Ice, Break up and Steelhead report
– April 14th 2019
Ice conditions inland are still good in most cases with one to two feet of ice, little snow and great fishing. Lake Superior ice is retreating and likely will not last much longer.
Here is your warning: Melting has begun, ice cover in most areas is still good however there are usually three layers. A thin layer of ice, a layer of slush and then another layer of thicker ice. Water and slush appear during the heat/sunshine of the day however the cold nights and cool days are slowing the melt.
Snow is hard, icy and leaving fast with the days heat. Some snow machines will overheat without a good snow.
Open Water, Steelhead and Smelt…
Run off in rivers is making for some open water opportunities in the area. As a result its getting close to steelhead and smelting season here along the Big Lake. Thunderbay rivers, Wolf River and others are becoming fishable with some steelhead being taken already from area rivers. Smelt should be coming into their spawning rivers over the next few weeks.
Nipigon Marina and the river itself is fishable at a couple locations with more opening up almost daily.
I am updating and enhancing the Steelhead river map and resources locate at nipigon.com.