This Spring I will be fly fishing on the North Shore of Minnesota a.ka. lester river, french River, and possibly the knife. I'm wondering if anyone knows when the run is going to be the strongest and what are the preferred lures this spring?
There's still ice on most of the rivers. Once the ice melts and we get more water in the rivers and water temps rise to the 40s is when the steelhead will run. Lester is good if you hit it before the crowds. It's the most accessible river to Duluth, so it gets hit hard. Try going north for more solitude; Knife, Stewart, Sucker are all good choices and a short drive. You can check out www.minnesotasteelheader.com for the latest reports and also daily flow charts for some of the rivers which will help you pinpoint the run. As far as flies, nothing beats yarn. The water on the shore is too cold for a lot of aquatic insects, so these fish are chasing eggs. Google "egg yarn fly" and you'll get the idea. Very cheap and simple, you can buy 15ft of yarn for a few bucks. Pinks and yellows are great colors to start out with.
Donnie thanks for your input. I have heard from years past that yarn is the choice lure and its a fail safe method for early season steelhead. I would like to fish the Lester but you are right it gets over populated with fishermen and getting the right spot can be quite the hassel. Since I won't be making it out there till the 29th it might be best to hit up one of the other less fished rivers but I will ask around and see whats hot at that time.
Wow. I would like to click the "Like" button all over that picture.
Like the master Donnie said the north shore is unusually slow this spring and probably won't pick up until late late April and go through mid May depending on weather. We caught Steelhead in quite a few rivers last year and I'd say my favorite are the Sucker and Devil Track. Great scenery if you don't mind a little hiking and small enough to fish easily. Let me know what you're thinking for a date! I plan on making it up to the north shore for a few weekends so I'd be fun to hook up.
Wisconsin is another option to consider. The Brule is a great steelhead river that sees way more steelhead than any north shore streams, and there is 44 fishable miles. I plan to be up there this weekend and next. Haven't fished it in the past but will be using nymph rigs with an attractor nymph as well as yarn under an indicator.
I have heard the Brule river is the best fly fishing river in the area and would love to try it out sometime but it might not be this spring. If I get a job in Duluth then I will be surely getting in on the fall run. The Brule is roughly an hour out of Duluth so it would be stupid to not try it.
Like I said I dont know much about the North Shore fly fishing but from fishing out here in the cascades I will agree with the yarn under a indicaor, I would also go with some kind of float to keep it off the bottom a little, my favorite is the pink and silver spin and glow. In my opinon the most important part is getting the river early and hitting the key spots, current breaks, trees, and pools. Also if you know you are in good areas dont be afraid to change up the presentation, exspecaily if EVERYONE on the river is running yarn. Good luck!
Just got back from fishing the brule River in Wisconsin. The water was high and murky, with the fast currents and poor visability fishing was tough. The locals seemed to be pulling in a couple every once in a while but nothing to brag about. From what I saw the locals had been using yarn, lots of split shot, and an indicator. Browns were still being caught but the steel heads were hard to come by. I would recommend staying on the Duluth/ MN side until the water goes down.
Right on with Nolan on that one. On that note, if you go to the Brule a poor days fishing can be easily cured by a 6 pack of wildcat at the local Brule bar.
Ended up heading to the Lester and caught the first steelhead of the season on pink yarn under an indicator on the cliff strip between the upper pool and the highway.
What may have been a bit disappointing for you guys might play in my favor as I won't be able to go fish the north shore for another week and a half or so. I will carry a couple wild cats in my waders just in case.
picture courtesy of moldychum
ReplyDeleteAll I know is that I would use whatever lure that she is biting on! Damn...
ReplyDeleteThere's still ice on most of the rivers. Once the ice melts and we get more water in the rivers and water temps rise to the 40s is when the steelhead will run. Lester is good if you hit it before the crowds. It's the most accessible river to Duluth, so it gets hit hard. Try going north for more solitude; Knife, Stewart, Sucker are all good choices and a short drive. You can check out www.minnesotasteelheader.com for the latest reports and also daily flow charts for some of the rivers which will help you pinpoint the run. As far as flies, nothing beats yarn. The water on the shore is too cold for a lot of aquatic insects, so these fish are chasing eggs. Google "egg yarn fly" and you'll get the idea. Very cheap and simple, you can buy 15ft of yarn for a few bucks. Pinks and yellows are great colors to start out with.
ReplyDeleteDonnie thanks for your input. I have heard from years past that yarn is the choice lure and its a fail safe method for early season steelhead. I would like to fish the Lester but you are right it gets over populated with fishermen and getting the right spot can be quite the hassel. Since I won't be making it out there till the 29th it might be best to hit up one of the other less fished rivers but I will ask around and see whats hot at that time.
ReplyDeleteWow. I would like to click the "Like" button all over that picture.
ReplyDeleteLike the master Donnie said the north shore is unusually slow this spring and probably won't pick up until late late April and go through mid May depending on weather. We caught Steelhead in quite a few rivers last year and I'd say my favorite are the Sucker and Devil Track. Great scenery if you don't mind a little hiking and small enough to fish easily. Let me know what you're thinking for a date! I plan on making it up to the north shore for a few weekends so I'd be fun to hook up.
Wisconsin is another option to consider. The Brule is a great steelhead river that sees way more steelhead than any north shore streams, and there is 44 fishable miles. I plan to be up there this weekend and next. Haven't fished it in the past but will be using nymph rigs with an attractor nymph as well as yarn under an indicator.
I have heard the Brule river is the best fly fishing river in the area and would love to try it out sometime but it might not be this spring. If I get a job in Duluth then I will be surely getting in on the fall run. The Brule is roughly an hour out of Duluth so it would be stupid to not try it.
ReplyDeleteLike I said I dont know much about the North Shore fly fishing but from fishing out here in the cascades I will agree with the yarn under a indicaor, I would also go with some kind of float to keep it off the bottom a little, my favorite is the pink and silver spin and glow. In my opinon the most important part is getting the river early and hitting the key spots, current breaks, trees, and pools. Also if you know you are in good areas dont be afraid to change up the presentation, exspecaily if EVERYONE on the river is running yarn. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteJust got back from fishing the brule River in Wisconsin. The water was high and murky, with the fast currents and poor visability fishing was tough. The locals seemed to be pulling in a couple every once in a while but nothing to brag about. From what I saw the locals had been using yarn, lots of split shot, and an indicator. Browns were still being caught but the steel heads were hard to come by. I would recommend staying on the Duluth/ MN side until the water goes down.
ReplyDeleteRight on with Nolan on that one. On that note, if you go to the Brule a poor days fishing can be easily cured by a 6 pack of wildcat at the local Brule bar.
ReplyDeleteEnded up heading to the Lester and caught the first steelhead of the season on pink yarn under an indicator on the cliff strip between the upper pool and the highway.
What may have been a bit disappointing for you guys might play in my favor as I won't be able to go fish the north shore for another week and a half or so. I will carry a couple wild cats in my waders just in case.
ReplyDelete