Fishing the Frigid Shores of Lake Superior: Battling Low Waters and Thriving Fish

As of October 18, 2024, the fishing scene on Lake Superior near Duluth is quite active, despite the challenging weather and water conditions.### Weather and Tidal ConditionsThe water levels are extremely low, but the fish are still cooperating. The recent colder weather has dropped the water temperatures, which is typical for this time of year. Today, you can expect partly cloudy skies with a high of around 50°F and a low of 40°F. Sunrise is at 7:34 AM, and sunset will be at 6:04 PM. Tides are not a significant factor on Lake Superior, but the low water levels mean you'll need to be cautious when navigating.### Fish ActivityYesterday saw a decent amount of fish activity, particularly with salmon and trout running the rivers. The salmon run is winding down, but there are still good numbers of coho and king salmon to be caught. Brown trout and steelhead are also becoming more active as the water cools.### Types and Amounts of Fish CaughtAnglers reported catching coho salmon ranging from 20 to 26 inches, along with some brown trout and splake in the 15 to 20-inch range. Walleye fishing has been good in and near the harbor, with some limits of 15 to 20-inch fish being reported. Northern pike up to 32 inches are also being caught over weeds.### Best Lures and BaitFor salmon and trout, crankbaits, spoons, twitch jigs, beads, flies, and eggs are all effective. Bright colors such as pink, orange, UV green, and chrome are working well. For walleye, trolling with stickbaits and crawler harnesses along weed lines, as well as vertical jigging with crawlers or minnows, has been successful. For northern pike, large suckers, large minnow bait, and large soft plastic minnow baits are deadly.### Hot SpotsOne of the hot spots is the area in front of river mouths and along island shorelines, particularly around the Apostle Islands. Here, you can catch coho salmon, brown trout, and splake. Another good spot is Chequamegon Bay, where walleye and northern pike are being caught near rock piles and weed lines. For those targeting brown trout and steelhead, the tributaries along the North Shore, such as the French River, are worth a visit.Overall, it's a great time to be out on Lake Superior, with a variety of species active and willing to bite. Just be mindful of the low water levels and adjust your tactics accordingly.This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI