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Hey everyone, boat is all ready to go sitting in the garage just trying to get a rough idea on when the coho bite will be “good” out of Duluth. Was thinking last week of april or first week of may but with the weather we’re having I’m not sure what to think. The green gates in canal park are now open and I’ve seen a hand full of guys out on the south pier this week. Feel free to leave your guess or any reports you have. 

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At least that long.  St. Louis River/harbor still iced up.  You would need to boat down from McQuade harbor to gain access to the water in front of Duluth and Park point.

 

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I’m about 2-3 hours from Duluth and not going to drive up just “ to try” I’m waiting to hear that the bite is good and the ice has recided. Looking at the temps in the long range forecast the last weekend in April may be a possibility. Looked like 8-10 anglers out on the south pier today. 

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Question for Duluth spring trollers-  I hear people say they have better luck on the south shore trolling than the north shore. When you are talking south shore are you saying you are launching out of areas like Port Wing and Bayfield or are you starting out in front of Duluth and heading along Wisconsin border?

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1 hour ago, DocJpa said:

Question for Duluth spring trollers-  I hear people say they have better luck on the south shore trolling than the north shore. When you are talking south shore are you saying you are launching out of areas like Port Wing and Bayfield or are you starting out in front of Duluth and heading along Wisconsin border?

Usually it means you would start trolling from the Wisconsin entry and head towards the Brule river. From the Wisconsin entry to the lift bridge is Park Point. Every year is different  as to where the best fishing could be located and this year looks to be no exception.

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Looking at the canal park web cam ,,, It appears only 4 fishermen out there this morning ,,, Once the bite picks up there will be people staged every 10-15 ft on the pier ,,, With the NoEast wind this weekend creating 10-14 ft waves  there shouldn't be any ice left along the shore 

 

Im sure when the smelt start to run there will be posts on here ,,, I just hope the landings around Duluth will be open 

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The harbor from the lift bridge going up river has opened up a lot in the past couple of days. The Coast Guard was out there in their rubber life raft motoring around this morning. Must be time to get ready for rescues.

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The really  good coho bite near Duluth usually starts two weeks after the smelt run starts. The Wisconsin shore is usually 1-3 weeks ahead of Duluth.

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What do y’all think a week from now? Will Duluth be fishable from the boat. A lot of ice around right now. Might have to wait yet rather stay around Duluth than drive another half hour to two harbors.

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The big storm last weekend blew a lot of ice into shore around the park point area...the south pier was closed again and there is ice piled up around the pier...not good for the coho fishing off the pier and not good for the smelting off the point. At least the weather is going to be in the 50's for awhile it looks like.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

 Looking at the beach cam there is a lot of ice on shore. Don't know how far that goes into the water though.  Last week in April- first week in May is when I come down to seine. 

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Starting to hear more and better reports from anglers out trolling but still it’s slowly getting better. All the pack ice has left but still plenty of ice stacked up along park point. Water temps still 33-34 degrees. Sometime between next weekend and opener is my guess for when the smelt run will be starting. Possibly going to try the pond for the first time this year next weekend but as always weather plays a big role in being able to get out.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I see they are on sale on Facebook. Must be running somewhere in Wisconsin

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Jim,

Both south shore and north shore streams are having runs, I believe the season has peaked and will wind down now.

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Wouldn’t doubt that. The smelt were defiantly in the area and in groups last weekend. Surface temps were a high 39 last weekend now about 37. It’s the 2nd weekend in May and although we had a late spring it’s about that time when they leave. The trout (lakers) should be getting higher up in the colum and more active though.

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Jarrid,

Really have not heard any reports and that is why I thought it was strange to see them for sale on Facebook. I thought maybe the snowbanks next to shore were slowing things down. I really only care about the salmon that eat the smelt ?

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
On 5/10/2018 at 12:09 PM, Jim Almquist said:

Jarrid,

Really have not heard any reports and that is why I thought it was strange to see them for sale on Facebook. I thought maybe the snowbanks next to shore were slowing things down. I really only care about the salmon that eat the smelt ?

I saw the same thing on another site where a guy was selling a 5 gal bucket of them. Not even in a cooler just a bucket with ice. ?

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