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260,338-acre section. The western tip off Duluth and Superior: kamloops and coho close to shore, lake trout on the shipping-lane drops and walleye out of the St. Louis estuary. The lake tops out around 756 ft. The depth chart is built from real NOAA hydrographic survey soundings, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The outline encloses 262,567 acres, worked by 114.7 miles of shoreline — 3 islands included. A middling shoreline index (1.6) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 4% of this chart. End to end it runs roughly 38.8 mi, about 18.6 mi across. Barrs sits 13 mi northwest — the closest neighbouring chart.
Spring lake trout on Lake Superior - Duluth and the Western Arm hold shallow, usually 10 to 40 ft. By summer they slide out to 50 to 120 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 80 ft. The chart's best answer is Rock reef — rock pile, 31 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (31 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Offshore hump (54 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Rock reef (31 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Offshore hump (54 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Spring coho salmon on Lake Superior - Duluth and the Western Arm hold shallow, usually 3 to 25 ft. They move out to 30 to 70 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 60 ft. Put St. Louis River estuary first on the milk run — an inflow / creek mouth near 22 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | St. Louis River estuary (22 ft) | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (38 ft) | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | St. Louis River estuary (22 ft) | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Sharp break (38 ft) | Small spoon, slow troll |
Early season chinook salmon use the shallows, holding in 5 to 40 ft. Expect a summer slide to 50 to 120 ft, then a winter hold in 30 to 90 ft. Put St. Louis River estuary first on the milk run — an inflow / creek mouth near 22 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | St. Louis River estuary (22 ft) | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (74 ft) | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | St. Louis River estuary (22 ft) | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 30 to 90 ft | midday | Sharp break (74 ft) | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Start shallow in spring: steelhead sit in 3 to 20 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 5 to 45 ft; cold water stacks them in 4 to 15 ft. Top water on the chart: St. Louis River estuary, an inflow / creek mouth in the 22 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw an orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | St. Louis River estuary (22 ft) | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (38 ft) | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | St. Louis River estuary (22 ft) | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 15 ft | midday | open water | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: walleye in 4 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 15 to 35 ft before dropping to 20 to 40 ft for winter. The spot to know is Offshore hump, an offshore hump in about 23 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in summer. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Rock reef (17 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Offshore hump (23 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Sharp break (38 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Offshore hump (23 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
In spring, lake whitefish run shallow here, mostly 15 to 45 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 40 to 90 ft, and winter fish settle into 25 to 70 ft. Rock reef is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 17 ft, rated prime for fall lake whitefish. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Rock reef (31 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Offshore hump (54 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Rock reef (17 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Offshore hump (54 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Lake Superior - Duluth and the Western Arm also holds burbot (50 to 120 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 51 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deepest basin, sits near 751 ft.
Access data: MN DNR Water Access Sites (struc_water_access_sites), Minnesota Geospatial Commons. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024* | Rainbow Trout (fingerlings) | 62,500 | — |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: Minnesota DNR LakeFinder stocking reports, retrieved 2026-08-18.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Minnesota waters are set by the Minnesota DNR — and special regulations can apply to Lake Superior - Duluth and the Western Arm specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Lake Superior - Duluth and the Western Arm is about 756 ft (230 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real NOAA hydrographic surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target lake trout, coho salmon, chinook salmon, steelhead, walleye, lake whitefish, burbot on Lake Superior - Duluth and the Western Arm.
St. Louis River estuary is the top-rated area: an inflow / creek mouth in about 22 ft of water that rates prime for coho salmon in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For lake trout, the summer bite is best in early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Yes — per Minnesota DNR LakeFinder stocking reports records, Lake Superior - Duluth and the Western Arm was most recently stocked 2024 with 62,500 rainbow trout (fingerlings). The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Lake Superior - Duluth and the Western Arm is regulated by the Minnesota DNR. Check the official Minnesota regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Barrs 13 mi, MN · Paradise 13 mi, MN · Briar 14 mi, MN · Cameron 14 mi, MN · Horseshoe 14 mi, MN · Spring 15 mi, MN · Alden 15 mi, MN · Jacobs 15 mi, MN · Little Alden 15 mi, MN · St. Louis River Estuary 15 mi, MN · Schultz 15 mi, MN · Sunshine 15 mi, MN
See how Lake Superior - Duluth and the Western Arm stacks up: best walleye lakes in Minnesota · best lake trout lakes in Minnesota · best lake whitefish lakes in Minnesota · best burbot lakes in Minnesota
Browse all Minnesota fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA hydrographic surveys. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.