Artificial Lure here with your Lake Superior fishing report for Duluth, Tuesday, November 18, 2025.

The day breaks cold and clear across the North Shore. Sunrise rolled in at 7:19 a.m. and we're looking at sunset around 4:32 p.m. A big arctic high has settled over the region, making for calm winds and water smooth as glass. Early local weather reports say temperatures hover near 28°F, with little to no precipitation expected—classic November steelhead and lake trout weather in these parts. The sky is cloudless, visibility is great, and there's a crisp bite in the air.

And in case you're wondering, Lake Superior’s tides barely measure, but the recent full moon has given a slight bump to shoreline currents, helping stir up bait right at first light.

Fish activity’s picking up near structure and river mouths. The Lester River outlet saw some solid action this morning. Word from real Duluth anglers is lake trout are holding deep, but a few nice browns have moved in shallow to chase bait. Steelhead reports are promising—multiple fish caught near the mouth of Amity Creek last evening by persistent anglers drifting spawn sacks and pink worms.

Walleye action is slowing as the water cools, but the diehards found a few after dark tossing stickbaits near the Canal Park piers. Those targeting coho have hooked into scattered fish, mostly trolling three-inch orange spoons or flashy pink crankbaits.

Best lures today? Locals recommend:
- Silver and blue Cleo spoons for lake trout and salmon.
- Chartreuse jigheads tipped with white plastic minnow for the occasional walleye.
- Spawn sacks and pink worms for steelhead.
- If you’re after bass in the shallows before the freeze, slow-moving topwater baits like the “Loud Buzz” by Yamamoto are catching the last of them this week, especially as the fish get sluggish in colder water.

Hot bait remains fresh cut smelt for trout, or the ever-reliable nightcrawler threaded on a slip rig. If you can find waxworms, they work wonders on deeper panfish in the marinas.

Two hot spots worth checking today:
- The mouth of the Lester River: Early risers picked up steelhead and the odd brown trout, especially casting out just at dawn as bait swirls in cold currents.
- Canal Park piers: The post-sunset bite drew a couple 18” walleyes and a surprise bonus coho for those patient enough to work slow stickbaits near rock piles.

If you're heading out, remember: winter fishing calls for slow, gentle presentations. Fish are cold and sluggish. Lay down soft plastics with a slow drag and long pause—think beetles, worms, and craws in natural colors like green pumpkin or smoky purple. Fluorocarbon line sheds water and handles the chill better than braid, so spool up accordingly. Keep an eye on ice forming on your guides, and bring a towel for your hands.

Overall, it's been steady but technical. The best catches today were those anglers who slowed down, watched the structure and shadow lines, and matched the hatch.

Thanks for tuning in to the Lake Superior Duluth report! Subscribe so you don’t miss another update, and keep those lines tight.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI