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Lower Shore: Duluth to Two Harbors
The weather over the week was on and off for anglers with some beautiful days and others being too windy for smaller boats. Anglers reported surface water temps in the low to mid 60’s. Lake Trout fishing was good again this week running lines 120-160 foot down, in 200+ feet of water. Shiny spoons and meat rigs produced the most fish. Lake Trout averaged around 20 inches and were caught throughout the Lower Shore, but from Knife River to a few miles north of Agate Bay seemed to have the best bite. Fishing in the evenings was better than in the mornings again this week. Anglers at Rice’s Point caught some decent catfish off the landing area and people were starting to fish for Muskies in the St. Louis River Estuary.
Upper Shore: Twin Points to Hovland
Surface water temps were in the mid 60’s at the start of the week and fell to around 55 °F by the end of the week. Anglers from Taconite Harbor and Grand Marais caught fair numbers of Lake Trout with most suspended 60-120 feet down in the water column. Some Silver Bay anglers caught fair numbers of Lake Trout jigging, but most anglers were trolling over deep water targeting suspended Lakers. Bright colored spoons and flasher fly combinations produced the majority of the fish. Although anglers reported decent fishing for Lake Trout, overall catches seemed to be dropping off. No Coho or Chinook Salmon were reported from any station. Only a few Pink Salmon were reported by anglers, and none were spotted in any rivers yet. The rivers are currently low and warm, and some cooler weather and rain will be needed before Pink Salmon begin their fall run. Shore anglers in Grand Marais caught some nice Brook Trout this week.
Management Update
Anglers have seen an increase in the number of Sea Lamprey and Sea Lamprey wounds on fish caught in Lake Superior this year. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Fisheries and Oceans Canada are the two Federal agencies tasked with Sea Lamprey assessment and control under the auspices of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. In 2020, thirty tributaries around Lake Superior were scheduled to be treated to kill larval Sea Lamprey before they become parasitic and feed on fish. However, only 10 of those tributaries were treated due to travel restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, this increase in adult Sea Lamprey abundance, increased wounding on Lake Trout, and an increase in the number of fish killed (each Sea Lamprey consumes 40 pounds of fish in its lifetime) was anticipated but should be short-lived. Treatments on Lake Superior tributaries have since resumed and anglers should notice fewer Sea Lamprey and Sea Lamprey wounds on fish over the next few years.
For more information on Sea Lamprey control in the Great Lakes check out the Great Lakes Fishery Commission website and the most recent report Sea Lamprey Control in the Great Lakes 2023 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
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Helpful Links
 Questions?
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Email us at Lake Superior fishing report
Give us a call at 218-302-3277
Fishing report hotline at 218-302-3293
Report suspicious activity at 800-652-9093
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