New regulations for 2022 - Nipissing

Here are the new regulations pertaining to Nipissing for January 2022:

Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass - open from
January 1 to March 15 and third Saturday in
May to November 30
• Muskellunge - open from third Saturday in June
to November 30
• Muskellunge - S-1 and C-0; must be greater
than 137 cm
• Northern Pike - S-4 and C-2; not more than 1
greater than 61 cm, none greater than 86 cm
• Walleye and Yellow Perch - open from January
1 to March 15 and third Saturday in May to
October 15
• Walleye - S-2 and C-1; must be between
40-45 cm
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Forgot to add the link to the document:

https://files.ontario.ca/ndmnrf-2022-fishin...-2021-12-13.pdf

Thanks for the update

I'm really confused about the bass season, why is it closed from mid march to mid may, and then open for the rest of the year? Bass are usually on their beds around may opener, so close it for preseason and let anglers target their beds? Only thing I can think of is they want less competition for walleye in hopes of some sort of population resurgence.

Any thoughts?

I heard from a conservation officer that bass are now considered invasive to Lake Nipissing which is why they are not protecting the spawn any longer.

Neil

That is nice The new slot size will put a few more Walleye on the table this year.

I believe Neil has it right re the Bass are considered an invasive species to Nipissing.

Fun to catch but not the best table fare [in my opinion] when compared to Walleye

They may not be as good, but they are pretty darn good. It had been years since we'd eaten smallmouth, and we kept a limit this summer for a fry. It was delicious!

Interesting....

I had a cottage on Lake Kipawa in Quebec and the bass have just recently made their way down to Hunter's Lake after being none existent in lake Kipawa. It's a world class Walleye fishery. Wonder what the Quebec gov't will do about that situation??

Sorry, Bass are NOT considered invasive on Lake Nipissing. Bass (particularly Smallmouth Bass) have greatly extended their range northward over the last several decades. When they reach (or illegally introduced) into our natural Lake Trout and Brook Trout lakes they are considered invasive.

The change in the Bass season is a response to the recent published report (available on the MNDMNRF webpage for Lake Nipissing) which concluded that the Smallmouth Bass population is in great shape and increasing in abundance (and size) so there is room for more angling opportunities.

I was just relaying what conservation officer said. My wife was talking to him after reporting someone fishing for and unfortunately killing at least one bass near our place. That is when he said than 2022 was changing opening to the same as walleye etc and that they were not native to the lake and considered invasive. Was just informed that they were talking specifically about large mouth bass.

Neil

Conservation Officers are an excellent source for information on enforcement

im new at fishing so forgive me...
I am taking my son up for a few nights in a hut. the count for fish is that per day? or in total after our 3days?

This post has been edited by jdahm on Jan 23, 2022 - 11:52 pm

Here is the terminology from the Ontario fishing regulations. There is a link to these just under the sponsor section near the top of the each forum page that you should read. Note that Lake Nipissing is in zone 11 and there are specific regulations for it in the water body exceptions area of the zone 11 section. Something else to be aware of is the bait management zones. Lake Nipissing is in the north east bait management zone and you cannot bring bait into the zone from other zones.

Catch and possession limits

The catch limit is the number of fish you are allowed to catch and keep in one day and includes fish that are not immediately released and any fish eaten or given away. Catch limits apply to each individual and any fish gifted to another person count towards your catch limit even if they are gifted to a member of your fishing party.

The possession limit is the number of fish you are allowed to have in your possession on hand, in cold storage, in transit, or anywhere. Possession limits are the same as one day’s catch limit except where otherwise specified. If you catch a fish after reaching the daily catch or possession limit for that species, the fish must be released immediately. If the limit is zero, anglers may practice catch and release only, and any fish caught must be released immediately.

So in the water body exceptions it indicates that for a sport fishing licence you can posses 2 walleye between 40 and 45 cm per person. This means that once you catch 2 slot sized walleye you cannot keep anymore until you eat one or both. Per the above definitions you cannot even catch and keep a third walleye and count it as your sons limit. Note that there is also a conservation licence that has different catch and possession limits so it is important to know which license you have.

Here are the exceptions for Lake Nipissing. Note that if the waterbody exceptions don't list a possession limit the zone 11 limits apply.

Lake Nipissing - including the waters of the French River from the Chaudière and the Little Chaudière dams to Lake Nipissing; the west bay of Lake Nipissing in Haddo Township; the northwest bay of Lake Nipissing to the falls of MacPherson Creek; the Sturgeon River from Lake Nipissing to the dam at Sturgeon Falls; the Veuve River from Lake Nipissing to the chutes located in Lot 5 in Concession 1 in Caldwell Township; the Lavase River from Lake Nipissing to the Champlain Park Boat Ramp (46°14'31"N., 79°25'11"W.) in the city of North Bay, the South River from Lake Nipissing to Highway 654; and the entire West Arm of Lake Nipissing including Cross Lake

Closed to all species - from March 16 to Friday before third Saturday in May and December 1 to December 31
Largemouth and smallmouth bass - open from from January 1 to March 15 and third Saturday in May to November 30
Muskellunge - open from third Saturday in June to November 30Muskellunge - S-1 and C-0; must be greater than 137 centimetres
Northern pike - S-4 and C-2; not more than 1 greater than 61 centimetres, none greater than 86 centimetres
Walleye and yellow perch - open from January 1 to March 15 and third Saturday in May to October 15
Walleye - S-2 and C-1; must be between 40-45 centimetres

Ontario and Canadian residents that are under the age of 18 and are 65 and older do not need a fishing licence. You do need to be able to prove your age in this case though.

I don't think even largemouth bass are consider 'invasive' to Nipissing....the Canadian east coast, BC yes...but not many parts of south/central Ontario.
Even yellow pickerel weren't native to L. Nipissing at one time.

Largemouth have been in L. Nipissing, granted in smaller numbers then smallmouth, for at least as long as photographs have existed...I have pictures to prove it.
Largemouth and smallmouth don't generally compete with one another, they prefer different habitats and conditions.
But both have been in the lake for a long long time.

Climate change has moved bass spawning seasons up as much as 10 days and their growing season is longer now.
Nipissing data shows bass nesting numbers are much higher over the last 60 years.
All of this means increased survival of bass fry...and growing populations.
Nipissing population surveys show a healthy bass population, both species...with wide age structures and low adult mortality.

Nip is the 7th most fished water body in Ontario, including the great lakes.
But approximately only 5% of angling effort in the past has been dedicated to smallmouth...and as little as 1% to largemouth.

So there's lots of potential for greater bass angling opportunities on Nipissing.

Promoting, and regulating, expanded bass fishing opportunities benefits local tourist operators while hopefully easing some of the fishing pressure on the most sought after heavily fished species, walleye

This has been the thought pattern behind changes to Nipissing's bass fishing regulations.
Consequently I don't believe anyone is too concerned, at least in the near future, about changes to the bass angling season negatively impacting their spawn...and subsequently their population numbers.

Thank you!

Grumpa/Neil - great info as usual..
Great to note the pike regs...

And to highlight the 'possession' limits...

This post has been edited by Cranman2222 on Jan 25, 2022 - 08:13 pm