The "Nepigon"
“is the finest trout stream in the world.” (Field & Stream 1887)

Nipigon River

The Nipigon River will be managed for a high quality brook trout fishery, with the intent of maximizing the opportunity to catch a memorable sized fish. With regard to the Nipigon River and Black Sturgeon Waterway, the implementation of a direct harvest control system and/or regulations to reduce harvest while still providing quality, angling opportunities (e.g., reduced limits, single, barbless hooks year round) will be. Angling pressure is still high in the river, with preliminary results of an angler tagging study showing brook trout recapture rates as high as 50%, meaning one out of every two brook trout is caught. The entire length of the Nipigon River receives high angling pressure, especially the brook trout stocks at Virgin Falls..

Winter = 450 cms

Summer = 560 cms or 19,000 cf/s

Nipigon River video (circa 1923)
Produced by the Government of Canada. It is an interesting look back in time at the travellers, transportation methods and the ruggedness of the river before any dam construction.

The chart on the right, comes from the Ontario Power Generation site for the Alexander dam. It shows the monthly flow rates for the Nipigon River. The summer flow rate is 560 cms or 19,000 cf/s.

This is the equivalent of filling an Olympic sized swimming pool is 4.5 seconds.

The Nipigon River, famous for the quantity and size of its brook trout, is home to many fish species as well. Upstream from Alexander Dam, the river provides habitat for brook trout, lake trout, walleye, lake whitefish, northern pike and most recently, smelt. Alexander Dam blocks fish migration from Lake Superior. The lower section of Nipigon River is home to most of the species in Lake Superior including coaster brook trout, lake trout, walleye, northern pike, smelt, lake whitefish, sea lamprey, brown trout, rainbow trout and Pacific salmon species.

River tributaries flowing into Lake Nipigon provide important spawning habitat for brook trout, walleye, smelt, suckers and to a lesser extent, lake whitefish and sturgeon. Northern pike use the wetlands along the mouths of many tributaries for spawning.   On the Nipigon River, over-fishing in the 1800s and the creation of dams from the 1920s to the 1950s, lead to habitat destruction and fluctuating water levels. A brook trout rehabilitation plan was developed in1989, and various fisheries management programs have taken place since then in an effort to protect brook trout populations and improve water levels. Brook trout, northern pike, lake trout, Chinook salmon, whitefish and smelts are still commonly sought fish today. 

Quick Facts:

Length: 32 miles (51 km)

Descent: 313 feet (95 m)

Dams: (4) built 1918-1950

Flow: 5500 cu. ft/sec before dams

Flow: 50% increase after dams