Weekly Stream Conditions
Creel Clerk Reports
Lower Shore (Lester to Stewart rivers)
Fishing pressure was moderate this weekend and light throughout the week. Water levels have gradually declined and clarity has improved steadily. Water levels in some rivers are approaching low flow conditions. Water temperatures have remained low with cold air temperatures this week, ranged from near 40°F in the mornings to above 50°F in the afternoons. Steelhead are still being observed jumping falls during the warmer afternoon periods.
Smelters were out in full force over the weekend and into this week at Lester River and Park Point. Catches in the rivers have been (somewhat) low but reports of decent catches at Park Point in recent days. I would expect the peak of the smelt run will happen soon.
Middle Shore (Silver Creek to Baptism River)
Angling pressure was high this past weekend, with moderate success reported throughout middle shore tributaries. Most steelhead caught ranged from 18–26 inches. Water levels have declined significantly since the recent rain events and continue to drop daily. Steelhead were observed constructing redds in pool tailouts, indicating active spawning activity. Suckers have also been reported in the Beaver River, Split Rock River, and Silver Creek, suggesting that many steelhead are now actively spawning and some may be post-spawn.
Morning water temperatures ranged from 37 to 42°F, while evening temperatures reached as high as 53°F last Sunday. Without additional rainfall, fishing conditions may become more challenging this coming weekend due to low, clear water conditions. Some post-spawn steelhead have already started moving back downstream in smaller creeks, although most fish remain present in the larger rivers. Despite increasingly clear water conditions, the recent drop in air temperatures will likely prolong the run somewhat, while declining flows could encourage fish movement back into Lake Superior. There has been no reports of smelt activity in the middle shore, but expect folks will be testing the waters this weekend.
Upper Shore (Cross to Brule rivers)
Upper shore rivers have experienced steadily declining flows since last week’s rainfall event, which dropped approximately 3.5 inches of rain and caused major increases in tributary flows. Several larger rivers rose well above their banks and flooded lower river trails. Since then, dry weather has persisted, and while all tributaries have continued to fall, larger rivers still have moderately high and fast flows while smaller tributaries are now approaching low-water conditions.
Moderate angler activity was observed on smaller tributaries, while only light angler activity has been reported on larger rivers. Anglers are also able to safely cross some of the larger rivers again, allowing access to sections that were previously unreachable during the recent high-water period.
Warm weather last Sunday pushed air temperatures into the mid- to upper-60s and increased river temperatures into the mid- to upper-40°F range. Since then, cooler nights have brought tributary temperatures back down into the low-40s. Anglers have reported modest numbers of steelhead, with most fish ranging from 18–20 inches and a few reported up to 25 inches. Very few steelhead have been observed holding in typical spawning areas, on shallow gravel, or leaping at barriers, although persistent turbidity has continued to limit visibility in many rivers. Some of the smallest tributaries have now dropped low enough that steelhead are becoming beach-blocked and trapped in isolated sections of stream. There have been no reports of smelt activity and only a few reports of brook trout being caught recently.
Creel Station
|
Water Temp.
(range; °F)
|
River Conditions
|
| Lester River |
50 (47-58) |
Normal flow, clear |
| Sucker River |
47 (42-52) |
Normal flow, clear |
| Knife River |
48 (41-56) |
Normal flow, clear |
| Stewart River |
46 (38-54) |
Normal-low flow, clear |
| Silver Creek |
44 (37-52) |
Normal flow, clear |
| Gooseberry River |
44 (37-53) |
Normal flow, clear |
| Split Rock River |
43 (37-51) |
Normal flow, clear |
| Beaver River |
44 (41-50) |
Normal flow, clear |
| Baptism River |
43 (39-50) |
Normal flow, clear |
| Cross River |
42 (38-48) |
Normal flow, clear |
| Cascade River |
42 (38-48) |
Normal flow, slightly turbid |
| Devil Track River |
41 (37-45) |
Normal flow, slightly turbid |
| Kadunce River |
42 (39-45) |
Normal flow, clear |
| Brule River |
42 (39-47) |
Normal flow, slightly turbid |
*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.
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