Local Fish Report

According to our fishing expert Jon Muhich of Buck’s Hardware, the fishing has slowed to a crawl.

Walleyes are a fish we’ve seen very few of this past week. Some of the lakes are starting to turn over as winter approaches, so fish accordingly. Hungry Jack and Seagull were reporting some success.

Most are fishing for trout right about now. Leo, Ram, Kimball, Esther lakes are all reporting decent action. Crawlers with jigs or small spoons or spinners should put you onto a few.

Don’t forget whitefish netting started on the 21st at Devil Track and Poplar lakes. So repair those nets and get yourself some fine tasting whitefish.

This will be the last local fish report until freeze-up and the ice fishing season gets in full swing.

According to our fishing expert Jon Muhich of Buck’s Hardware, the fishing is still slow.

A lot of people are settling in for the grouse and deer archery hunts. But there are still some going out looking for some fish dinners.

Walleyes are still a bit slow everywhere -- but in Poplar Lake fish were being caught around 18 to 22 feet with a jig and minnow. Devil Track reports a few being caught in 15 feet or so with jig and minnow or crawler. Some action in Crescent was also found in 20 to 25 feet with a jig and minnow.

One may as well hit the trout lakes before the season ends at the end of the month. Trestle Pine was going fine in 12 to 18 feet of water using a crawler and spoon or jig. Trout Lake was also good at about the same depths. Esther was reporting some rainbow action about 20 to 25 feet deep using crawlers and jigging Swedish Pimples.

According to our fishing expert Jon Muhich of Buck’s Hardware, the fishing has slowed a bit.

In Seagull Lake they’re using minnows and crawlers and heading deep for walleyes. 25 feet or more. Action is slow but you can get a few if you stick with it.

Hungry Jack is reporting about the same. 25 feet of water or more using minnows with a jig. East Twin showed a little promise too in 20 feet or so. Devilfish reports decent action in 20 to 30 feet or so again using a jig and minnow.

Kimball, Leo, Trout, and Mink are reporting good rainbow action so bring some crawlers or some small spoons and go nuts. 12 to 18 feet should put you on a few fish.

Have a good week looking for those grouse. Moose and bear seasons close Sunday. Then you can concentrate on fishing.

Inland lake fishing has slowed down and everyone’s out grouse hunting – but there’s always Lake Superior.

According to the DNR’s Lake Superior fish report, along the lower shore from Duluth to Two Harbors, fishing pressure has been moderate to heavy.

In the Duluth area, anglers had fair to good success catching lake trout at 40 to 60 feet over deeper water, to about 100 feet. The best action was in the Two Harbors area, where anglers did very well jigging off the Stewart River and off the breakwall in Two Harbors.

There have been reports of pink salmon in several rivers on the lower shore, among them the Stewart, Knife, Sucker and French rivers. Lake surface water temperatures were in the low 40s.

Along the upper shore from Twin Points to Hovland angling pressure has been generally light to moderate.

At Taconite Harbor and Grand Marais, anglers reported excellent action for large lake trout in nearshore waters in the 25 to 35 inch range, weighing 5 to 15 pounds, in water 20 to 80 feet deep. At Twin Points and Silver Bay anglers caught smaller lake trout, from 17 to 20 inches, in deeper water.

A few Chinook salmon from 19 to 22 inches were caught in deep water, and some small Chinook and coho salmon in the 12 to 15 inch range were also caught. Many pink salmon were present in the Temperance, Cascade and Brule rivers. Lake surface water temperature has been in the lower 50s.

According to our fishing expert, Jon Muich of Buck’s Hardware…Fishing’s slowed even more. Jon’s blaming the Pagami Creek Fire smoke, but the last we heard fish live under water.

Up in Seagull a few walleys are being found around 25 or 30 feet. They’ve been accepting a jig and minnow as payment. Sag is reporting action at about the same depths. Try a jig and minnow here too.

A little action over at Devilfish in 20 to 30 feet, again with a jig and minnow or nightcrawler. Smallies were hitting in about 15 feet of water.

If you can make your way into Crocodile Lake the walleyes are hitting good on crawlers and minnows in 25 feet or so.

Rainbows are decent on Kimball and Mink in 15 to 20 feet or so. We hear Muckwa is producing some nice rainbows. Crawlers and spinners should do.

According to our fishing expert, Jon Muich of Buck’s Hardware…Fishing’s slowed a little bit this week as people were getting ready for the bird hunting season.

Over in Homer Lake the walleyes are in the fifteen to 22 foot range jigging with a minnow. Some are having success with crawler harnesses.

In Devilfish the bite is a little in the evening off the islands in 18 to 25 feet or so. Jig and crawler is working here. Up at McFarland Lake try a jig and crawler in 12 to 18 feet. Northerns are giving good action as well. Check out the perch as some have picked up a few nice ones recently. Jig and crawler or jig and minnow.

Trout fishing slowed a little but the lakers in Sag are hitting in about 65feet of water, fish are suspended at 35 or so. Spoons trolled slow might get you some action.

Trout Lake’s rainbows are hitting in 25 feet or so with a crawler. Lakers were down deeper but catchable jigging with spoons.

According to our fishing expert, Jon Muich of Buck’s Hardware…Labor Day week end appeared to be good fishing.

Up on Saganaga reports are that walleyes are hitting at 17 to 22 feet along the weed lines and shelves. Larger fish are being reported at 40 feet or so. Jigs and leeches or minnows seem to be working best though some are stopping and using a slip bobber once they find the fish.

Lakers were at 60 to 70 feet with the fish suspended at about 40. Try trolling with silver spoons.

Crescent Lake had some good action. Fish were a little small but you can go home with some eaters if you sift through them.

East Twin reported good action trolling with minnow rigs. Jigging was successful too in about 12 feet.

Northerns on Elbow trolling and casting spoons. If that’s too strenuous, try sitting with a sucker minnow under a bobber.

According to our fishing expert, Jon Muich of Buck’s Hardware…walleyes continue to bite at various depths.

Gunflint Lake is reporting a little walleye action in 25 to 32 feet of water using a jig and minnow. Lakers deeper around 60 or 70 feet using a jig or spoon tipped with a minnow.

Elbow is reporting hits in 6 to 12 feet of water around the weed lines. A slip bobber and a leech or minnow should do it. You might want to take some sucker minnows with you and check out the northerns too.

East Twin and Two Island lakes are also giving up a few walleyes. Slip bobbers in 12 to 18 feet.
Lakers on Greenwood 80 feet of water are suspending around 50 to 60 feet.

Saganaga is reporting lakers in 60 to 70 feet of water. They’re trolling with spoons. Some fish were being caught with jig and minnow in fifty feet or so.

And don’t forget the smallies. They are still hitting out there so if you’re looking for action, look for the smallies. Spinners, jig and minnow or crawler, or slip bobber with a leech.

According to our fishing expert, Jon Muich of Buck’s Hardware…for the most part, fish are deep.

Devilfish reports a little walleye action in the 12 to 18 foot range using jigs with minnows or leeches. Check the humps and the wind shore side of the islands. Probably good advice for a lot of the lakes. Crescent was giving up a few using the same M.O.

Up on Sag, walleyes could be had a little deeper, 24 to 32 feet of water with jig and leech or minnow. Lakers were suspended at 50 feet or so in 70 to 80 feet of water. Spoons and Pimples being the lures of choice.

Word on Superior last week was they were long lining them in about 20 feet of water but the temperature has changed significantly around here so head a bit deeper.

Rainbows are hitting on the old standbys: Kimball, Leo, Esther, all good lakes to go and hit. Bring your flies, crawlers and spinners and you should be OK.

Fishing has slowed down some on the inland waters, so let’s take a look at what’s happening on the big lake.

Lower Shore of Lake Superior from Duluth to Two Harbors:
Fishing pressure has been heavy at the Duluth Charter Dock and Knife River, and moderate at other locations. Anglers fishing for lake trout had the best success in the Duluth area during the past week.

Charters reported very good lake trout fishing. A few Chinook and coho salmon were also caught. Anglers fishing farther up the shore at McQuade Public access had only fair success.

Upper Shore of Lake Superior from Twin Points to Hovland:
Fishing pressure was heavy at Taconite Harbor and Grand Marais, moderate at Twin Points and Silver Bay and light at Hovland. Very good lake trout fishing was recorded at Silver Bay, Taconite Harbor and Grand Marais.

Anglers reported the best lake trout fishing in offshore waters, which tended to be warmer than nearshore waters. Lake trout from the offshore water tended to be larger (in the 4 to 10 pound range) than in waters nearer to shore, where most fish were in the 2 to 3 pound range.

Both Chinook and coho salmon were reported from all stations. Taconite Harbor had success catching good numbers of coho salmon in the 17 to 20 inch range, and weighing about 2 pounds.

Anglers in Grand Marais had good success catching Chinook salmon. They caught several in the 20 to 22 inch range and a few as large as 28 inches and weighing about 8 pounds. A 13 pound Chinook salmon was caught during the Fisherman’s Picnic.