Why Lake Nipissing?

When you think ice fishing in Ontario, Lake Nipissing must be in that conversation. This Northern Ontario Lake is only 3 hours north of Toronto and is full of Walleye, Perch, Northern Pike and Burbot. This wide range of target species is bound to keep you busy and our healthy cisco population will make up for any lulls in the target bite.

Fishing on Lake Nipissing is perfect day or night – credit: Mat Koprash

The local MNRF has done a great job protecting and growing the Walleye population with science backed slot sizes. Fish are plenty and the opportunity to harvest table fare is increasing annually. The larger year class fish have been showing up more regularly in the 27-30” range!

Ice Fishing is not only about the big catches is about sharing it with family – credit: @mantra_fishing

Lake Nipissing is over 60km long and 25km wide with an average depth of 15 feet. The lake is made up of a sandy basin filled with rock shoals and boulders which transition to mud flats in deeper depths. This is a recipe for a very healthy fishery for both numbers and size. Winter makes access and opportunities to target fish abundant with the City of North Bay being your host destination. North Bay has many opportunities to access the lake and has many local providers waiting to greet you.

Lake Nipissing Outfitters and Accommodation

Outfitters, Resorts, Hotels and Motels happily await your arrival and provide every option through fully outfitted services including on and off ice accommodations. Lake Nipissing Outfitters and many other ice huts/bungalows, machine/vehicle access and walk out opportunities are available for you to get your next bite. When you pull into town and get a glimpse of Lake Nipissing you will be amazed at how many huts are placed across the entire lake.

Aerial shot of many ice huts on Lake Nipissing – credit: Tourism North Bay

Ice fishing staples do the trick such as set lines, jig and a minnow, spoons, glide and rattle style baits. Local retailers include Lefebvre’s Source for Adventure and North Bay Outfitters with Billy Bob’s and Trapper Joe’s taking care of all your bait and tackle needs.

My Go To Set Up on Lake Nipissing

My go to set ups include the Abu Garcia Veritas Ice Combo’s including the 27” ML and 28” M which are great all-around ice rods. The Fenwick Elite Tech Ice 42” M is another great rod for larger species like Northern Pike and what is becoming my favourite species – Burbot. Bait recommendations include the Johnny Darter in perch or silver/blue finish, Johnson Splinter spoons and the Berkley Vibrato in Holo Greenie. Another staple is the Northern Tackle Supply Co. Chicletz which are made in North Bay along with many other great products.

Reeling in a large Walleye- credit Mat Koprash

North Bay is truly an ice fishing town where friends and family take to the ice making memories every weekend. Everywhere you go you either see signs of people commuting to or from the lake, telling stories of caught fish or the trophy that got away. So come join us! Grab a spool of line, split shots and a pack of hooks and make plans to experience everything Lake Nipissing and North Bay have to offer this Winter!

Family and friends ice fishing on Lake Nipissing – credit: Tourism North Bay

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Chelsea’s love affair with fishing began in late 2015 when she crossed paths with her boyfriend Nik, an avid angler. Despite growing up in North Bay surrounded by the beauty of the outdoors, fishing hadn’t been a significant part of her life until then. A camping trip that included brook trout fishing changed everything. Catching multiple brook trout in the four to five-pound class ignited a spark within her, setting the stage for a journey that would lead her to become a prominent figure in the fishing community.

Chelsea’s love affair with fishing didn’t begin until she met her boyfriend Nik who is also an avid angler!

It wasn’t until June of 2016 that Chelsea ventured into musky fishing, which became a pivotal point in her angling journey. Within her first week of musky fishing, Chelsea hooked up, but it was a long road thereafter, not landing another musky until 2017 when she landed a 48 incher. Although musky fishing posed a challenge—requiring patience, persistence, and resilience—Chelsea was captivated by the thrill. She embraced the challenge and quickly found herself hooked on the exhilarating pursuit of muskies.

As her passion evolved, Chelsea expanded her horizons to embrace a variety of fish species. From early-season smallmouth bass and walleye to pike and lake trout, her experiences grew broader. Chelsea’s fishing territory extended from Lake Nipissing to other exciting locales, adding to her portfolio of angling accomplishments.

The fishing world has long been perceived as a male-dominated industry, but Chelsea is changing that narrative. She has become an influential presence within the industry through social media, becoming a beacon for other female anglers seeking representation and recognition. In her early days, Chelsea noticed the scarcity of female anglers on social media. However, over time, she witnessed a significant surge in the number of women who shared her passion.

Chelsea’s journey in fishing led her to a landmark moment when she, alongside fellow female anglers, became the first female panel for Musky Canada’s Muskie Odyssey event with Jessie Baker, Ashley Rae, Lauren Kozak, and Meg McGregor. This platform allowed her to discuss her experiences as a female angler and shed light on the challenges and triumphs she encountered while Musky fishing. Chelsea has played an instrumental role in building a robust community of female anglers who support and uplift one another.

Sitting down with Chelsea we got to discuss her seasonal fishing trips in North Bay on Lake Nipissing:

Top 5 North Bay Seasonal Fishing Trips:

1. Burbot: January kicks off Chelsea’s fishing year with burbot fishing, including multiple ice fishing trips on Lake Nipissing. What started as a reluctant pursuit has transformed into an adrenaline-packed venture. The burbot’s impressive fight and the opportunity to catch the Ontario record make it an enticing winter ice fishing adventure. The area has limited opportunity in the early season to target larger sized fish like lake trout through the ice, and burbot fill that gap.

The burbot puts up an impressive fight and makes for an enticing winter adventure!

1. Brook Trout: As winter transitions into February, Chelsea sets her sights on brook trout. Remote back lake exploration and the search to find native wild brook trout keeps her driven and motivated to find her next bite and potential trophy. The exhilaration of catching these wild beauties, coupled with the picturesque winter scenery, creates an unforgettable experience.

Remote back lake exploration allows Chelsea to find native wild brook trout!

1. Northern Pike: Transitioning to spring, Chelsea enjoys pike fishing. The unpredictability of pike fishing, combined with the potential for catching trophy-sized fish, keeps her engaged. Chelsea notes that seasonal temperature fluctuations can present ideal opportunities to catch trophy-sized Northern Pike in the area with her largest to date being a 46.5” monster.

The unpredictability of pike fishing, combined with the potential for catching trophy-sized fish, keeps Chelsea engaged!

1. Bass and Walleye: Once May Long weekend arrives, Chelsea changes her focus to bass and walleye. She enjoys the break from her pursuit of trophy-class fish and goes for numbers which has often has quality fish mixed in. This is the “break” in her season mentally as she can unwind a bit more and just enjoy catching. Chelsea notes that catch and release is a top priority for her, harvesting very few fish throughout the season.

Enjoying a break from trophy-class fish Chelsea goes for numbers with quality fish mixed in but keeps catch and release top of mind!

1. Musky: From July to November, Chelsea’s focus turns to musky fishing. This apex predator is a true challenge, demanding patience, skill, and dedication. Musky season is characterized by intense adrenaline and anticipation, with every outing holding the promise of a new personal best, which she hit this summer with a 51” giant. Her season includes multiple week-long island camping trips and targeting them every chance she gets because you never know when the right fish will bite.

Catching a musky is a true challenge, demanding patience, skill and dedication!

Chelsea’s journey from a fishing novice to a respected angler has been one of discovery, challenges, and growth. Her experiences on the water have taught her invaluable life lessons. Patience, perseverance, and humility have become her guiding principles both in fishing and in life. Chelsea’s journey has shown that determination and a positive mindset can lead to rewards beyond one’s imagination.

As Chelsea continues to push her boundaries, she encourages others to do the same. Her story serves as an inspiration to anglers of all backgrounds, and particularly to female anglers who seek to break down barriers and excel in a field that has long been dominated by men. Chelsea’s love for fishing is not just about the catch; it’s about the connection with nature, the camaraderie of the fishing community, and the personal growth that comes from embracing challenges head-on.

So, whether you’re a seasoned angler or just dipping your toes into the fishing world, Chelsea Lynn’s journey stands as a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and the thrill of the chase here in North Bay.

The post Top 5 North Bay Seasonal Fishing Trips appeared first on Tourism North Bay.

Lake Nipissing Map – credit: North Eastern Ontario

Spring, Summer and Fall Fishing

The lake opens on the third Saturday in May, with the shallow water bite kicking off immediately. This ensures fun for the whole family no matter the age as you can troll, cast a bobber, drag a jig or work a presentation to entice a bite. This also allows for boats big or small to access fishable water, along with many shoreline locations. May through July is usually the best time to target shallower Walleye, Pike, and Bass, which have an early open season compared to our neighbors in the south.

Spend a summer day on Lake Nipissing fishing with the family

The regulation changes and lake monitoring program have shown great success, with anglers reporting significant numbers of catches, including more keeper-sized Walleye than in the past ten years. We have an extremely healthy population of fish in the 16-21” range, which offer an amazing fight, and catches in the 24” plus range are showing up more and more frequently. The chance for a 28” plus trophy Walleye is better than ever!

Best Fishing Spots for Walleye, Northern Pike and Bass

Callander Bay and the northeast shoreline are great places to start your search, focusing on sand flats and rock to sand transitions for some of the best Walleye fishing in Ontario. Trophy Northern Pike can be found in the shallow weed beds and usually the first break off if they aren’t actively feeding. Largemouth Bass will be found throughout these areas as well and offer a great fight, with Smallmouth Bass always showing off their acrobatics. Many presentations can be offered to get bites, but the Lake Nipissing staples are a jig and live bait like minnow/worm/leech, worm harness, flicker minnow/shad, jerk/twitch baits, and spinner baits.

Head over to Lefebvres Source for Adventure, North Bay Outfitters, Northern Tackle Supply Co, Bay Tackle Supply, Billy Bobs, or Trapper Joes for all your local bait and tackle needs!

Tackle options at Billy Bobs Bait & Tackle Shop

Beaches, Islands and Rivers

Lake Nipissing is a large inland shallow lake with many islands, channels, and areas to explore while out fishing. Sometimes the boating can be as nice as the fishing. Taking a ride out to the Manitou Islands and stopping at the beach for a swim, traveling across the lake to the French river and exploring its vast beauty along with keeping your eyes out for a wide variety of predatory birds from bald eagles, osprey, and hawks will just complement the amazing fishing.

Take a day trip out to Manitou Islands – credit: Paul Meyers

Family-Friendly Fishing Adventure

Fun for the whole family awaits your arrival at the boat ramps, including the North Bay Marina and La Vase River, which have excellent park facilities for the kids, a dog park along with The Boat restaurant. What beats coming off the water with great fish stories than sitting down lakeside for a bite to eat and a cold drink, or letting the family get their pent-up energy out while getting the boat ready to head back to your accommodation.

Take in a sunset at The Boat after a day out fishing on Lake Nipissing

The city of North Bay and its surrounding communities are extremely friendly and have a natural beauty that needs to be experienced! If there is a wind or weather day, North Bay has many different activities to keep you busy and still enjoy your stay. Keep Lake Nipissing in mind for your upcoming trip – you will not be disappointed!

Want to know more about Lake Nipissing then check out this blog: 8 Things You Didn’t Know About Lake Nipissing.

North Bay Waterfront & Marina

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