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Lower Shore: Duluth to Two Harbors
Surface water temps were 55 °F near Duluth. Anglers caught good numbers of 16-21 inch Lake Trout and 15-19 inch Coho Salmon this week. Most anglers were trolling orange, pink, and purple spoons or flasher fly rigs anywhere from 10-40 feet down. A few Chinooks were reported but they were very scarce and small in size compared to recent years. Further up the shore by Two Harbors surface water temps were 39-40 °F and fishing was substantially slower. Some anglers reported the St. Louis River Walleye moved down stream towards Duluth over the week. Anglers found success trolling green and purple colored stickbaits or jigging. With some rain and wind in the forecast the St. Louis River Estuary may be a good alternative to heading out on Lake Superior this weekend.
Upper Shore: Twin Points to Hovland
Surface water temps were 36-38 °F this week at all stations. Grand Marias anglers reported some success fishing in 150-200 feet of water near bottom structure. Most fish were 18-24 inches with the occasional bigger one. Trolling brightly colored or glow spoons and flasher fly rigs was the most common technique, but some anglers found success using heavy jigs and electronics to target responsive fish. No Salmon or Steelhead were reported this week which is not uncommon for this time of the year. Shore anglers had decent luck for Brook Trout this week. Angler pressure was light at all stations.
Management Update: A Good Smelt Run This Spring!
The excitement around the 2022 Cisco (also known as Lake Herring or Tullibee) boom drowned out another important piece of information and that is Rainbow Smelt abundance in 2023 was the highest it has been since 1986. Rainbow Smelt dip netting in Lake Superior tributaries and seine-netting on Park Point in Duluth was very productive for many people this spring but the peak run occurred a bit later and was of shorter duration than usual based on angler reports. The higher abundance and larger size of smelt reported this spring is likely due to Cisco buffering predation of Rainbow Smelt by the rehabilitated Lake Trout population.
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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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