Duluth-Area Superior Fishing Report: Walleye, Trout, Bass Patterns Shift for Fall
Artificial Lure here with your Duluth-area Lake Superior fishing report for Friday, September 19th, 2025.The sun rose this morning over the misty lake at 6:54 a.m., casting a silvery glow on breezy, choppy waters. The forecast calls for clouds throughout the day, with east winds gusting up to 30 mph and a high near 60. Showers and a chance of afternoon thunderstorms could shake up patterns around midday, so pack your raingear and keep an eye on conditions. Sunset’s at 7:10 p.m.—the magic hour bite could happen just before dusk. Lake Superior doesn’t have true tides, but wind-driven surges and rip currents are likely in the Twin Ports today. Exercise caution near breakwalls and exposed points, especially when wading or casting from shore, as WDIO news warns of strong currents into the weekend.As we slide into early fall, fish are shifting their patterns. Walleye reports are still strong from the St. Louis River estuary and near-shore drops, with good numbers found in 22-27 feet of water, especially near the mouth and shipping canal. Slip jigging with lively nightcrawlers or fatheads stays reliable, but the action heats up when you switch to chartreuse and orange soft plastics. The bite is best when the water’s stirred, so today’s chop could play in your favor if you can safely fish the lee side of a point.Lake trout and salmon have been staging along the North Shore. Recent catches include a mix of two- to five-pound lakers and some solid coho and king salmon, especially out past Brighton Beach and in the deeper trough outside McQuade Harbor. Trolling with spoons in silver, blue, or glow patterns produced bites this week, especially when matched to overcast conditions. The new ultra-scented Berkley Gulp Saltwater Ripple Mullet in pearl white or glow/chartreuse is just hitting local tackle shops and proving deadly on both lake trout and aggressive fall browns, especially when slow-jigged across rocky humps.Bass anglers are reporting a mixed bag from Park Point and the estuary’s back bays. Smallmouth schools are roaming flats, chasing bait. The early fall transition means constant movement, so cover water quickly with stick-worms (watermelon red and Green Pumpkin shine this week) or try darting soft plastics like the new MagDingo worm for trophy-sized bronzebacks. A wacky rig or ned head excels in the shallows, while a slow-dragged Carolina rig works near deeper breaks. Flashy beetle soft plastics and craw-styled baits are triggering quick, violent strikes—don’t linger in one spot too long today; follow the baitfish.Multi-species catches also feature a few perch along rocky stretches west of Lester River—live minnows and worms work best. Autumn signals aggressive feeds with water temps cooling, so switch up retrieves and track moving fish. Rain and wind will shuffle bite windows, and circling back to productive spots can pay off late in the day.Hot spots to try: - The mouth of the St. Louis River, especially near the lift bridge, for walleye and channel catfish. - Brighton Beach and McQuade Small Craft Harbor for lake trout and staging salmon. - Park Point back bays for smallmouth and bonus northern pike.Best advice: Stay flexible, fish fast, and respect the elements—rip currents and sudden squalls are real risks this week. Top lures: Berkley Gulp Ripple Mullet, soft plastic worms (watermelon red, pumpkin spice), and silver blue-tinted trolling spoons. Nightcrawlers and shiners remain the go-to bait for deeper structures.Thanks for tuning in, anglers. Don’t forget to subscribe for future reports and always check local forecasts before heading out. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the...