Shore fishing in Duluth

[AlwaysFishing23]

Hi coming up to Duluth on April 8 and want to wet a line I have never fished superior and have a few questions I want to stay in the canal park area and herd they usually fish cohos off the south pier about this time off year? What kind of bait marine genral said rippin raps shad rap ect. Any help would be very appreciated! Thanks!

[Jim Almquist]

Most just use crawlers off the bottom. Egg sinker with a shot of air or under a float. It can get so busy that casting could be out of the question. Think of having people lined up with rods every 10' and a bunch of tourist walking behind you not paying attention.

[AlwaysFishing23]

Thanks then just a plain hook? What size? Does anybody have any reports of catching fish?

[Jim Almquist]

I like a size 8

[AlwaysFishing23]

Thanks for the help!

[reinhard1]

My brother was up with his friend to try for loopers or steelhead in the rivers.  They fished all the rivers up to the Split Rock.  They didn't get any fish.  Fishing was slow.  Anglers they met up with had the same results.  The rivers are a little on the low side and the water is more on the clear side.  They did spot some trout but few.  Rain is on the way so conditions should improve for the rainbows to move in from the big lake.  My brother did get a couple of steelhead on his way back from Florida last week in the Menomonie River in eastern Wisconsin.  good luck.

[AlwaysFishing23]

Nice fish! Thanks for the report!

[certified jumbo]

Fishing machine, there hasn't been great coho catching as of recent.

[AlwaysFishing23]

Thanks for the report... Looks like there's been a few people fishing looking on the Duluth harbor cam... Can't tell if there catching anything but hey it's always worth a try!

[reinhard1]

Was up on the North Shore yesterday.  Was greeted by a big blast of snow while driving through Duluth in the am.  London rd. was all white and traffic slow until I reached the Lester and all was good.  We knew fishing was going to be slow, way early yet but needed to get out.  Fishing was slow and we did not see one trout caught including by ourselves.  We tried spawn bags and waxies.  Some guy's were going out of McQuades trolling.  Perfect day for it.  Wish I brought my box of spoons along.  Wind was going out to the lake and the water for trolling was perfect.  The French River was packed with anglers while the rest of the rivers had little or below average amounts of anglers.  Water was flowing well but still a bit low with slightly stained waters.  With some more rain and a up-tick in water temps and we will have more fish in the rivers.  There are no signs of spawning activity yet.  So it's early but good to get out.  good luck.

 

Water is flowing well but a bit low yet and the water is very cold.

 

 

Spotted some trollers out on the big lake near a mouth of a stream..

 

 

My brother stood on solid ground vs those ice shelves that still exist on some shaded streams.

 

 

Gooseberry Park was packed with tourists and we were the only anglers there.

 

IMG_0116 (2).3gp

 

 

[AlwaysFishing23]

Thanks for the report!!

[live4chrome]

for coho on the pier I have had best luck on the pier with a bobber and nightcrawler set 6 feet below. Its easy fishing. you can also float one with a slip sinker rig.

[AlwaysFishing23]

Thanks for the advice! That was on the south pier in Duluth?

[2thepointsetters]

The coho usually show up by the Duluth entry the same time the smelt do. Probably a couple weeks before the pier fishing is decent. 

[AlwaysFishing23]

2 hours ago, 2thepointsetters said:

The coho usually show up by the Duluth entry the same time the smelt do. Probably a couple weeks before the pier fishing is decent. 

Yeah. So I'm a bit early but there may be a few around there I would guess?

[AlwaysFishing23]

Can you use treble hooks on lures on superior i was reading the regulations and it sounded like you can't is that true?

Edited April 3, 2016 by Fishin machine
Error

[JBMasterAngler]

Yes you can use treble hooks on Lake Superior. The single hook rule only applies to tributaries below posted boundaries. You can also use 2 lines on the big pond.

 

 

 

[AlwaysFishing23]

That's what I thought! Has anyone had any luck casting?

[2thepointsetters]

15 hours ago, Fishin machine said:

Yeah. So I'm a bit early but there may be a few around there I would guess?

Yes on the early side. If there is nothing around Duluth then I would try off the Two Harbors break wall. 

[AlwaysFishing23]

Do most people use a net to land fish to get them over the pier or just lift them over?

[certified jumbo]

people do both, net and flip them in.

i did see a looper caught by a guy casting a spoon this weekend on the shore.

cold temps forecast this week and also easterly winds all week.  bring lots of warm clothes if you go.

[AlwaysFishing23]

On April 4, 2016 at 10:23 AM, certified jumbo said:

 

cold temps forecast this week and also easterly winds all week.  bring lots of warm clothes if you go.

Exactly! Looking at the weather and winds it's not looking to good. That's Mother Nature for ya!

[AlwaysFishing23]

Ok... I need some advice so I've got some crawlers and was wondering if I should bring those or just cast not looking like I will be able to make it down to the south pier looking at the weather so I was thinking of trying it by the rocks by the north pier and was just going to cast but was thinking of bringing some crawlers what do you guys think?

[nlayne882]

Bring the crawlers for sure 

My buddy Nick and I had a good day up the shore last weekend 

[AlwaysFishing23]

Thanks I'll  bring them then! 

[reinhard1]

Nice fish!!! Congratulations on a good day.  good luck.

[reinhard1]

Last week the DNR fisheries crew was out and netted 673 loopers out of the pool on the French River for the purpose of stripping the eggs.  That's pretty good considering that all of last year the total netting for the whole spring run was 888 loopers.  I guess they are going to do this a couple times a week until the run is over so last years numbers will be topped.  I'll be up there next week again to give it a shot.  I figure next week will be good because of the upcoming rain and warmer temps predicted.  Then the run will peter out and it will be better to go to the middle shore streams and upper north shore streams.  Here is a pic of the netting at the French I got from the article.  good luck.

[certified jumbo]

As of yesterday, they were at 903 loopers total.  Great photo reinhard!

[biff]

Glad to see they finally netted the French. That pool has been stacked with loopers since last fall. They should be hungry!

[snagfinder]

I hope they are hungry my dad is picking me up in--oh crap 4.5 hrs from now for our first of hopefully 3 or 4 trips this spring.