Lake Superior area

Angling opportunities on Lake Superior typically begin well before the walleye opener and with a warmer-than-usual winter, anglers have been fishing the big lake for a few months already. Early spring boat anglers targeting nearshore lake trout and coho salmon near Duluth have done well trolling stick baits near the surface. Steelhead anglers will be swinging egg patterns or spawn sacs with the lower shore streams warming up first and progressing up the North Shore as the air and water temperatures increase.

Smelters using seine nets along Park Point in Duluth and dipnets in the tributaries should see decent smelting opportunities as water temperatures slowly increase to the magic 40-degree mark. Non-native smelt populations have declined substantially since the 1960s and 1970s with the resurgence of lake trout. Many more smelt become fish food instead of ending up in the buckets and coolers of anglers, but with lake trout back as the top native predator in Lake Superior, the overall health and stability of the lake is much better. Due to a large 2022 year-class of cisco (also known as tullibee or lake herring) the non-native salmon should be larger than usual for a typically preyfish-limited Lake Superior. As spring turns to summer the lake trout fishing is anticipated to be great again this year with DNR surveys showing near record-high abundance.

Anglers may notice more sea lamprey wounds on Lake Superior lake trout and salmon this year due to deferred treatments by the US Fish & Wildlife Service in 2020 due to COVID; however, increased treatments in the past few years should push back against higher than normal sea lamprey abundance.

Grand Marais area

Good year classes in 2018 and 2019 should yield abundant large-sized walleye in the 17 to 20-inch size range in many area lakes. Northern pike fishing should be good, especially in the shallow bays of larger lakes like Saganaga, Gunflint, West Bearskin, Poplar, and Devil Track. Smallmouth bass fishing should be starting to pick up and get better as May progresses.

Each spring the Grand Marais office stocks yearling (9-12 inch) rainbow trout in several easily accessible lakes, including Mink, Kimball, Leo, Birch, Trout, Mayhew, and Pine (also known as Trestle Pine). The Grand Marais office also stocks many remote lakes regularly with brook trout and splake. Early snowmelt and warm temperatures should make forest roads and portage trails dry and accessible. Limited snow during winter hindered snowmobilers and reduced ice-fishing access to many lakes, which should result in more fish being caught during open-water fishing.

Lake trout may still be in the shallows and active on the larger accessible lakes like Greenwood, Gunflint, and Loon. Lake trout in smaller lakes are likely heading to deeper waters but still catchable from a canoe on opening weekend. Brook trout fishing in streams (above barriers) could be poor because of low stream flows due to the lack of spring snowmelt. Anglers may have to cover a lot of ground to find pockets of good habitat that are holding fish. Steelhead runs will likely be over in tributaries of Lake Superior, but with limited stream flows could still provide angling opportunities adjacent to tributary mouths in Lake Superior.

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Reminders for a great season from the MN DNR

These fishing outlooks contain a wide range of fisheries information compiled from local DNR Fisheries staff. You can find more information about the management, habitat, and oversight work performed by area fisheries staff, and how to contact them, on the DNR area fisheries pages. We hope you have a great fishing experience. And we also encourage you to take a kid fishing or introduce someone new to fishing!

Check the DNR fishing webpage
The DNR has a fishing page to help answer angler questions. The page links to LakeFinder, which provides maps, special regulation information for individual lakes, and other detailed information on lakes throughout the state, and the StreamFinder tool that provides a description, species list, regulations, and access information for trout streams throughout Minnesota. The fishing page includes the online versions of the Minnesota fishing regulations booklet in multiple languages. The regulations booklet is available in print anywhere DNR licenses are sold.

Clean In Clean Out
Remember anglers and boaters, Clean In Clean Out when boating or fishing in Minnesota. Protect your waters by following state aquatic invasive species laws. Clean, drain, dispose and keep all plugs out while transporting boats. Find information on aquatic invasive species on the DNR website.

Fish consumption guidance
Anglers can find fish consumption guidance on the Minnesota Department of Health website. Anglers should check for site-specific advice that pertains to the water they’re fishing. If eating fish from a variety of waters or specific water isn’t listed, anglers should follow the statewide guidelines. The MDH website has both site-specific and statewide guidance on eating fish.

Safety must be the priority around cold water
Cold water is dangerous and unexpected falls can quickly turn tragic. About 30% of fatal boating accidents each year happen during the cold-water period, and many involve victims who weren’t wearing a life jacket. The most effective way to survive a fall into cold water is to wear a life jacket and make sure the jacket is buckled or zipped. For more information about staying safe on and around cold water, visit the DNR cold water safety page.