Chilly Duluth Transition Bite: Walleyes, Perch, and Trout Heating Up the North Shore
Friday, September 12, 2025, dawned chilly and gray along the Lake Superior shore here in Duluth, kicking off a classic mid-September transition bite. Anglers rolling out early saw a sunrise at 6:43 a.m., with sunset expected at 7:26 p.m. The weather settled out after last week's cold front—morning temps in the low 50s, winds at 8 knots out of the northeast, and overcast skies hanging on most of the day. Lake Superior doesn’t have ocean-like tides, but winds have kicked up a moderate seiche: water levels have been sliding up and down a few inches since last night, keeping things lively at stream mouths and harbor points.Fish activity along the north shore and St. Louis River estuary is on the upswing as water temps steady out in the low 60s, matching what guides and reports from Jeff Sundin’s Minnesota Fishing page are saying across the region. Walleye and perch are responding best right now to the overcast—classic fall pattern. Anglers trolling deep over gravel or mud, especially off Rice’s Point and the shipping channel, are catching good numbers of eater walleyes, most running 14–18 inches with a few bigger fish mixed in.Perch are showing up in big numbers too, mostly 6–9 inches—occasional jumbos topping 12. The best action has come to those dragging live fatheads or golden shiners on 1/8 oz jigs or split shot rigs. Brian “Bro” Brosdahl, featured in this week’s reports, says “nothing fools ‘em faster than the real thing,” so if you want perch, bring a scoop of minnows and some patience.Lake trout season remains open, and the deeper breaks off Two Harbors and Knife River are giving up solid fish to anglers trolling large silver-blue spoons and deep-diving crankbaits down 75–120 feet. Cohos and steelhead have started nosing up creeks—Try the Lester River mouth or French River for a shot at aggressive fish, especially after last night’s little rain bump.Recent catches include…- **Walleye:** most active in 15–26 feet, best on ¼ oz orange/chartreuse jigs tipped with shiners, or on Lindy rigs with nightcrawlers.- **Perch:** big schools holding in 10–18 feet, slabs falling for minnows and small jigging spoons (gold or firetiger).- **Lake trout:** deep water, 80–120 feet, best on spoons or large white tube jigs.- **Smallmouth bass:** relating to sharper breaks and current areas, hitting natural tube jigs and Ned rigs.- **Pike:** prowling weed edges and shallow bays, crushin’ flashy spinnerbaits and large jerkbaits.This morning, hot baits include gold/pink spinner rigs, perch-pattern crankbaits, and classic white tubes for trout. Live bait is outperforming plastics for perch and walleyes, but don't overlook a paddle-tail swimbait or Berkley Power Nymph for bonus bites. Local stores are moving a lot of fathead minnows and crawlers—grab both if you want mixed species action.Top hot spots today:- **The Duluth Shipping Channel:** especially the edges on the Minnesota side, where bait is stacking up—walleyes and jumbo perch in play.- **Knife River mouth:** trout, and a bonus coho or two, are pushing up into shallow runs at first and last light.Honorable mention: Try the breakwall out of Two Harbors for late-morning lake trout or a bonus smallmouth.Thanks for tuning in to today’s Lake Superior fishing report from Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe for more hot tips, and tight lines out there! 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