any reports on steelhead? I'm thinking of heading up this coming weekend, has anyone had any luck north of duluth or along the north wisconsin tributaries? I would appreciate any info, thanx.
This might be a little late for you but I'll post it anyways.
My son and I took a little drive to the Lester River yesterday April 9. I counted around 25 fisherman at the mouth and up stream to the railroad. I was there for about and hour and saw 4 fished hooked and landed. 3 were from mouth area and 1 from the first deep hole upstream right past the London Road bridge. The fish were full of spawn and still bright silver. Beautiful looking fish. I did not see any fly fishing though.
I saw what 2 of the fish were caught on. Both came off a dark colored jig, Looper Bug?. So I figured wooly buggers or worms would work if your fly fishing. The hair jig was fished under a bobber off the side of the main current where it enters Lake Superior.
I wished I had my fishing stuff. I might head there with my son if the wind is not bad and the weather stays decent.
Good luck out there. The fish are definetly moving up the streams. The Lester River is usually one of the first to start getting runs. I've fished the lester for almost 10 years now, just haven't in the last 3 because of kids and too much stuff going on.
I am new to flyfishing, but have a question. Will trout from the Lake start at Duluth and work their way north, or are all stream/lake connections
equally plentiful with trout? If equal, then the further you travel north, the less fisherman competing for fish?
just curious. thanks
Generally the stream sstarting in Duluth warm first and start getting runs first and then goes northward as the more northernly streams start to warm up and get a good flow. Also remember that most streams on the north shore are rain/snow melt fed. The trout migration is just a trend that starts in Duluth and goes northward. But each stream is different, so you can't only base a stream near Duluth that has some fish to a stream a 100 miles up the shore from Duluth. It's just an observation on my part and would assume that the other rivers are starting to get some runs as well.
As for fish, it about the same for all streams, but some streams get better runs then others for sure, it depends the river. The Knife River gets a decent run, but it also gets a lot of fishing pressure. You will start to find less people the further up the shore you go. I'd say anyplace past two harbors it starts to thin out. I know a few people that had way up the shore but spend a few days there.
Thanks for the advice. This weekend will be my first flyfishing experience. I have
been taking advice from everyone around me (in SE MN), but time to get out there
and learn how it is done. Especially up north. Also been looking to purchase some
waterproof maps at Gander Mountain for the trip up. Unfortunately, I may not get
the correct fly to use for the morning. I am looking to start somewhere south of
Split Rock, I guess!