Artificial Lure here, coming at you live from the steel-gray November shores of Lake Superior in Duluth on Friday, November 14, 2025. Sunrise today hit just after 7:11 AM, with sunset rolling in by 4:36 PM, so plan your casts accordingly.

The big lake’s been dealing out classic November weather—a stiff northwest wind, air temps hovering in the mid-30s, with lake effect flurries at times. As of this morning, the water temperature’s dropped below 42°F, so don’t forget your layers and gloves. No tidal swings on Lake Superior, but the persistent breeze has stirred up the nearshore chop, especially out at Park Point and up past Brighton Beach.

Fishing action’s been respectable for late fall. According to Outdoor News Minnesota’s November 11th report, skim ice is showing up in back bays, but open water remains on the big lake, and hungry fish are still on the move. Anglers have landed lake trout, coho salmon, and the occasional steelhead. Inland streams like the Lester and Knife Rivers are giving up brown trout and a surprising number of pre-spawn rainbows for those swinging egg patterns and small jigs.

The shore bite for coho is picking up near the mouth of the Lester, with silvers running 2 to 4 pounds—not trophy fish, but they’re scrappy. The best action has been on silver spoons, blue/chrome Cleos, and smaller casting lures like Kastmasters and Little Cleos. Folks drifting spawn sacs under floats also reported consistent bites, especially right after sunrise.

Deeper, trolling remains steady for lake trout between 40 and 100 feet. Local captains suggest running large stickbaits in rainbow or smelt patterns, especially in the lower half of the water column. Flutter spoons and cut herring rigged on downriggers have been winners. If you’re bank fishing, try soaking a chunk of dead sucker or shiner—bottom rigs are pulling in both trout and burbot as well as some healthy whitefish.

For best results, use 10-12 lb fluorocarbon leaders—water is cold and gin-clear right now so stealth matters. The top natural bait this week has been fresh salmon eggs, with cut bait tubed on circle hooks close behind. If you’re a lure angler, stay small and subtle: marabou jigs (white or black), hair jigs, and slow-rolled cranks.

As for local hotspots, Brighton Beach remains a shore angler’s favorite for coho through the late morning. Early birds are picking up brown trout at the Lester River mouth, especially on blustery days. Park Point’s shipping canal piers continue to give up lake trout and the odd steelhead, mostly to those braving the wind.

Boaters: Shelter in the lee of Minnesota Point if you can. If you’ve got the right weather window, cruise out from McQuade Safe Harbor northeast towards Stoney Point; that deep-water edge is producing consistent action on spoons and herring.

Fish counts are dropping off compared to peak autumn numbers, but persistence is paying off. Most anglers are landing 2–5 fish per half-day outing. Brown trout and coho make up the bulk, with a smattering of steelhead and whitefish.

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