I love fishing the big pond but unfortunately my 14 ft duck boat just doesn't cut it and charter fees add up quick. I will be heading up at the end of the month and hope to do some stream trout fishing. Does anyone have any advice as to where to go to get into some decent stream action away from the lake?

Also I tried pitching spoons off the Two harbors breakwall last August. I didn't get a bite but had a follow which was nearly as intense. I'll definately be giving that a try again. When do the loopers come back in and stage offshore in the fall?

Thanks,
Brian

Have you considered bringing your boat up to fish some stream trout lakes? You'll catch much bigger fish that what are swimming around in the streams...and you'll actually be able to keep them! All the good lakes are a bit farther than two harbors though.

JB,

No I hadn't really even thought of bringing the boat to fist lakes. I honestly have never fished small lakes for trout in a boat so I wouldn't even know where to begin. Are the area lakes pretty decent for trout? The drive doesn't bother me if the fishing is decent.

I was just thinking of fishing the streams because I know they hold trout and I just got back from Colorado where the stream fishing was excellent. I was probably spoiled. Are the restrictions pretty tight on the north shore rivers or is there just a lack of keeper fish?

Any suggestions are great at this point.

Thanks,
Brian

pretty much catch and release only. Unless you like the thought of eating a 5 inch brookie from WAY upstream.

I don't really get into the stream trout fishing up here and the little bit I do is over towards ashland. The stream trout lakes are a good suggestion. In-line spinners, small rapala style cranks, and live bait are pretty much all I use when I've fished trout lakes for rainbows and such. If you use live bait pay attention to the regs. Loopers show up fairly well by november and you don't get the competition like you do in the spring. It's a low percentage pursuit even then during "prime time" though. If you're coming up in the fall you also might want to look into some salmon fishing in the tribs on either the north or south shore. The brule river in wi gets a run of lake run browns and steelies in the fall with a few coho as well. It also has a resident trout population and is the only blue ribbon trout stream around as far as I know. You might want to look into that as another option for your trip at the end of the month. It's not far from Duluth but certain areas have canoe and kayak traffic.

I would try the isabella area lots of trout lakes with some good fishing. But be were the bugs aare gonna eat ya alive.

If you go to grand marais you can fish trout, kimball, mink, and pine trestle lakes. All are heavily stocked with various kinds of trout (trout lake also has lakers). Mink and trout have canoe launches, or you can launch a boat at the resort on trout for a $5 fee. Kimball and pine trestle have small launches you'd be able to get your boat on. All I ever use on those lakes are small mepps spinners and spoons, and nightcrawlers of course.

Yeah, you were definitely spoiled in colorado. The northshore streams don't even compare to the streams in SE minnesota. At best you'll catch a few small brookies and rainbows (which you can't keep). It's a combination of strict rules and little fish. The biggest trout I've ever caught on a northshore stream in the summer was a 10 inch brook trout...and those are RARE!

Matt,
When does the South shore salmon run usually take place? I believe it to be in October and if it is I am afraid it would cut into my waterfowling...but i gotta do it one of these years. Is it heavily pressured? Is it more probable to hook a fish then than during the steelhead in the spring cause they do a good job of alluding my hooks every year.

Also, most trout lakes I have heard of are quite deep. Do the fish suspend in deep water like they do in the big pond or do they gather near structure like toothy fish do? Do I have to bring downriggers to get down to depths the fish are at or does typical trolling get their attention?

The browns start running in august and the steelies and kings start in september on the Brule. Other tribs start taking kings in september too. Check out the WI DNR website. They have a page full of Q & A pertaining to the trout and salmon along the south shore of Lake Superior. I don't know if it's acceptable to post the link but if so here it is.

http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/lakesup/lakesuperiortribFAQs.htm#7


Some places get a bit of pressure but not anything crazy like most would expect. Sometimes you are the only one around. It just depends on the day and where you are. When it peaks and word gets out there's a few guys in some spots for a few days though. I can't promis you anything on the hook-ups compared to sring steelies but if you find fresh fish you can get them to eat. There are a lot of fish though that don't eat and wind up getting snagged by some real class acts. I like using red sometimes for the kings if they aren't eating. Some say they will hit it because it makes them angry. While I don't know if that's exactly true it has produced for me. I'd recommend a trip to the brule in september for browns and steelies. Most of the steelhead arrive in the fall there and they are bright fish full of fight. The same goes with the browns. As far as the trout lakes... Some will be suspended and some will be near structure. I've never used downriggers for stream trout lakes but have seen it done with success. Some trout lakes such as the old strip mines have little or no structure with steep banks and the fish there could be anywhere. If you have a lake with structure to fish try the tops or sides around it.

With the exception of trout lake, the other lakes I mentioned aren't any deeper than 20 or so feet. So save the downriggers for the lake trout. In my experience I've done best trolling spinners near the surface or just casting spoons out and letting them sink to the bottom and then reeling them back. I honestly don't think structure matters, the trout will be anywhere from the surface to the bottom.

box....when are you planning on going??? Are we still going together?? what's going on with that?