North Shore Streams and Smelt Update

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May 11, 2023

North Shore Streams and Smelt Update

Weekly Stream Conditions
Trap Update
Smelt Update

Weekly Stream Conditions

Station	Avg. Water Temp. (range; °F)	Stream Conditions
Lester River	50 (44 - 59)	F, A, ST
Talmadge River	48 (44 - 52)	F, A, ST
French River	48 (44 - 52)	F, A, ST
Sucker River	48 (45 - 51)	F, A, ST
Knife River	48 (44 - 53)	F, A, ST
Stewart River	46 (43 - 49)	F, A, ST
Silver Creek	47 (42 - 55)	F, A, ST
Gooseberry River	45 (42 - 48)	S, A-H, ST
Split Rock River	46 (42 - 52)	S, A, ST
Beaver River	46 (41 - 54)	S, A-H, ST
Baptism River	42 (38 - 47)	S, A-H, ST
Cross River	39 (37 - 41)	R, H, ST
Temperance River	39 (37 - 41)	R, H, ST
Poplar River	41 (40 - 42)	R, H, T
Cascade River	39 (37 - 41)	R, H, T
Devil Track River	38 (36 - 42)	R, A, ST
Kadunce River	41 (37 - 46)	R, A, ST
Brule River	37 (36 - 38)	R, H, ST

Stream Conditions Key:

River Stage: F=Falling, S=Stable, R=Rising

Water Level: L=Low, A=Average, H=High

Water Clarity: C=Clear, ST=Slightly Turbid, T=Turbid

More information on North Shore streams and stream conditions available at Minnesota Steelheader – Discover. Learn. Fish.

Large female steelhead rainbow trout captured at the Knife River Trap in spring 2023

Fish Trap Updates

Traps opened April 24, 2023	Knife River Trap			French River Trap
Week/Species	STT	CST	KAM	STT	CST	KAM
April 24-27	95	3	1	2	1	3
April 28-May 4	59	3	0	12	3	2
May 5-11	43	0	0	11	4	3
Total	197	6	1	25	8	8

*Totals exclude within year recaptures (same fish caught multiple times this spring)

Species Key:

STT = Unclipped (wild-produced) Steelhead Rainbow Trout (Superior Strain)

CST = Clipped (stocked) Steelhead Rainbow Trout (Superior Strain)

KAM = Clipped (stocked) Kamloops Rainbow Trout (Kamloops Strain)

Smelt

Smelt continue to be caught at Park Point and Lester River. Expect smelt catches to diminish over the next week in the lower shore as stream temperatures spiked over the past week with many now approaching 60ºF. Smelt have been caught at streams in the middle shore, but no smelt reports yet in the upper shore. We expect smelt will be spawning in the upper shore this weekend as streams have reached temperatures that smelt prefer for spawning (42-44ºF). More information about smelt is provided on our smelt fact sheet. Please be aware of the high levels of PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) discovered in rainbow smelt in Lake Superior and understand the potential risks associated with the new rainbow smelt consumption advisory.