Weekly Stream Conditions
Creel Station
|
Water Temp. (range; °F)
|
River Conditions
|
Lester River |
45 (43-48) |
Slightly turbid, moderate flow |
Talmadge River |
- |
- |
French River |
- |
- |
Sucker River |
46 (42-50) |
Slightly turbid, moderate flow |
Knife River |
45 (42-50) |
Slightly turbid, moderate flow |
Stewart River |
44 (42-48) |
Slightly turbid, moderate flow |
Silver Creek |
42 (40-45) |
Clear, moderate to high flow |
Gooseberry River |
44 (41-49) |
Slightly turbid, moderate flow |
Split Rock River |
44 (41-47) |
Slightly turbid, moderate-high flow |
Beaver River |
42 (40-45) |
Slightly turbid, moderate-high flow |
Baptism River |
41 (40-42) |
Clear, moderate-high flow |
Cross River |
39 (36-41) |
Slightly turbid, moderate flow |
Temperance River |
- |
- |
Poplar River |
- |
- |
Cascade River |
36 (35-38) |
Slightly turbid, moderate flow |
Devil Track River |
37 (33-39) |
Slightly turbid, moderate flow |
Kadunce River |
38 (34-40) |
Slightly turbid, moderate flow |
Brule River |
36 (32-39) |
Turbid, high flow |
*Please note that stream conditions can change quickly and may differ from what is reported here.
More information on North Shore streams and stream conditions available at Minnesota Steelheader – Discover. Learn. Fish.
Creel Clerk Reports
Lower Shore (Lester to Stewart rivers)
Late last week (Friday–Saturday), water was low and clear, and angling pressure picked up on lower shore tributaries. River temperatures have remined in the mid-40s this week. Light rain Sunday brought in a few fresh fish, but heavy rain Monday and Tuesday raised water levels, muddied rivers, dropped water temperatures, and slowed both the bite and fishing pressure. Angling and smelt activity at Lester River and Park Point are expected to pick up again this weekend.
Middle Shore (Silver Creek to Baptism River)
Fishing pressure and catch rates increased again on middle shore streams during this period. Brook trout have been reported in most streams, but no suckers so far. Anglers are catching steelhead using familiar methods like drifting beads, spawn, yarn eggs, flies, nightcrawlers, and plastic worms. Some are also casting single-hook hardware like spinners and spoons. Water temperatures have held steady in the 40s, reaching 42–44°F on April 30. Rain from last Monday and Tuesday raised water levels but didn’t make conditions unfishable. A few nice sized (26+ inch), clipped Superior strain steelhead have been caught and harvested in middle shore rivers this week.
Upper Shore (Cross to Brule rivers)
Early in this reporting period, upper shore tributaries were mostly fed by inland snowmelt, with deep snow and thick ice still present on many lakes. Water temperatures stayed cold—rarely rising above 40°F during the day and dropping into the low 30s at night. Some ice along the riverbanks lingered until heavy rain on Monday (April 28), which brought nearly two inches in Grand Marais and even more inland. This was the first significant rainfall of the season and caused the first major runoff event, with turbid water and debris flushing through the rivers.
Fishing was generally slow in the cold flows this week. Anglers reported tough conditions in rivers south of Grand Marais, but somewhat better in rivers north of Grand Marais. Angler pressure remained light throughout the upper shore. A few steelhead were reported, but no reports of Brook Trout or suckers yet.
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