The Cooperative Rainbow Trout Angler Program involves the collection of biological information from adult rainbow trout caught by recreational anglers (many whom are NSSA members) during the spring spawning period (April - June) in tributaries of Lake Superior's north shore. Synthesis of the data provides life-history information that can be used to assess the status or health of a rainbow trout fishery. The need for collection of life-history information was vocalized by NSSA in the late 1980s, leading to the development of this program as a partnership between the Lake Superior Management Unit (LSMU) and NSSA.

    During the initial stages of this program, biologists with LSMU and the Science and Information section of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) organized workshops to provide training for those anglers interested in collecting biological samples while involved in recreational fishing. Training was necessary to ensure that the appropriate techniques were employed to provide valid and consistent information, and to reduce mortality as a result of increased handling.

    In the spring of 1991, sampling for the Cooperative Rainbow Trout Angler Program began and by the end of the spring spawning period in 1993 over 3000 samples had been collected from 63 tributaries. The initial three years of the program involved a concerted effort to acquire substantial baseline information on the status of rainbow trout in as many tributaries as possible along the north shore of Lake Superior. The knowledge gained from information collected through this program guided the Ontario government to make fishing regulation changes in 1996 and in 1999, in efforts to enhance the condition of rainbow trout fisheries in Lake Superior’s north shore tributaries.

    Not surprisingly, harvest restrictions that were put in place as a result of information gained through this program have led to recovering stocks and increased angler satisfaction. In 1996, a two-fish catch and possession limit was put in place with a size restriction permitting only 1 fish less than and 1 fish greater than 51 cm. In 1999, a one-fish catch and possession limit without a size restriction was put in place for most of the tributaries (excluding the Neebing and McIntyre Rivers) west of and including the Pic River, and a two-fish catch and possession limit without a size restriction was put in place for tributaries east of the Pic River. The vast majority of anglers that fish the western tributaries of Lake Superior's north shore now agree that a catch and possession limit of 1 from the previous catch and possession limit of 5 (prior to 1996) was a small price to pay for the notable increases in angling opportunities.

    In recent years, adequate numbers of rainbow trout scale samples have been collected from a few of the more popular rivers, at least for those involved in the program. The rainbow trout data collected through this program enables management biologists to examine various fishery or population dynamics such as, the age and size structure, the repeat-spawning rate (ie the number of rainbow trout that have spawned more than once in their lifetime), the ratio of first-time spawners (ie "maiden" spawners) to repeat spawners, the number of years spent in the stream, the number of lake years to reach maturity, the age at maturity, and the number of times a rainbow trout has spawned. Some very recent data from six tributaries along Lake Superior's north shore, for each of the population dynamics described above, are available for viewing on this site. They include the McIntyre River located in Thunder Bay, Coldwater Creek and the Wolf River near Dorion, South Trout Creek just west of the Nipigon River, and the Cypress and Jackpine Rivers located approximately a half-hours drive east of Nipigon.

    Today, the program continues. Anglers wishing to participate can contact NSSA by clicking the 'contact' tab of this site, or the Lake Superior Management Unit at (807) 475-1231.

    Rainbow trout life history data was collected and provided by the Upper Great Lakes Management Unit-Lake Superior in partnership with the NSSA and members of the Coop Angler Program.
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