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Duluth's Spring Surge: Smelt, Salmon, and Steelhead along Lake Superior's North Shore
Artificial Lure here, checking in with your May 9th, 2025, Lake Superior fishing report from Duluth.
We’re in the thick of spring pattern now, with daytime temps staying cool and plenty of daylight thanks to a sunrise at 5:52 AM and sunset at 8:22 PM. The skies are mostly clear, winds light, and water temps are nudging up toward that magical 40-degree mark, priming everything from smelt to salmon to get active.
Smelt are still running along the North Shore, and though not as abundant as in decades past, folks dipping nets along Park Point and the Duluth tributaries are getting enough for the fryer if they put in the time. The run may be starting to taper, so hit it while you can. Smelt numbers have been down since their 70s peak, but the class of 2022 was decent, keeping predator fish well-fed and healthy[2][3][5].
Nearshore trolling is seeing good action for coho salmon and lake trout right in front of Duluth, with some big fish reported—12-pound coho and even Chinook salmon over 35 pounds for the lucky few[2]. Cohos in the 15-17 inch range and brown trout up to 22 inches are showing up for anglers trolling stickbaits near the surface, especially out of Saxon and around the Lester and Knife river mouths[4][5].
Steelhead fishing in the tributaries has been fair; you’ll want to target the lower stretches or the river mouths where the fish are staging before moving up or dropping back. Egg patterns and spawn sacs remain hot for river anglers. With some streams running low on flow, lakefront mouths and adjacent shoreline are your best bet for late steelhead[3][5].
Best baits and lures right now are bright stickbaits trolled near the surface for trout and salmon, and classic spoons in silver, blue, or chartreuse. For river steelhead, stick with spawn sacs, pink worms, or orange egg imitations.
A couple of recommended hot spots this week: try trolling just off the canal entrance in Duluth, especially near the shipping lanes early and late in the day. The mouth of the Lester River always draws both fish and anglers for spring steelhead and coho. If you’re hunting smelt, Park Point after dusk is still worth a try, though you’ll want to work for a limit.
Plenty of fish are being caught, and with the weather stable, now’s the time to get out. Good luck and tight lines from Artificial Lure.
We’re in the thick of spring pattern now, with daytime temps staying cool and plenty of daylight thanks to a sunrise at 5:52 AM and sunset at 8:22 PM. The skies are mostly clear, winds light, and water temps are nudging up toward that magical 40-degree mark, priming everything from smelt to salmon to get active.
Smelt are still running along the North Shore, and though not as abundant as in decades past, folks dipping nets along Park Point and the Duluth tributaries are getting enough for the fryer if they put in the time. The run may be starting to taper, so hit it while you can. Smelt numbers have been down since their 70s peak, but the class of 2022 was decent, keeping predator fish well-fed and healthy[2][3][5].
Nearshore trolling is seeing good action for coho salmon and lake trout right in front of Duluth, with some big fish reported—12-pound coho and even Chinook salmon over 35 pounds for the lucky few[2]. Cohos in the 15-17 inch range and brown trout up to 22 inches are showing up for anglers trolling stickbaits near the surface, especially out of Saxon and around the Lester and Knife river mouths[4][5].
Steelhead fishing in the tributaries has been fair; you’ll want to target the lower stretches or the river mouths where the fish are staging before moving up or dropping back. Egg patterns and spawn sacs remain hot for river anglers. With some streams running low on flow, lakefront mouths and adjacent shoreline are your best bet for late steelhead[3][5].
Best baits and lures right now are bright stickbaits trolled near the surface for trout and salmon, and classic spoons in silver, blue, or chartreuse. For river steelhead, stick with spawn sacs, pink worms, or orange egg imitations.
A couple of recommended hot spots this week: try trolling just off the canal entrance in Duluth, especially near the shipping lanes early and late in the day. The mouth of the Lester River always draws both fish and anglers for spring steelhead and coho. If you’re hunting smelt, Park Point after dusk is still worth a try, though you’ll want to work for a limit.
Plenty of fish are being caught, and with the weather stable, now’s the time to get out. Good luck and tight lines from Artificial Lure.
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By Quiet. PleaseArtificial Lure here, checking in with your May 9th, 2025, Lake Superior fishing report from Duluth.
We’re in the thick of spring pattern now, with daytime temps staying cool and plenty of daylight thanks to a sunrise at 5:52 AM and sunset at 8:22 PM. The skies are mostly clear, winds light, and water temps are nudging up toward that magical 40-degree mark, priming everything from smelt to salmon to get active.
Smelt are still running along the North Shore, and though not as abundant as in decades past, folks dipping nets along Park Point and the Duluth tributaries are getting enough for the fryer if they put in the time. The run may be starting to taper, so hit it while you can. Smelt numbers have been down since their 70s peak, but the class of 2022 was decent, keeping predator fish well-fed and healthy[2][3][5].
Nearshore trolling is seeing good action for coho salmon and lake trout right in front of Duluth, with some big fish reported—12-pound coho and even Chinook salmon over 35 pounds for the lucky few[2]. Cohos in the 15-17 inch range and brown trout up to 22 inches are showing up for anglers trolling stickbaits near the surface, especially out of Saxon and around the Lester and Knife river mouths[4][5].
Steelhead fishing in the tributaries has been fair; you’ll want to target the lower stretches or the river mouths where the fish are staging before moving up or dropping back. Egg patterns and spawn sacs remain hot for river anglers. With some streams running low on flow, lakefront mouths and adjacent shoreline are your best bet for late steelhead[3][5].
Best baits and lures right now are bright stickbaits trolled near the surface for trout and salmon, and classic spoons in silver, blue, or chartreuse. For river steelhead, stick with spawn sacs, pink worms, or orange egg imitations.
A couple of recommended hot spots this week: try trolling just off the canal entrance in Duluth, especially near the shipping lanes early and late in the day. The mouth of the Lester River always draws both fish and anglers for spring steelhead and coho. If you’re hunting smelt, Park Point after dusk is still worth a try, though you’ll want to work for a limit.
Plenty of fish are being caught, and with the weather stable, now’s the time to get out. Good luck and tight lines from Artificial Lure.
We’re in the thick of spring pattern now, with daytime temps staying cool and plenty of daylight thanks to a sunrise at 5:52 AM and sunset at 8:22 PM. The skies are mostly clear, winds light, and water temps are nudging up toward that magical 40-degree mark, priming everything from smelt to salmon to get active.
Smelt are still running along the North Shore, and though not as abundant as in decades past, folks dipping nets along Park Point and the Duluth tributaries are getting enough for the fryer if they put in the time. The run may be starting to taper, so hit it while you can. Smelt numbers have been down since their 70s peak, but the class of 2022 was decent, keeping predator fish well-fed and healthy[2][3][5].
Nearshore trolling is seeing good action for coho salmon and lake trout right in front of Duluth, with some big fish reported—12-pound coho and even Chinook salmon over 35 pounds for the lucky few[2]. Cohos in the 15-17 inch range and brown trout up to 22 inches are showing up for anglers trolling stickbaits near the surface, especially out of Saxon and around the Lester and Knife river mouths[4][5].
Steelhead fishing in the tributaries has been fair; you’ll want to target the lower stretches or the river mouths where the fish are staging before moving up or dropping back. Egg patterns and spawn sacs remain hot for river anglers. With some streams running low on flow, lakefront mouths and adjacent shoreline are your best bet for late steelhead[3][5].
Best baits and lures right now are bright stickbaits trolled near the surface for trout and salmon, and classic spoons in silver, blue, or chartreuse. For river steelhead, stick with spawn sacs, pink worms, or orange egg imitations.
A couple of recommended hot spots this week: try trolling just off the canal entrance in Duluth, especially near the shipping lanes early and late in the day. The mouth of the Lester River always draws both fish and anglers for spring steelhead and coho. If you’re hunting smelt, Park Point after dusk is still worth a try, though you’ll want to work for a limit.
Plenty of fish are being caught, and with the weather stable, now’s the time to get out. Good luck and tight lines from Artificial Lure.