"Fall Walleye and Trout Bite Heating Up on Lake Superior's North Shore"
Artificial Lure here with your September 7, 2025, Lake Superior and Duluth area fishing report.We’re rolling right into fall and you can feel the shift in the air along the North Shore. This morning started brisk with a low in the upper 40s, and forecasters are calling for a high near 65 degrees with a light northwest breeze—a picture-perfect September day for anglers in the Duluth harbor and out onto the big lake. Sunrise was at 6:38 AM, and sunset will hit around 7:30 PM, so there’s plenty of daylight to get your rod bent.No tides to speak of on Lake Superior, but the winds and water temps matter—a lot. Duluth’s water temps have dropped to the low 60s, which means fish activity is heating up after a quieter midsummer pattern. According to Minnesota’s statewide fishing report, anglers are seeing classic fall walleye patterns settling in quickly. Walleyes are holding on large mud and sand flats from 15 to 25 feet, especially later in the evening. Trolling crankbaits with a good stretch of leadcore line has been putting numbers in the boat, with perch-colored, white, and silver/blue patterns working best lately.Over in the Duluth shipping canal and the mouth of the St. Louis River, local reports suggest the walleye are being caught shallow in the morning, sliding deeper as the sun gets higher. The last hour of daylight has been magical—suspended walleyes are being picked up trolling just 15–20 feet down over much deeper water. Get out with small perch-pattern crankbaits or blood-nose shad raps, and don't be afraid to give spinner rigs with nightcrawlers a slow pedal, either.And it’s not just walleyes getting hot. Near shorelines and harbor points, smallmouth bass are prowling—the cooling water’s got them active. According to recent social media chatter from anglers hitting the lake side, soft plastics on jigs and deep-diving crankbaits have landed some real quality bronzebacks, many in the 15–18 inch range. River mouths and rocky points in Allouez Bay and out by Park Point have both been heavy producers.Those after trout and salmon will want to check out area tributaries. Tischer Creek has been seeing a trickle of lake-run trout inching upstream to start their fall spawning run, as seen around Labor Day according to local explorers. Egg hooks or J hooks with red worms or spawn sacs work well for these early runners, but don’t overlook small spinnerbaits—classic silver or gold blades have been producing a steady trickle of coho and steelhead at sunrise.Lake trout fishing on Superior proper, especially for those venturing out deep, has been outstanding lately. Boat anglers are jigging and trolling 70–120 feet down with white tubes, spoons, and silver blade baits—stick to the outer edges of the Lester River mouth or toward the ore docks for numbers.Top baits right now:- **Perch or silver/blue crankbaits** (for walleye and smallmouth)- **Crawler harnesses** with brightly colored blades- **Egg sacs and live worms** (for trout in creeks)- **White tube jigs, silver spoons** (for lake trout)Hot spots to try:- The deep mud flats east of the Aerial Lift Bridge—prime for evening walleye runs.- Around Park Point and Rice’s Point for smallmouth, especially at dawn and dusk.- Tischer Creek mouth for trout and salmon on early morning runs.- The shipping canal edges for mixed bag action—always a local favorite when the bite is tough elsewhere.Harvest Fest just wrapped up here by Bayfront, so expect a little more foot traffic on the water and along the trails, but plenty of space for anglers willing to put in a walk or paddle.That’s the rundown from your neighbor on the water. Thanks for tuning in to today’s fishing report. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the latest bite patterns and local tips. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please...