Lake Superior week of Sept. 17: slow lake trout, light pinks in two rivers

Minnesota DNR's Lake Superior Fishing Report for Sept. 17, 2026, describes a slow week on the lower shore from Duluth to Two Harbors. Surface water was about 60–65°F near Duluth, 50–55°F at Knife River, and 45–50°F at Two Harbors. Stations reported slow fishing for lake trout of 18 to 29 inches, and no salmon from the sample stations. Near Duluth, the bites that came were on spoons, flasher flies, and stickbaits trolled in 70 to 160 feet. Farther north, anglers jigged structure in 100 to 200 feet and trolled bright spoons, stickbaits, and flasher flies in 120 to 250 feet, with fish favoring the bottom 50 feet. No effort was reported on the St. Louis River estuary.

The upper shore, Twin Points to Hovland, fell flat. Strong west winds dropped water from the mid-50s into the mid-40s. Few fish were marked, and the ones that showed did not bite. Anglers who got out between the weather picked up some lake trout on green and orange spoons. After rain, a few pink salmon were seen in the Brule and the Temperance — light numbers. Pressure was light, mostly because small-craft advisories kept boats in.

The bulletin's management note is on pink salmon, an accidental introduction in 1956 that is showing renewed abundance in the Great Lakes. Great Lakes pinks can mature at ages 1 through 4, and they need very little spawning habitat. Fall runs are mainly September through mid-October. They are still a minor part of the Lake Superior fishery, but they expand in warm years. Questions on the report go to nathan.beckman2@state.mn.us or 218-302-3277.

Photo: Minnesota DNR (male pink salmon in spawning colors, on the Sept. 17, 2026 Lake Superior Fishing Report).

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: Minnesota DNR — Lake Superior Fishing Report, Sept. 17, 2026