Duluth Fall Transition Fishing Report: Walleye, Perch, and Bass Bite Heating Up on Lake Superior

Artificial Lure here, bringing you the Lake Superior Duluth fishing report for Wednesday, October 8th, 2025.We woke up to true autumn in Duluth: crisp fall air and shoreline water temps holding steady in the mid 60s—right around 65°F. Last night's widespread freeze finally put an end to the growing season according to WDIO, so expect the lake to keep cooling off. Skies are clear early, with sunrise at 7:14 AM and sunset at 6:39 PM. Wind is moderate out of the northwest, with gusts picking up and the mercury hovering in the low-40s, heading for a sunny afternoon.No tides on Lake Superior, but wind direction matters. Waves were light early, expected to build by midday, so morning anglers found prime conditions for casting near sheltered points and river mouths, especially along the Lester River and Brighton Beach.Fall colors are peaking across the North Shore, making for some striking scenery as you work the shoreline. But let's talk fish: It's transition time for almost all species. DNR and local guides are seeing walleye, perch, and smallmouth bass shifting from summer spots toward classic fall structure. Walleye activity’s increasing with cooling water, and the best bite has been reported on vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners or smaller live minnows. Chartreuse, gold, orange, and glow-white jigs have dominated catches this week on 20-30 foot flats just east of the lift bridge. For numbers, some boats reported limits of walleyes and jumbo perch over the weekend, with many perch running 10-12 inches. Lake trout have been steady off deeper ledges, especially by Stoney Point, while coho salmon are trickling in near the mouths of local creeks—look for concentrations soon after rain.Bass anglers are doing well with finesse techniques. Neko rigs and soft plastics like watermelon red and green pumpkin are drawing strikes near weed edges and deeper grass lines—The Bass Cast highlights lizards and beetles as ideal, especially on days when water clarity improves. Smallmouth are still scattered but feeding heavily before winter and can be caught with Ned rigs or compact tube baits fished near rocky points.Best baits by species:- **Walleye:** Frozen shiners on 1/4oz glow-jigs, orange or chartreuse spinners, or nightcrawlers on Lindy rigs.- **Perch:** Small jigs tipped with fathead minnows; live bait outperforms artificials on picky days.- **Lake Trout/Salmon:** Silver spoons or trolling crankbaits in 30-50 feet, especially early morning.- **Bass:** Neko rigs, Ned rigs, and Texas-rigged soft plastics in natural colors.Notable hotspots:- **Brighton Beach**—for morning walleye and perch, especially on breezy days.- **Lester River Mouth**—salmon congregate here after rains, and perch are in abundance along the drop-offs.- **Stoney Point**—steady lake trout action on deep rubbles and ledges.A reminder from seasoned local guides: Move often, watch for baitfish clouds on your sonar, and don't overlook back bays for bonus jumbos. With changing conditions, patience and flexible tactics put fish in the boat.Thanks for tuning in to your Lake Superior Duluth fishing report! Don’t forget to subscribe for weekly updates and insider tips. 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