Water temperature is thought to play a role in Lake Superior lake herring (Coregonus artedi) growth and recruitment. The spatial heterogeneity of surface water temperature along the Lake Superior U.S. coastline in the spring and early summer when lake herring recruitment is thought to occur , and the relationship of temperature to length of age-1 lake herring and its relationship to year-class strength were determined. Year-class strength and average length of age-1 lake herring were determined from annual spring cross-contour trawling at 52 U.S. sites from 1982 to 1992. Surface water temperature at trawl sites during the spring and early summer were determined from Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) images from NOAA weather polar orbiting satellites. Catch index and length were lagged one year to correspond with the surface water temperature during early larval development. Four distinct temperature clusters were identified based on mean surface water temperature during the lake herring recruitment period from mid-May to mid-July along the U.S. coastline of Lake Superior. There was high synchrony in recruitment over the 11-year period from 1982 to 1992 in the warmer clusters of the south shore of Lake Superior with peak recruitment in the same years. Recruitment did not follow any periodicity. Catch variation between years was about 50% greater than catch variation among trawl sites within years indicating lakewide effects were greater in magnitude than local effects. Lake herring that developed their first year in the warmer clusters had a higher growth rate than in the cold cluster and when successful recruitment occurred it was greater in the warmer clusters. Interannual surface water temperature and length of age-1 lake herring was correlated in one of the warmer clusters and the cold cluster. Interannual length and year-class strength of age-1 lake herring was correlated in the cold cluster. A specific temperature that promoted recruitment throughout the years was not identified. Perhaps some other lakewide factor may operate with temperature in certain years to promote recruitment.