Weekly Stream Conditions
Lower Shore (Lester to Knife rivers)
Steelhead catch and fishing pressure in the lower shore was low this week largely due to rising river levels and turbid conditions after recent rains. Tuesday's cold rain event pushed daytime water temperatures into the low 40s and water levels rose along with turbidity. Anglers still reported hooking fish, but not many brought to hand. Low catch by anglers mirrored low catches at the Knife River trap this week. Cold overnights through the coming weekend might push water temperatures even lower, possibly slowing the steelhead spawning run. Fisheries staff have stocked approximately 120,000 yearling clipped-for-harvest Lake Superior strain steelhead in the Lester and French Rivers over the past two weeks. These fish were sub-legal sized yearlings (avg. size was 4 inches) stocked above barriers.
Middle Shore (Stewart to Baptism rivers)
Steelhead catch and fishing conditions in the middle shore were (what the kids call) "stellar" over the last week. Steelhead were reported caught in nearly all rivers in the middle shore. Weather up until April 16 was warm and sunny, with average temperatures in the 50s. Rains on April 16 drastically increased flow and left rivers more turbid and colder, and reduced fishing pressure and catch in recent days. Trails are very muddy and slippery! -Joel T., MN DNR Middle Shore Creel Clerk
Upper Shore (Cross to Brule rivers)
Steelhead are now being caught in many upper shore rivers. Angler pressure has been light to moderate over the past week. River conditions remain a bit cold, but river levels and fishing conditions are great! Early in this reporting period, upper shore rivers were cold, clear, and dropping; anglers reported that very few steelhead were being caught in rivers at that time. More recently, rains greatly raised river levels and turbidity and the last of the shelf ice is now gone; while rivers were greatly raised, they remain at moderate levels. Anglers have not reported any Brook trout or suckers yet in rivers and I have heard no reports of smelting activity at upper shore rivers. -Phil K., MN DNR Upper Shore Creel Clerk
Station
|
Avg. Temp.
(range; °F)
|
Conditions
|
| Lester River |
43 (41-47) |
R, H, T |
| Talmadge River |
42 (40-44) |
R, H, T |
| French River |
42 (40-45) |
R, H, T |
| Sucker River |
43 (41-45) |
R, H, T |
| Knife River |
44 (40-46) |
R, H, T |
| Stewart River |
39 (37-43) |
R, H, ST |
| Silver Creek |
37 (37-40) |
R, H, T |
| Gooseberry River |
40 (38-42) |
R, H, T |
| Split Rock River |
42 (40-44) |
R, H, T |
| Beaver River |
39 (38-39) |
R, H, T |
| Baptism River |
34 (31-37) |
R, H, ST |
| Cross River |
39 (34-44) |
R, M, ST |
| Temperance River |
39 (35-42) |
R, M, ST |
| Poplar River |
*NO ANGLER ACCESS VIA COOK COUNTY SHERIFF (FIRE INVESTIGATION) |
R, M, T |
| Cascade River |
38 (35-42) |
R, M, T |
| Devil Track River |
39 (36-43) |
R, M, T |
| Kadunce River |
39 (36-43)
|
R, M, T |
| Brule River |
40 (37-43) |
R, M, T |
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.
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