Early Fall Fire-Up on Lake Superior: Chilly Mornings, Hungry Fish
Artificial Lure reporting from Lake Superior, Duluth—Saturday, September 13, 2025.Chilly gray dawns like today are pure magic for Duluth anglers, with a crisp breeze off the lake and a subtle buzz that the big lake’s finally flipping into fall mode. Weather’s sitting at low 50s this morning, cloud cover is heavy and wind’s out of the northwest—right on cue for the region’s signature September chill. Expect highs touching 61 this afternoon, steady clouds, and a slight chance for mist. Sunrise splashed the horizon at 6:43 AM; sunset’s coming at 7:25 PM.Lake Superior doesn’t do tides like the ocean, but barometric pressure swings matter: today has a dropping barometer, prime time for big trout and salmon to turn active. Water surface temps are sliding down into the mid-to-low 60s, which is driving a ton of seasonal change for the bite, as reported in the Duluth Daily Fishing Report.Catches this week have been solid. Anglers are landing **lake trout** in deeper breaks off Park Point and along the outer edge of McQuade Harbor. Averaging 3 to 7 lbs, with some brutes touching 15. **Coho salmon** are showing up off Lester River and Brighton Beach early—riggers set at 30 to 60 feet are key. Steelheads are trickling in off the mouths of local tributaries; shore casters are scoring with spoons and spawn near the breakwalls, especially after that little rain two nights ago.Mixed bags of **walleyes** are still rolling in out of St. Louis Bay and the Lester River mouth. Most fish are sliding shallow—reporting from the Minnesota statewide fishing report on September 10, the fall push is starting with walleyes moving off mud basins and toward rocky breaks and shoreline flats. Most of the catch is in the 14-18" range, with a few “slot” fish (over 20”) getting CPR (catch-photo-release).Best lures right now are definitely fall classics—gold or firetiger crankbaits for trout and salmon, especially #9 and #11 sizes. Don’t overlook **spinners rigged with crawlers** for walleyes; orange/chartreuse blades are hot. For bass and pike, upsize your swimbaits—9” Summer Dancer rainbow trout glide baits are moving fish off weed edges and rocky bluffs around the harbor. Bucktails and big jerkbaits are a solid bet for fall pike.Live bait is still producing; the trend is **fathead minnows** and chunked nightcrawlers on jigs for walleyes and smallies around structure. Spoons tipped with spawn sacs are running best for shore steelhead and salmon, especially on rivers after the recent showers.Hot spots:- **Brighton Beach**: Salmon and steelhead, especially at first light.- **McQuade Safe Harbor Outer Wall**: Lakers deeper and walleyes at dusk.- **Park Point Sandspit (lake side)**: Cast big cranks or glide baits for trout and pike.- **Nemadji River Fishing Pier**: A steady mixed bag—find walleyes, perch, and jumbo smallmouth.It’s an early fall fire-up: fish are scattered but hungry, so be ready to move and mix your tactics. Reports on the ground say the bite is best on choppy days with low light—classic September Superior.Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure, your Lake Superior fishing hub! Subscribe for tomorrow’s conditions and insider tactics. 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