Lower Shore: Duluth to Two Harbors
Surface water temps were 60-65 °F near Duluth, 50-60 °F near McQuade and Knife River, and 45-50 °F near Two Harbors. Warm water extended as deep as 60 feet in some areas, but was variable depending on location. Construction continues on Highway 61 at the McQuade intersection, and on Lighthouse Point Road in Two Harbors. Anglers reported catching decent numbers of 18-30 inch Lake Trout trolling bright spoons and stick baits in 120-250 feet of water. They also reported steady fishing for 16-21 inch Cohos and 18-24 inch Chinooks on flasher flies, peanut flies, and bright spoons. Fishing in the top 50 feet of the water column, over 50-150 feet of water, was the most productive for Salmon. Fishing pressure on the St. Louis River Estuary was very low this week and no reports were received from anglers.
Upper Shore: Twin Points to Hovland
Surface water temps were 39-48 °F this week with the warmer water being further south. Lake Trout were still widely scattered throughout the water column and difficult to pattern at times. Anglers reported the most success targeting them 100-170 feet down, near structure, and close to the bottom, although some larger fish were also reportedly caught nearer to the surface. The majority of the Lake Trout reported were 1-4 pounds. Anglers reported catching good numbers of 17-19 inch Coho Salmon in the top 50 feet of the water column using spoons and flasher fly combos on dipsy divers, downriggers, or lead core. A few 20-25 inch Steelhead were reported this week, but seem to be rare so far this season. Shore fishing for Lake Trout has not been productive as surface water temps remained below 50 °F which is usually the threshold for fish coming close enough to be caught from shore. A few nice Brook Trout were reported in Grand Marais Harbor, with one fish exceeding 24 inches.
Management Update: The North Shore is Unique
The previous Management Update discussed the water temperature difference between Lake Superior and the other Great Lakes, but water temperature also differs considerably across Lake Superior itself. On the Great Lakes Observating System’s (GLOS) Seagull water temperature map above, surface water temperatures for July 15th show 42 degrees near Silver Bay, Minnesota, and only 25 miles away in the Apostle Islands surface water temperature approached 70 degrees!
Anglers fishing for salmon on Minnesota’s North Shore know this all too well. Salmon fishing, especially for Coho, can be really good close to Duluth in early April where it is shallower, warmer and more productive; however, salmon fishing anywhere else along the coast can be tough until warmer water progresses northeasterly throughout the summer. The unusually cold water (compared to the rest of the lake) on Minnesota’s North Shore can be attributed to the over 900-foot-deep mid-shore trench that extends from just north of Two Harbors past Schroeder. Prevailing west winds, especially strong winds, will cause an upwelling effect along this deep trench pushing warm surface water east and bringing cold water from the depths to the surface. On the water, DNR Fisheries staff have seen 30-degree temperature swings in less than 24 hours!
Easterly winds can have a similar effect with warm water, pushing warm surface water westward and “stacking” warm water along the North Shore. In October 2025, water temperatures of over 50 degrees persisted into late October, when lake trout are typically spawning, and extended from the surface to over 100 feet deep. As summer progresses and the warm days continue, anglers are reminded that as surface temperatures approach 50 degrees it is believed that post-release mortality on lake trout increases to approximately 43% based on the most recent science.
These warm days are sure welcome after a long winter and we know colder temperatures are not too far away, so if you need a swim in Lake Superior to cool off from this heat, you may want to check which way the wind is blowing first!
Helpful Links
 Questions?
Email us at Lake Superior fishing report
Give us a call at 218-302-3277
Report suspicious activity at 800-652-9093
Visit us online at mndnr.gov
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