Lake Superior Outdoor Fishing Report – Jan. 28, 2026
Fishing Wisconsin
With the recent stretch of below-zero temperatures, anglers report that ice formation has expanded tremendously on Lake Superior. Ice is now present along the entire shoreline from Ashland up through Red Cliff and along the South Shore and out into the Apostle Islands. Reports of ice thickness vary, and anglers are encouraged to consult the ice safety tips at the bottom of this webpage before venturing out.
Chequamegon Bay
A mixture of fish continue to be caught by anglers fishing off Ashland. Yellow perch (8-11 inches) and coho salmon (13-15 inches) have been the most common species harvested. Walleye, herring, splake and burbot have also been reported to our creel clerks. Some anglers fishing off Ashland have been observed taking trucks onto the ice.
On the Washburn side, anglers continue to catch coho salmon (13-15 inches) and have reported several limits (5 fish) to our creel clerks. Anglers accessing the lake from the Washburn Coal Dock, Bodin’s and Red Cliff have all reported great success fishing for cohos. Herring have also been caught by anglers fishing for cohos. The action can be fast and furious when schools of coho and herring come through. Brown trout and splake have also been caught by anglers, generally in 40 feet of water or less. Anglers are starting to venture out offshore into deeper water in pursuit of lake trout.
Superior Harbor/St. Louis River
Last week, the St. Louis River saw a dramatic shift in weather followed by fishing success. Prior to the arctic cold snap, the lower estuary saw steady success targeting walleye during twilight hours, specifically in the mornings. Harvested walleye were frequently reported at this time, reaching 22 inches, with very few caught during daylight hours overall. Although anglers found more consistency throughout the day further up into the river reaches of the St. Louis, the overall catch was fair at best. Fortunately, there were more opportunities to run into other species, including burbot, lake sturgeon, northern pike and panfish. The middle reaches of the St. Louis River have been picking up with the harvest of black crappie and yellow perch increasing, with fish up to 13 and 12 inches, respectively. Despite recent success, the recent cold weather briefly shut off the bite across the system, with very few anglers risking inclement wind chills last weekend. Those that ventured out were surprised to report 3-4 inches of main lake ice outside of the harbor and were able to temporarily jig for lake trout and salmon species for a couple of days before a northwest wind began battering at the lake ice and breaking it up.
Ice Safety
There is no such thing as safe ice. You cannot judge the strength of ice by one factor such as its appearance, age, thickness, temperature or whether the ice is covered with snow. Ice seldom freezes uniformly and can vary greatly in different areas of the same water body. It is important to know before you go. The DNR does not monitor local ice conditions or the thickness of the ice. Local bait shops, fishing clubs and resorts serve winter anglers every day and often have the most up-to-date information. If you’re heading out onto a frozen lake for the first time, check the ice yourself and check it often.
Ice Safety Tips:
- Carry some basic safety gear: ice claws or picks, a cellphone in a waterproof case, a life jacket and a length of rope.
- Dress warm in layers.
- Don’t go alone. Head out with friends or family. Carry a cell phone with you and make sure someone knows where you are and when you are expected to return.
- Know before you go. Don’t travel in areas you are not familiar with, and don’t travel at night during reduced visibility.
- Avoid inlets, outlets or narrows that may have current that can cause thin ice.
REMINDER – Anglers must carry a paper copy of their license/stamps while fishing on Lake Michigan, Lake Superior and the Wisconsin/Michigan, Wisconsin/Minnesota and Wisconsin/Iowa boundary waters.