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Duluth Fishing Report: Smelt, Steelhead, and Thriving Trout on Lake Superior
Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Lake Superior Duluth fishing report for Sunday, May 4th, 2025.
We're looking at another beautiful spring day on the big lake. Sunrise was about an hour ago at 5:50 AM, and we'll have plenty of daylight until sunset at 8:24 PM. The weather's cooperating nicely with mild temperatures and light winds – perfect conditions to get out on the water.
The big news continues to be the smelt run! They're still going strong along the North Shore as water temperatures creep toward that magic 40-degree mark. If you're heading out smelting tonight, Park Point remains your best bet with seine nets, while dipnetting in the tributaries is producing decent results too. Remember though, these aren't the monster runs from decades past – the smelt population has declined significantly since the glory days of the 60s and 70s.
For you steelheaders, the bite has been fair according to the latest DNR report. Focus on the lower shore streams from Duluth to Two Harbors, which warm up earlier. Egg patterns and spawn sacs are your go-to offerings right now. With limited stream flows in some areas, you might need to work harder to find those pockets holding fish. Some runs might be winding down in certain tributaries, but don't overlook fishing the Lake Superior waters adjacent to tributary mouths, where steelhead may still be congregating.
Coho salmon action has picked up nicely this week. Trollers working near the surface with bright stickbaits around the Duluth harbor entrance are finding fish in the 15-17 inch range. Early morning has been the prime time.
Brown trout in the 18-22 inch class have been active too, especially for anglers working the Wisconsin side near Saxon. If you're targeting these fish, try trolling close to shore with spoons or crankbaits that dive 5-10 feet.
Lake trout fishing remains steady, with some nice eaters coming from the deeper dropoffs. Downriggers with flasher and fly combos or large spoons in silver/blue patterns are producing nicely.
Hot spots for today: The Lester River mouth has been fire for steelhead, while trollers should check out the area just off Wisconsin Point for a mixed bag of trout and salmon. And don't sleep on the McQuade Harbor area – several nice catches reported there yesterday.
Whether you're after the excitement of the smelt run, the challenge of steelhead, or just want to fill the cooler with some tasty lake trout, conditions are prime right now. Get out there and wet a line!
This is Artificial Lure signing off – tight lines, everyone!
We're looking at another beautiful spring day on the big lake. Sunrise was about an hour ago at 5:50 AM, and we'll have plenty of daylight until sunset at 8:24 PM. The weather's cooperating nicely with mild temperatures and light winds – perfect conditions to get out on the water.
The big news continues to be the smelt run! They're still going strong along the North Shore as water temperatures creep toward that magic 40-degree mark. If you're heading out smelting tonight, Park Point remains your best bet with seine nets, while dipnetting in the tributaries is producing decent results too. Remember though, these aren't the monster runs from decades past – the smelt population has declined significantly since the glory days of the 60s and 70s.
For you steelheaders, the bite has been fair according to the latest DNR report. Focus on the lower shore streams from Duluth to Two Harbors, which warm up earlier. Egg patterns and spawn sacs are your go-to offerings right now. With limited stream flows in some areas, you might need to work harder to find those pockets holding fish. Some runs might be winding down in certain tributaries, but don't overlook fishing the Lake Superior waters adjacent to tributary mouths, where steelhead may still be congregating.
Coho salmon action has picked up nicely this week. Trollers working near the surface with bright stickbaits around the Duluth harbor entrance are finding fish in the 15-17 inch range. Early morning has been the prime time.
Brown trout in the 18-22 inch class have been active too, especially for anglers working the Wisconsin side near Saxon. If you're targeting these fish, try trolling close to shore with spoons or crankbaits that dive 5-10 feet.
Lake trout fishing remains steady, with some nice eaters coming from the deeper dropoffs. Downriggers with flasher and fly combos or large spoons in silver/blue patterns are producing nicely.
Hot spots for today: The Lester River mouth has been fire for steelhead, while trollers should check out the area just off Wisconsin Point for a mixed bag of trout and salmon. And don't sleep on the McQuade Harbor area – several nice catches reported there yesterday.
Whether you're after the excitement of the smelt run, the challenge of steelhead, or just want to fill the cooler with some tasty lake trout, conditions are prime right now. Get out there and wet a line!
This is Artificial Lure signing off – tight lines, everyone!
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By Quiet. PleaseHey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Lake Superior Duluth fishing report for Sunday, May 4th, 2025.
We're looking at another beautiful spring day on the big lake. Sunrise was about an hour ago at 5:50 AM, and we'll have plenty of daylight until sunset at 8:24 PM. The weather's cooperating nicely with mild temperatures and light winds – perfect conditions to get out on the water.
The big news continues to be the smelt run! They're still going strong along the North Shore as water temperatures creep toward that magic 40-degree mark. If you're heading out smelting tonight, Park Point remains your best bet with seine nets, while dipnetting in the tributaries is producing decent results too. Remember though, these aren't the monster runs from decades past – the smelt population has declined significantly since the glory days of the 60s and 70s.
For you steelheaders, the bite has been fair according to the latest DNR report. Focus on the lower shore streams from Duluth to Two Harbors, which warm up earlier. Egg patterns and spawn sacs are your go-to offerings right now. With limited stream flows in some areas, you might need to work harder to find those pockets holding fish. Some runs might be winding down in certain tributaries, but don't overlook fishing the Lake Superior waters adjacent to tributary mouths, where steelhead may still be congregating.
Coho salmon action has picked up nicely this week. Trollers working near the surface with bright stickbaits around the Duluth harbor entrance are finding fish in the 15-17 inch range. Early morning has been the prime time.
Brown trout in the 18-22 inch class have been active too, especially for anglers working the Wisconsin side near Saxon. If you're targeting these fish, try trolling close to shore with spoons or crankbaits that dive 5-10 feet.
Lake trout fishing remains steady, with some nice eaters coming from the deeper dropoffs. Downriggers with flasher and fly combos or large spoons in silver/blue patterns are producing nicely.
Hot spots for today: The Lester River mouth has been fire for steelhead, while trollers should check out the area just off Wisconsin Point for a mixed bag of trout and salmon. And don't sleep on the McQuade Harbor area – several nice catches reported there yesterday.
Whether you're after the excitement of the smelt run, the challenge of steelhead, or just want to fill the cooler with some tasty lake trout, conditions are prime right now. Get out there and wet a line!
This is Artificial Lure signing off – tight lines, everyone!
We're looking at another beautiful spring day on the big lake. Sunrise was about an hour ago at 5:50 AM, and we'll have plenty of daylight until sunset at 8:24 PM. The weather's cooperating nicely with mild temperatures and light winds – perfect conditions to get out on the water.
The big news continues to be the smelt run! They're still going strong along the North Shore as water temperatures creep toward that magic 40-degree mark. If you're heading out smelting tonight, Park Point remains your best bet with seine nets, while dipnetting in the tributaries is producing decent results too. Remember though, these aren't the monster runs from decades past – the smelt population has declined significantly since the glory days of the 60s and 70s.
For you steelheaders, the bite has been fair according to the latest DNR report. Focus on the lower shore streams from Duluth to Two Harbors, which warm up earlier. Egg patterns and spawn sacs are your go-to offerings right now. With limited stream flows in some areas, you might need to work harder to find those pockets holding fish. Some runs might be winding down in certain tributaries, but don't overlook fishing the Lake Superior waters adjacent to tributary mouths, where steelhead may still be congregating.
Coho salmon action has picked up nicely this week. Trollers working near the surface with bright stickbaits around the Duluth harbor entrance are finding fish in the 15-17 inch range. Early morning has been the prime time.
Brown trout in the 18-22 inch class have been active too, especially for anglers working the Wisconsin side near Saxon. If you're targeting these fish, try trolling close to shore with spoons or crankbaits that dive 5-10 feet.
Lake trout fishing remains steady, with some nice eaters coming from the deeper dropoffs. Downriggers with flasher and fly combos or large spoons in silver/blue patterns are producing nicely.
Hot spots for today: The Lester River mouth has been fire for steelhead, while trollers should check out the area just off Wisconsin Point for a mixed bag of trout and salmon. And don't sleep on the McQuade Harbor area – several nice catches reported there yesterday.
Whether you're after the excitement of the smelt run, the challenge of steelhead, or just want to fill the cooler with some tasty lake trout, conditions are prime right now. Get out there and wet a line!
This is Artificial Lure signing off – tight lines, everyone!