North Shore stream trout season opens as ice and cold temperatures linger

While it may feel and look like spring in the southern half of the state, it’s a completely different story along the North Shore of Lake Superior.

Winter remains in full swing near Grand Marais and farther inland throughout the Superior National Forest.

On Saturday, April 11, the Minnesota stream trout season opens, and anglers willing to venture to streams along the North Shore may find it a challenge.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reported this week that many of the North Shore rivers stretching from the Lester River in Duluth to the Brule River in Hovland remain “unfishable,” given the lingering winter conditions.

Water temperatures along the North Shore range between the low and mid-30s.

Generally, steelhead, which migrate from Lake Superior into North Shore tributaries each spring to spawn, wait until water temperatures reach 40 degrees. With evening conditions across the Northland still reaching temperatures in the teens or low 20s, it may be quite a few weeks until anglers see steelhead staging at the mouth of a river.

“The spring steelhead run will be many weeks away,” said DNR Conservation Officer Hudson Ledeen in his weekly report. Ledeen serves the Hovland area of Cook County.

Hudson said, “Winter still has a grip on the area, and all rivers remain locked up.”

Farther down the shore, in the Tofte area, Conservation Officer Trent Anderson reported this week that “Area rivers remain inaccessible, hampering spring trapping and steelheading activity.”

The DNR said this week that the smelt run, which occurs each spring, is also expected to be later than normal due to continued cold conditions forecast for the coming week.

The season for brook trout and splake fishing also opens on April 11 for Lake Superior and its tributary streams. Anglers can find more information on Minnesota’s trout streams on the Minnesota DNR website.

While the North Shore will see temperatures in the low 40s on Friday and Saturday, according to the National Weather Service, temperatures at night remain in the low 20s. Rain is forecast to begin Saturday evening and continue through Monday, which may expedite some snow melting.

Kalli Hawkins April 10, 2026