue silver. The Rapala Shad Rap in #5 and #7 is another good one in silver/black, firetiger, crawdad, or blue silver.
Keep in mind that when fishing on Lake Nipigon, the regulation is one hook that must be barbless. That can be a barbless single hook or a barbless treble hook. So, if you fish a crankbait on Lake Nipigon, only one barbless treble hook is allowed on the lure. On the Nipigon River and Lake Superior, there are no gear regulations. But I often debarb hooks for ease of release.
I like to use a plain metal clasp when lure fishing, as it makes it easier to change baits. You only need a snap swivel when spinner fishing. If you don’t want to switch lures, bring an extra rod and reel or two that you have pre-rigged with different lures.
Bring pliers, haemostats, and a hook hone as well.
This is just a basic list, but it will serve you well during any trip to the mighty Nipigon system in search of brook trout.
Note: The Nipigon River is a special place, and brookies are a precious resource. The bag regulation is one fish over 22 inches, but I enforce a no-kill policy on brook trout when I guide. These legendary fish are survivors in a world that is becoming less hospitable for brook trout.
