Cool, wet and rainy has been the common theme this past week. It is now officially fall, and fishing patterns have changed over from late-summer tactics.
One thing we have been diving into is the stream-fishing bite. Fresh rain and water temperatures hitting that magic number have brought lots of migratory trout and salmon into the tributaries. Pink salmon have been the dominant catch, but the occasional brown trout and steelhead have also been showing up. Throwing hardware (spinners, etc.) with regular spinning rods has been good. Stream fishing will continue to get better as we move further into fall.
The Lake Superior bite also has been pretty darn good. Look to the areas off the tributary mouths and you will find big lake trout getting free lunches of migratory salmon trying to make their way into the streams to deposit eggs. Anglers have even been catching them jigging and casting off shore with long rods. Lake trout season will be closing Oct. 8 on Lake Superior, so now is the time to get out for one last hurrah.
The St. Louis River has been decent for smaller resident walleyes taking jig and minnow/soft plastics combinations. We are continuing to work the channel edges. River conditions are a little dirty and fast. Fishing on the upper sections of the river has not been ideal, but the mid-sections have given up some good fish. Things will improve as we move further into October.
Inland fishing has been great for late-season panfish like big bluegills and crappies. We are still targeting any type of structure that is on mid-lake basins. Small, 1/16-ounce jigs and soft plastics have been the way to go. Rock bass have been a lot of fun as well. For the angler looking to keep a few panfish, don't ignore the rock bass because they make good table fare.
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Muskie season is on the verge of being in full swing. Reports are still on the slower side, but come late October into November, that will change!
Jarrid Houston of South Range is a fishing guide (houstonsguideservice.com) on Minnesota and Wisconsin inland waters, the St. Louis River and, in winter, on Lake Superior.
