Rehabilitation
Brook Trout Rehabilitation in the Ontario Waters of
Lake Superior, Lake Nipigon, and the Nipigon River
The Upper Great Lakes Management Unit of the MNR released the results of a 5 year study of the brook trout rehabilitation in the Nipigon basin following the 2005 regulation change. A public workshop was held in November of 2011 for approximately 50 invited guests from different branches of the MNR, DNR (USA), fishing organizations, several co-operative anglers and other special interest groups.
The following is MY interpretation of the key elements of the report. For brevity, I have narrowed the information specific to South Bay on Lake Nipigon and to the Nipigon River above the OPG Alexander dam. The entire 69 page report is available as a PDF here:
Lake Nipigon and Nipigon River Angler Surveys
The OMNR periodically conducts angler surveys on the Nipigon River and at the South Bay boat launch on Lake Nipigon. These surveys provide estimates of the following fishery characteristics:
The Nipigon River area has become increasingly popular for brook trout angling over time. The bottom graph shows harvest has dropped from 265 in '94 to only 4 kept in 2010.
Brook trout catch rate increased after 2005 and values are approaching rehabilitation goals set for Lake Nipigon. Brook trout harvest declined dramatically beginning in 2005. (bottom graph)
Co-operative Brook Trout Angler Program
Since 1997, the OMNR has been working wi th a group of dedicated anglers to learn more about brook trout in Lake Superior, Lake Nipigon, and the Nipigon River. Anglers provide information by participating in a tagging program or by logging information of their fishing trips.
The Ministry of Natural Resources reports that from 1997 to 2010 a total of 1,953 brook trout were tagged, and 200 tagged brook trout were subsequently re-captured by anglers participating in the tagging program. Anglers not participating in the program reported an additional 81 tagged brook trout. The interpretation of their total result is listed below. However, to review the data on the 1258 tagged fish collected by myself and Beamer, refer to "Catch Charts"
Lake Nipigon and Nipigon River Angler Surveys
Interpretatons
Conclusions:
Recommendations:
Although current protective sport fishing regulations have been in place for a short period of time (five years, or approximately one brook trout generation), signs of rehabilitation are encouraging and the current restoration strategy is recommended to remain in place.
Catch rates for Lake Nipigon and the Jessie Lake region of the Nipigon River
Top left diagram:
The dotted line represents the management objective of an angler catch rate of 1 brook trout every 2 hours of fishing
Top right diagram:
The dotted line represents the management objective of an angler catch rate of 1 brook trout longer than 22" for every 8 hours of fishing
Lake Nipigon and Nipigon River Creel Surveys
The OMNR conducted angler (creel) surveys on the Nipigon River and at the South Bay access point of Lake Nipigon periodically from 1993 to 2010. All parties concluding their fishing trip were interviewed at the boat launch to determine fishing times and the number of each species caught, kept, and released. All harvested fish were sampled and in recent years anglers estimated lengths of all released fish.
Angler effort is reported as the length of time one rod was fishing (rod hours). Brook trout effort refers to the percent of the total effort directed at brook trout. Catch and harvest is reported in numbers of fish and catch rate is reported as the number of brook trout caught per hour fishing.
Sumary of Recommendations, Questions and Actions