Weekly Stream Conditions
Lower Shore (Lester to Knife rivers)
Steelhead catch and fishing pressure in the lower shore was low this week. Anglers observed fish actively spawning in most rivers as river levels continued to drop and water clarity improved throughout the week. Water temperatures have remained in the low to mid-40s. Anglers reported hooking fish, but not many brought to hand. Low catch by anglers mirrored low catches at the Minnesota DNRs Knife River trap this week; if steelhead were abundant this year, catches should have been higher given the ideal water temperatures and river conditions we had this week. Steelhead abundance appears to be below average this spring which corresponds to poor stream production and survival of year-classes produced 4-5-6 years ago. Expected precipitation in the forecast this weekend should help flows and might bring in some new fish from Lake Superior. Smelt are SUPER ABUNDANT in many lower shore rivers right now and many smelters are on the rivers dip netting in daytime and nighttime hours.
-Lake Superior Area Fisheries Creel Crew
Middle Shore (Stewart to Baptism rivers)
We have seen water temperatures in the low-40s range, good water clarity, and modest numbers of steelhead caught in almost all of the middle shore rivers this week. Brook trout have been reported caught in just about every river as well. No other species have been reported caught. Water levels have been stable in some rivers and are slowly declining in others. Expected precipitation in the forecast this weekend should help flows and might bring in some new fish from Lake Superior. We have observed steelhead looking beat up, sluggish, and "spawned out" in many middle shore rivers. That being said, fresh chrome fish were also reported caught recently. Smelt activity has been observed in many middle shore rivers.
-Joel T., MN DNR Middle Shore Creel Clerk
Upper Shore (Cross to Brule rivers)
Recent light precipitation has kept upper shore rivers in moderate flows and slightly turbid over the past week. Water temperatures have remained in the low-40s. Anglers have reported seeing or catching modest numbers of steelhead in most rivers. Anglers reported some female steelhead brought to hand were dropping eggs, so spawning activity has begun in the upper shore. Anglers have reported a few large, heavy bodied steelhead coming to hand this week (some exceeding 29 inches); few Brook Trout and no suckers were reported caught. No reports of smelting activity in the upper shore yet, but we expect that will change soon.
-Phil K., MN DNR Upper Shore Creel Clerk
Station
|
Avg. Temp.
(range; °F)
|
Conditions
|
| Lester River |
43 (39-45) |
F, A, ST |
| Talmadge River |
42 (38-46) |
F, A, ST |
| French River |
41 (38-48) |
F, A, ST |
| Sucker River |
42 (38-48) |
F, A, ST |
| Knife River |
42 (39-48) |
F, A, ST |
| Stewart River |
41 (36-43) |
F, A-L, C |
| Silver Creek |
41 (40-41) |
F, A-L, ST |
| Gooseberry River |
40 (35-43) |
F, A, C |
| Split Rock River |
41 (35-45) |
F, A-L, C |
| Beaver River |
39 (38-40) |
F, A, C |
| Baptism River |
42 (40-45) |
F, A, C |
| Cross River |
41 (37-43) |
S, A, ST |
| Temperance River |
40 (37-42) |
S, A, C |
| Poplar River |
No angler access via Cook County Sheriff (Fire Investigation) |
S, A, ST |
| Cascade River |
40 (36-42) |
S, A, ST |
| Devil Track River |
41 (37-43) |
S, A, ST |
| Kadunce River |
40 (37-43)
|
S, A, ST |
| Brule River |
41 (39-43) |
S, A, 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.
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