Minnesota Steelheader

Over the Hindu Kush Flies from Afghanistan-Part 2 Apologies for the long hiatus, life got in the way of putting together another article in the series. I hope to have more time in the future to publish these more regularly. The next fly up to bat is an all-around touchdown when it comes to catching fish, and everyone needs to have a few of these in their box (preferably in various sizes and colors). The Wooly Bugger can be considered as one of the most versatile of all fly patterns. Simply put the fly can be used for numerous species, from saltwater to freshwater, used in all types of environments, from cold water to warm water, all seasons and all water types. I have used them for Steelhead, Browns, Smallmouth, Loopers, Lake Trout, Brook Trout, Northern Pike, Redfish, even for trout through the ice in the BWCA. The sky is truly the limit for this fly. My excitement for the big Wooly Bugger was realized about 15 years ago while fishing for late run Steelhead on t...

Shore casting the North Shore of Lake Superior can at times appear to be a daunting task, it is, however, an enjoyable and very effective way to fish the big lake.  River mouths Most of us have seen the numerous fishermen lining the banks near the French or Lester rivers. Why? Because these are consistently good places to fish. A beginning shore caster would be smart to start their quest fishing river mouths, particularly early in the season when steelhead, Kamloops and lakers can be found in abundance. The river plumes provide warm water and a steady flow of bugs which fish like. Due to the fairly shallow water found at most mouths, it’s best to fish them in low light. Target these areas early in the morning and late in the evening or on a dreary overcast day. You will be less noticeable to the fish and they will be less apt to spook.  Seeing how there are over 25 potential stream/river mouths to fish it would be crazy to ignore these great areas. Fly and hardware...

Our Lake Superior North Shore winter fishing clinic is open for registration.  We are limiting the clinic to 12 anglers.  Registration fills quickly, so sign up early. The clinic will be held along the North Shore inside.  Fishing on your own after you learn all you need to know to get started! Below is some of the information you will find on our website information page.  A registration link is there too.  This is a unique opportunity to fish open water in February for good tasting Kamloops rainbow trout and coho salmon. What is the Winter Shore casting clinic? This clinic is aimed to teach anglers the fundamentals of shore casting the breaks, beaches, and shore of Minnesota's Lake Superior shoreline. The clinic focuses on steelhead and Kamloops rainbow trout, but will also touch on some other available species. Due to unpredictable weather, the clinic will be conducted indoors.  We ...

Effective Immediately, Sucker River Access is   CLOSED. As of September 19th, 2018, access downstream of scenic highway 61 on both sides of the river is no longer open for public use.   Signs have been posted marking the closure areas and a notice containing additional details has been posted at the parking lot. As many of the North Shore angling pubic know, this same access was on the verge of closure back in April of 2017.   To learn more about the history – click here . For many years, these land owners have graciously allowed visitors to utilize paths on their property to access the shoreline of Lake Superior. Anglers have enjoyed the benefits of ready access to the various pools, runs and riffles as well as the mouth of the Sucker River.   In recent years however, problems that can unfortunately come with open access have grown progressively worse. There has been an increase in senseless littering, vandalism, criminal damage to property and the theft...

Each fall, many of us make the pilgrimage back to the North Shore to wet a line after long a summer away.  Memories from past spring seasons often fill our thoughts while enjoying the beautiful drive, anticipating what the fall season will bring. Fall fishing on the North Shore typically consists of chasing pink salmon in low, clear water although there are days where steelhead and coho seem to magically appear. These lower water levels make getting around rivers much easier and are an ideal time to learn more about what makes your favorite high water holes so productive. Fall fishing also comes after the busy summer tourist season; and with the summer season come lots of folks who enjoy playing in the water. Who can blame them? The cool water is quite refreshing on a hot summer day, and a relaxing hike exploring North Shore streams is food for the soul. It's unlikely there is a dramatic impact on the fishery or habitat with a swim here or a water-hike there, but another s...

A Note about the Minnesota Steelheader Creel Project: Each year, Minnesota Steelheader collects and compiles voluntarily submitted creel reports o f steelhead, kamloops and presumed coaster brook trout through ou r Creel Project page. This catch information is combined and compared against numerous data s ets, the goa l being t o provide you with t he most accurate picture of North Shore steelhead run behavior. While the primary focus has been fish caught in the tributaries during the Spring migration and spawning run, we appreciate and accept creel reports year-round . MS analyzes reported catch dates, region caught, the numbers by specie s, measurements of daily flow, temperature and other open-source fisheries data, and the results are charted in Daily, Weekly and Historical formats. This is not a scientific creel by definition. We do however incorporate, use and present as much of the available scientific literature as we can; the difference is that this is done ...