Lake Superior Outdoor Fishing Report – June 12, 2024
Fishing Wisconsin
Apostle Islands
Water surface temperatures generally range from the low to mid-50s. Nearshore trolling has been very good for trout and salmon. Catches have mainly consisted of a combination of brown trout (16-24”), splake (15-20”), lake trout (18-24”) and coho salmon (16-18”). Most anglers are targeting 10-40 feet of water in nearshore areas along the mainland and around the islands using a variety of crankbaits and spoons. Anglers are beginning to target lake trout in earnest. Some lake trout anglers have reported success in 30-80 feet of water, while others are fishing near the bottom at 100+ feet of water, primarily using spoons and flashers.
Chequamegon Bay
Frequent rainfall has resulted in dirty water for much of the spring, making fishing somewhat difficult at times. Current water temps are reportedly 58-64 degrees Fahrenheit. Smallmouth bass spawning activity is beginning to pick up in the sloughs and along the Ashland shoreline. Bass anglers are reporting fair-to-good success, and fishing should continue to get better as spawning activity increases with water temps. Anglers targeting walleye are reporting fair-to-good success trolling along the Ashland shoreline and out from second landing with stickbaits and crawler harnesses, or by casting in the shallows during low light periods. Walleye can also be caught near or over top of new vegetation, along with a few northern pike.
Cornucopia/Port Wing
Runoff from frequent rainfalls continues to create large mudlines nearshore, especially near river mouths. Water temperatures vary greatly, with anglers reporting 45-55 degrees Fahrenheit in the dirty water near river mouths and 38-42 degrees Fahrenheit in the clearer water. Fishing has been fair for brown trout (16-24”) and coho salmon (16-18”), with some steelhead (rainbow trout) being reported as well. Most anglers are targeting 20-60 feet of water near shore and along mudlines near river mouths using stickbaits and spoons. Some anglers have begun to target lake trout near the bottom in 100+ feet of water, and action should pick up near the surface over deeper water as the water temperature continues to climb.
Saxon
Water temperatures are generally reported in the low to mid-50s. Fishing has been tough for much of the spring due to windy conditions. Runoff from recent heavy rainfall will once again likely result in a considerable amount of dirty water nearshore for the next week or so. Some anglers have been able to find a few coho salmon (16-18”) high in the water column over 60-100+ feet of water. A few brown trout, splake and lake trout have been reported from outside the mudlines in 20-40 feet of water. Anglers targeting lake trout are having some success fishing near the bottom in 50-100+ feet of water. When weather allows it, a few anglers have also reported limited success jigging for lake trout in 50-90 feet of water. Fishing should pick up as the weather improves and the dirty water disperses.
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.