Autumn Angling on Lake Superior's Duluth Shoreline - Trout, Walleye, and Salmon Updates for October 18th, 2025

Artificial Lure reporting in from Duluth’s Lake Superior shoreline, bringing today’s fishing update for Saturday, October 18th, 2025.We're waking up to a bit of fall crispness—temps started overnight in the mid-40s, with the high pushing to about 56°F by midafternoon. The morning was calm, just a light breeze off the lake, and partly cloudy skies kept things comfortable. Sunrise hit at 7:32 a.m., and you can expect the sun to set at 6:27 p.m. That means steady daylight for those afternoon bites. Winds are light out of the west, waters mostly settled, and no precipitation in the forecast—pretty much classic autumn Duluth weather, perfect for trolling or jigging. According to US Harbors, there’s no real tidal action to speak of on Lake Superior, but minor solunar activity peaked right around your first coffee (6:51 a.m.–7:51 a.m.), with a stronger bite window from 2:12 p.m. to 4:12 p.m.Now, on the fish side: local anglers have reported a solid uptick in mixed catches. Deepwater Sculpin numbers continue to boom in the deep, and fall surveys show they’re still one of the most abundant benthic species caught in bottom trawls out here. October trawl statistics have been off the chart for this little powerhouse—over 18,000 individuals in recent surveys, making up nearly 17% of the catch by number in the main basin. That's encouraging news for the ecosystem and for larger predators like lake trout. Anglers trolling 60–150 feet are still finding lake trout active on reefs and ledges. Out of Brighton Beach and up near the mouth of the Lester River, folks are getting into nice numbers of trout with white tube jigs and heavy spoons, particularly in the low-light stretches.Walleye reports from the St. Louis River estuary and harbor edges are strong. Key setups for walleye have been vertical jigging with live minnows or soft plastics—St. Croix rods paired with a subtle, slow fall bait presentation are turning fish, especially in 10–25 feet along weedlines and current breaks. Crawlers and leeches are doing well for those fishing slip bobbers near the Park Point breakwall, especially at dusk.Salmon action’s tapering but not done—cohos and a stray chinook or two have been caught right in front of the canal piers on casting spoons (silver-blue, glow, and chartreuse patterns doing best). Early risers found moderate success with crankbaits prior to sunup.Perch are also coming in strong throughout the western bays, best caught with small minnow rigs or drop-shotting pieces of crawler. A few bigger ones have come from 8–15 feet at the edge of weed beds near the mouth of the St. Louis. Reports from local shops recommend sticking to live bait presentations for perch, or micro-jigs tipped with waxies if things slow down.Lure choice is solidly autumn: for **lake trout and salmon**, go with heavy spoons, white tubes, or bright crankbaits with a slow retrieve. **Walleye**—favor jigheads tipped with fathead minnows, soft shads, or a leech on a slip rig. **Perch**—ultra-light rigs with live minnows always take top spot. Don’t overlook casting shallow if temps warm up midday; fish sometimes push onto the rocks chasing lingering baitfish.**Hot spots today:** - Brighton Beach for deep-water trout and evening perch.- Mouth of Lester River for salmon and shoreline walleye.- St. Louis River estuary, particularly near Boy Scout Landing, for trophy walleye and mixed species.- Canal Park piers for salmon chasers and the occasional whitefish surprise.Keep an eye on the weather and water clarity, as a northeast wind later could bring a chill and shuffle things around. That’s the latest from the North Shore—thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure. Be sure to subscribe for daily local fishing insights, and keep those rods bent. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.Great deals on fishing gear...