Howdy! I'm new to Minnesota and have spent the last several years living (and fly fishing) in Idaho. Since I am new, I don't know much about fly fishing in Minnesota. However, my in-laws just purchased a new home in Northern Minnesota, near Eveleth. Their property runs along a fair bit of the St. Louis River and I thought I should plan on fishing it this summer.
However, I don't know anything about 1) how good the fishing is up on that stretch of the river and 2) what kind of fish I can expect to run into there. Everything I have been able to find about the St. Louis River deals with the southern portion where it runs into Lake Superior. So any help anyone has about the fishing (as well as any tips) up in the northern stretch of the river near Eveleth would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks and good fishing!
When my sis was going to school up in Eveleth, I tried fishing some of the St. Louis River years ago, but more near Biwabik and Hoyt Lakes because I was more familier with that area. Didn't manage to much. You can expect to find smallmouth bass, walleye and pike and all your major less fish like rock bass. The smallmouth tend to be on the smaller side and same with the pike. I think it has to do more with the amount of water, depth and food. In the summer, the St. Louis can draw down pretty shallow, making it warmer. The St. Louis River mainly gets fished for walleye and catfish. I've never heard of any trout coming out of the upper sections, but I would not be surprised if there are trout near cold feeder streams, deep holes, etc, because the lower St. Louis River sections and the lower Cloquet River hold some trout as well.
I fished the area near Floodwood which gets a little better with more smallmouth, but the size doesn't get much bigger. I'm sure there are decent sized ones in the river, but one would have to spend some time on it. I only fly fished it from a canoe and never have done any wading, but I think it would be extremely tough to wade.
I guide on the lower stretches because the river starts to widen, allowing easier boat drifting with the sections closest to Duluth allowing bigger motorized boats. Then the fish get much bigger. The two in my avatar were spring time St. Louis River smallies.
If you have access to a canoe or boat, you could try many of the lakes in the Eveleth area. One that comes to mind is Ely Lake right by Eveleth. Loaded with smallies and largemouth and good sized pike. There are quite a few lakes around Ely and south of Ely which hold good numbers of bass and pike.
If your after trout you can try the Dark River north of Chisolm, about the closest known trout stream in the area.
