Brisk Duluth Fishing Report: Lake Trout, Salmon, and Walleye Bite Strong Amid Vibrant North Shore Scenery

Artificial Lure reporting from the Duluth docks on this brisk October morning, Friday the 3rd, 2025, with your Lake Superior fishing update. The sunrise cracked over the lake at 7:44 AM and we’ll see sunset tonight at 4:55 PM. Temps are starting just above freezing, and we’re looking at partly cloudy skies through early afternoon, winds out of the northwest around 7-10 knots—nothing a tough Duluth angler can’t handle. Water clarity’s decent, and lake surface temps hover in the low 50s, classic shoulder-season conditions that can ignite a bite.The solunar charts are setting us up well today: your prime bite windows are early, from 3:30 to 5:30 AM, picking up again between 3:50 and 5:50 PM. If you’re out mid-morning, a secondary minor window opens up 9:19 to 11:19 AM. The moon’s on the wane, so expect fish to be more responsive to aggressive presentations, especially around those bite times, and a little extra glow on your hardware won’t hurt—with a waning gibbous, glow spoons and jigs are strong options.On the water, the reports are all about diversity: Waypoint Charters out of Knife River says recent outings produced mixed bags—Coho and Chinook salmon are in play, especially around river mouths like the Lester and Knife, with some folks even tangling with a monster 63-inch Chinook that took the crew for a ride. Walleye action’s heating up as air and water cool, and the Lake Trout bite remains steady offshore in 80 to 180 feet of water. Don’t overlook nearshore browns and the odd steelhead for an added fall treat—hit them at dawn or dusk.For lures, you’re in luck: trolling spoons in green, chartreuse, or silver are local favorites, and flasher-fly combos are putting big lake trout in the net. When the bite slows, try small dodgers with peanut flies for Coho and high-riding kings, especially just under the thermal break. Shore casters around Brighton Beach, Two Harbors, and Park Point are finding success with silver/blue, gold/red, and green/silver spoons, while crankbaits and stickbaits get it done for trout and the occasional big walleye. When the clouds come in thick, make sure to have some glow paint lures ready, especially for deeper or early-late bites.If you prefer live bait, a classic setup with fathead minnows or shiners on a slip sinker rig is working on the bay walleyes and some dockside trout—just make sure to keep it lively.Two hot spots for you today:- The mouth of the Lester River—especially early and late—for salmon staging.- Off the Aerial Lift Bridge and around the Duluth Harbor Marina, where current and structure draw in trout and walleye.Up the North Shore around Knife River, keep trolling deep for big Lakers. Inland, Boulder Lake is another solid bet for a mixed bag, especially as those fish start fattening up ahead of winter.Leaves are about at peak along the North Shore, and the backdrop is as good as it gets. The fish are biting, the colors are popping, and the air's got that perfect Minnesota snap.That wraps it up for today’s report. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a hot bite. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI