Good morning anglers, Artificial Lure here with your Mississippi River, Minneapolis fishing report for August 31, 2025.

We’re rolling into the tail end of summer, but the patterns? Still summer-ish, with a notable chill from this week’s early cold front. Water temps dipped this week and now hover near 71°F around Minneapolis. The water clarity upstream is the best we’ve had in a month, giving sight-fishing fans something to celebrate, and current levels are holding steady, with slower-stabilizing flows making structure and current seams extra productive.

For those heading out today, expect a sunrise at 6:33 AM and sunset tonight at 7:54 PM. You’ve got long daylight hours to work with, though the best bite windows have reliably been sunup until about 10:00 and again after 5:00 in the evening.

Local reports from Outdoor News and seasoned forum regulars on BBC Boards are calling it a “bananas” stretch for smallmouth bass upstream from downtown and near the Rum River confluence. Multiple 18–20 inch bronzebacks hit the net this week. Smallmouth are holding close to rocky drop-offs and boulder clusters—look up by Meeker Island and the bridges north of Boom Island for action. These spots are our hotspots of the week.

Walleye action? A touch inconsistent, but staying deep is the ticket. Folks drifting Lindy rigs, bottom bouncers with nightcrawlers, and even classic firetiger crankbaits in the deeper runs—31 to 34 feet—are boating numbers, especially south of the Ford Dam and into Pool 2. Last weekend, several two-dozen-fish days were reported, with keepers averaging 16–19 inches.

If you’re after more variety, white bass and freshwater drum are schooling up in mid-river seams chasing shad. Try throwing small silver jigging spoons and inline spinners—best results right below fast water breaks.

Catfish remain active on cut bait or stinkbaits, especially after sundown along riprap near the University area. Flatheads up to 30 pounds were wrestled in this week by patient night anglers.

For those shore casting, small plastics imitating crawfish and ned rigs in green pumpkin are catching both smallmouth and feisty largemouth. I’ve seen steady crappie action in slackwater eddies, especially tight to wood and brush, with tube jigs and small minnows.

Bait shops are running strong with fathead minnows and nightcrawlers—stick with lively bait for walleye and simple leeches for bonus panfish. Artificial presentations are on fire right now, too: topwater poppers at dawn have smallies blowing up all around the Dinkytown shoreline.

No tidal influence here on the upper Mississippi, but wind out of the northwest at 7–10 mph today will give drifting anglers an edge. Light chop over the holes between Franklin Avenue and Minnehaha Creek’s mouth is prime for walleye and feeding bass.

For boaters, always be on the lookout for floating debris after recent rains—but the clear water and steady levels mean navigation is solid.

To sum it up:
- Top species caught: smallmouth bass (multiple 18–20 inchers), walleye (up to 19 inches deep), channel catfish, white bass, panfish.
- Best baits/lures: Ned rigs, firetiger and perch pattern cranks, nightcrawlers, live minnows, topwater poppers at first light.
- Hot spots: Meeker Island Dam, bridges north of Boom Island, deep holes just below Ford Dam, riprap stretches by the University.
- Weather: Expect a crisp morning, warming into the high 70s as the sun rises.

Thanks for tuning in to your daily river report—best of luck on the water today, and don’t forget your net! If you found this helpful, be sure to subscribe for regular updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Good morning, Twin Cities anglers—Artificial Lure here with your Saturday, August 30th report straight from the banks of the Mississippi in Minneapolis.

Early fall is in the air after this week’s cold front; water temps are sliding back into the upper 60s, and the bite is shifting right along with the season according to Outdoor News’ statewide update on August 27th. Today’s forecast shows a cool, clear morning with highs up near 76 and a light northwest wind—pretty much ideal for a late summer outing. Sunrise was at 6:30 AM, and sunset will dip behind the skyline at 7:56 PM, so there’s a full spool of daylight to work with out there.

Now, the Mississippi doesn’t have a tidal cycle up here in Minneapolis, but water levels are holding steady, neither rising nor muddy, so visibility’s decent and current seams are prime feeding lanes. Anglers this week continue to do well with walleyes and smallmouth bass. Reports hint that walleyes are holding over the deeper runs and mud basins, especially 31–34 feet of water near the deeper holes. A few folks drifting crawler harnesses or pulling crankbaits behind bottom bouncers are putting limits in the boat, though you'll get bonus sauger and even the odd catfish in the mix—nice multi-species action while the bite’s still active.

Smallmouth bass are staging under the bridges and along rocky stretches. CNC Outdoors’ recent video from mid-August, fishing the Minneapolis pools, shows a couple of beefy smallies and a 5.5-pounder coming off dock pilings on drop-shot rigs and finesse jigs. Can’t go wrong with a tube jig or Ned rig, especially in green pumpkin or dark melon—plus, topwater lures like a Whopper Plopper will draw explosive strikes at first and last light.

Crappie action is about ready to heat up, so keep an eye on the backwater sloughs and above the falls—slip bobbers tipped with a hair jig or fathead minnow are a local secret. Catfishing at dusk is healthy too—cut sucker or chicken livers have put flatheads over 30 inches on the stringer, especially near the confluence with Minnehaha Creek.

Today’s “hot spots”:
- Just below the Ford Dam—the deep hole and main channel ledge produce consistent walleye and sauger.
- Boom Island area for smallmouths and bonus channel cats.
- The backwater channels near North Mississippi Regional Park for panfish and bonus pike.

Best baits:
- For *walleyes*, try jig-and-minnow, crawler harnesses, or shad-style crankbaits.
- *Smallmouth* are nailing Ned rigs, finesse tubes, or even small swimbaits.
- *Crappies* prefer a chartreuse hair jig or small crappie minnow under a slip float.
- Catfish love cut bait; keep it fresh, and target outside bends right after sunset.

Live bait’s a classic here, but don’t hesitate to throw artificial—artificial lures like soft plastics and shallow divers are putting fish in the boat day after day.

That’s the pulse on the Mississippi for this last Saturday in August. Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe for daily tips and river intel. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Good morning from the Mississippi River in Minneapolis—this is Artificial Lure with your Friday, August 29th fishing report.

A hazy sunrise broke this morning at 6:31am, with a projected sunset coming up at 7:57pm. We’re sitting under cooler-than-average late August weather: expect highs around 72°F, some lingering smoke haze from northern wildfires, and little to no rain through the weekend as forecasted by the National Weather Service. The wind is laying down just a bit with light northeast breezes, so early river-goers can expect relatively calm conditions on the water. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, Minnesota is looking good—moisture levels are back to normal and water flows are steady for this time of year.

If you're watching for tides or flow on the Mississippi, keep in mind we're a bit too far upriver for true tidal swings. Here, river levels are holding steady and clarity is average for late summer.

On to the fishing! This week the big story around Minneapolis has been a mixed bag, but plenty of action. Anglers are still hooking into classic Mississippi River walleyes early and late—reports say the bite’s best where deep current seams meet sandbars, especially near the Ford Dam and the confluence just below Minnehaha Creek. Smallmouth bass are making waves, feeding along rocky points and shallow eddies as water temps settle. A couple of decent pike have been caught near Hiawatha Avenue bridge, and I’ve seen some pickerel photos posted yesterday by local anglers—@lo_outdoors_fishing on Instagram had a nice stringer of them right below Lock and Dam #1.

The best lures this week? River regulars are landing fish with perch or silver-blue colored crankbaits—particularly the shad raps and small jointed Rapalas trolled across flats and along drop-offs. Walleyes are grabbing those cranks in about 10-18 feet of water, especially in segments with decent current and scattered rocks. If you’re after smallmouth, a 3"-4" soft plastic craw or tube jig in watermelon or green pumpkin is catching numbers, especially tight to riprap and boulders. Pike and pickerel have come on white spinnerbaits or flashy spoons.

Live bait is still taking fish, too. A large fathead minnow or half-crawler on a slip sinker rig works wonders on walleyes. If you’re targeting bass, a leech or lively nightcrawler drifted right into the current breaks is your go-to.

Recent catch tallies: Most boats are landing 3-6 walleyes per morning outing, with the occasional bonus sauger. Smallmouth numbers are healthy—10-20 fish days are possible if you keep moving to find active fish. Toss in some pike and a few nice catfish coming from the deeper holes after dark, and it’s classic late summer action.

Hot spots to hit today:
• Below the Ford Dam—work the slackwater on both banks, targeting the transition zones where the current meets the still pockets.
• The Minnehaha Creek confluence—smallmouth are stacked here, plus a few bonus walleyes in the predawn hour.
• Hennepin Island around the University boathouse is always promising for early morning topwater and rip-rap jigging.

No bulk hatches to mess with today, and waterfowl migration is light according to Ducks Unlimited’s reports, so you should have the river mostly to yourself till the ski boats kick up later in the day.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s Mississippi River fishing report out of Minneapolis. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss bite-by-bite river updates and angler tips—tight lines and good luck out there! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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This is Artificial Lure checking in with your Mississippi River, Minneapolis fishing report for August 28, 2025.

The river’s settling into classic late August form. We woke up to overcast skies and temps hovering around 75, with high humidity and a light west breeze at 12 mph, according to the National Weather Service. Rain and patchy storms pushed through earlier, so the water’s running a little high and stained today, a common August scenario. The drought monitor reports the region is mostly out of abnormally dry conditions, and all that fresh rain has cooled things down, which helps both the anglers and the fish.

Sunrise came at 6:29 a.m. and sunset will be at 7:59 p.m. That dusk bite is getting better by the day, especially with the overnight lows cooling into the 50s. River tides aren’t a factor here, but recent rain has put a bit of current through the backwaters and sloughs, stirring up baitfish and getting the predators hunting.

Bass fishing is front and center right now. According to recent Minnesota Team Trail event results, folks are putting together decent mixed bags from Pools 3 and 4 just downstream of Minneapolis, with 5-fish bags around 12–13 pounds common this week. Most teams found action throwing topwater frogs and poppers through the morning, especially in the back channels, and then switching to plastics—think wacky-rigged Senkos, Texas-rigged creatures, and tubes—once the sun poked through. Bass are tight to wood and chasing bait in current seams. If things get tough, try a finesse drop shot along deeper cut banks, or even a subtle Ned rig over gravel bars.

If you’re after something unique, bowfin are increasingly popular on this stretch. Outdoor Life just covered Ben Erb catching a 31-inch bowfin—a new Minnesota catch-and-release record—from a slow, weedy stretch not far upriver. Look for reed beds, lily pads, and calm pockets out of the main current. Bowfin devour bright swimbaits, chatterbaits, or a plain nightcrawler under a float.

Walleye have slowed with the extra water, but there’s still a solid morning and evening bite trolling crankbaits or dragging live bait rigs along outside bends and downed trees. Try slow death rigs with half a crawler, or stick to shad-colored shallow-diving crankbaits in stained water. Don’t overlook jigging blades around wing dams at dawn, which can draw those cruisers from slack water.

Northern pike and plenty of eater-sized channel cats are also active thanks to the cooler temps and rising flows. For pike, flashy spoons and spinnerbaits work great on the edge of weed beds or submerged wood, especially just below the Ford Dam. Catfish are biting well on cut bait or stinkbaits in holes below riffles—a classic after-dinner setup.

This week’s hotspots: Boom Island backwaters for consistent largemouth action, especially in the morning. For smallmouth, head to the riprap around the U of M and down by Minnehaha Creek confluence. The slot just below St. Anthony Falls often kicks out a mixed bag after rains for patient anglers. And for a shot at a big bowfin, check those marshy pockets between North and Northeast Minneapolis.

Top lures for the week: black and green hollow-body frogs, pearl or chartreuse swimbaits, and natural-color Senkos. For live bait, medium leeches and half crawlers are your best bet for multi-species days.

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s report. Subscribe for more updates, tips, and local fishing news. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Artificial Lure checking in with your Mississippi River fishing report for Minneapolis, June 22, 2025.

First light hit the river at 5:26 a.m. today, and we’re looking at a sunset around 9:03 p.m. The weather’s prime for a day on the water—mostly sunny skies, gentle breeze, and temps climbing from the high 60s into the low 80s, making for a comfortable summer outing. No tides here on the upper river, but recent flows remain steady, so anglers can focus on their favorite spots without dramatic changes in water level slowing the bite.

Fish have been snappy early and late; low-light periods are still best for the most action. Walleyes and crappies are both hitting strong during those sunrise and sunset windows, according to Outdoor News’ June 18 report. Folks trolling crankbaits along the river’s rock and sand transitions, or jigging with a minnow, are pulling a mixed bag—walleyes in the 14–20 inch range and plump crappies filling out stringers. Don’t overlook the bass bite. The Mississippi around Minneapolis has been churning out quality smallmouth, and some anglers have tangled with surprise largemouths and the occasional northern pike, as noted in the Spreaker update from June 6.

Best baits right now? Nightcrawlers or fathead minnows on a jig for walleye and sauger are tough to beat. For bass, cast soft-plastic craws, Ned rigs, or topwater plugs right near shoreline structure or wing dams. Those after crappie are finding steady success with small tube jigs and live minnows in quiet current breaks and backwaters. And with muskie season open as of June 7, ambitious anglers are tossing big bucktails and glide baits along weedlines and current seams—just remember to bring heavy gear and keep your fingers clear!

A couple hot spots to circle for your next outing: Boom Island Park is a perennial favorite for shore and kayak anglers, serving up consistent multi-species action. The stretch below Ford Dam (Lock & Dam No. 1) is also worth a visit—here, you’ll find walleye, sauger, and a shot at trophy channel cats, with active fishing nearly year-round per the Minnesota DNR’s Central Region outlook. For those after bass, target the riprap shorelines near the Lowry Avenue Bridge—smallies love those rocky ambush spots.

Recent reports have included solid numbers: anglers pulling limits of eater-size walleye, scattered pike, jumbo perch, and panfish. There’s even been talk of a few monster muskies following bucktails in clear water, so keep those hooks sharp and your drag set loose.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s river report. Don’t forget to subscribe for daily updates and river tips. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Artificial Lure here with your June 21, 2025, fishing report for the Mississippi River in and around Minneapolis.

Sunrise got us started at 5:25 AM this morning, and you’ll have daylight right up until sunset at 8:52 PM. Today’s weather is fishing-perfect: temps in the upper 70s to low 80s, with a light variable breeze keeping things comfortable. Skies are mostly clear following a short run of scattered storms earlier in the week, so water clarity is solid – but do watch out for lingering debris in side channels, especially as water levels hover around moderate after recent runoff.

Fish activity is lively all across Pool 2, which covers the stretch from the Ford Dam down to Hastings Dam. This section is open year-round for catch and release on walleye, sauger, and both largemouth and smallmouth bass. Walleye bite has been strong during the low-light periods – early morning and just before sunset are your best bets, with several anglers this week reporting high numbers strictly working deep drop-offs and mid-river humps using jig-and-minnow combos or trolling crankbaits along edges. Most of the walleyes have been under 18 inches, but plenty of action to keep rods bent. The fishrapper.com Brainerd report backs up that jigs and crankbaits are the go-to for Minnesota walleye right now.

For bass, you’ll want to target rocky shorelines and scattered boulders. Smallmouths are aggressive in June, and crankbaits in craw or shad patterns, as well as Ned rigs, are taking fish. Largemouth are popping in the backwater sloughs; try spinnerbaits or wacky rigs pitched close to submerged timber.

Catfish action is hot and heavy, with both channel and flathead cats feeding strong after dark and during cloudy spells. You’ll find channels holding in deeper slow-current holes – they’re hammering cut bait, chicken liver, and shrimp. Flatheads are sitting under logjams; bring live suckers or bullheads for a real chance at a monster. Fishingbooker.com reminds us that all three catfish species—channel, flathead, and blue—are present in the Mississippi, and big ones are always a possibility in this area.

Multi-species anglers have also reported solid catches of white bass in the last week, especially on small jigs and spinners cast into current seams on sand flats. Crappie numbers are good in the backwaters, mostly on small minnows under a slip bobber.

For hotspots, don’t overlook the Ford Dam tailwaters and the mouth of Minnehaha Creek—both prime for walleye and bass right now. Boom Island Park is seeing a mixed bag bite, with cats and white bass providing steady action.

Best baits: jig-and-minnow for walleye, crankbaits for bass, cut bait or nightcrawlers for channel catfish, and live bait for flatheads. Plastics and spinners are taking bonus white bass and crappie.

Thanks for tuning in to the report! Be sure to subscribe for more local tips and daily river updates. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more, check out quietplease.ai.

Artificial Lure here with your Mississippi River Minneapolis fishing report for Saturday, June 21, 2025.

We’re starting off this morning with a sunrise at 5:26 AM, and you’ve got daylight stretching all the way to sunset at 8:51 PM—plenty of time to get on the water and chase the bite. Weather’s looking cooperative, with temps in the mid-70s and light breezes making for a comfortable day to be out along the river. Water levels are holding steady after last year’s swings, but keep an eye out for exposed structure in shallow stretches.

Fish activity has been picking up big time all month. Pool 2, running from the Ford Dam down to Hastings Dam, is the go-to zone right now. Walleye and sauger are absolutely stacked along the drop-offs—catch-and-release only, but it’s consistent action, especially during those low-light periods at dawn and dusk, as reported by Outdoor News on June 18. If you’re after walleye, a jig paired with a minnow or half a crawler is still king, but don’t overlook trolling a shad-pattern crankbait through the deeper runs for bigger fish.

White bass are busting bait in the main channel and slack-water eddies, hitting hard on small spinners, swimbaits, and even simple twister tails. Catfish anglers are putting up solid numbers of both channels and flatheads. Channel cats are favoring deeper holes with a slow current—nightcrawlers and cut sucker have been the ticket. Flatheads are lurking around downed timber and heavy structure, and nothing beats a lively bullhead or green sunfish for bait.

Bass action is stellar right now, especially smallmouth. Work rocky shorelines, bridge pilings, and current seams with tubes and crayfish-pattern jigs. You’ll find plenty of eaters and some real slabs.

Folks up near the St. Cloud metro are reporting great mixed-species days from shore—anything from smallmouth and walleye to crappie and rock bass, according to the DNR. If you’re limited to bank fishing, target the eddies and pool edges where the current slows down. Nightcrawler under a slip bobber will catch nearly anything swimming.

Hot spots today include Hidden Falls Regional Park for easy city access and reliable walleye and catfish, and below the Coon Rapids Dam where the deep water and current breaks attract a mix of species all day long. Early risers along Boom Island are finding good numbers of bass and the odd northern pike.

Remember, muskie season is open, though they’re not thick in Minneapolis proper—the occasional follow’s possible near deeper pools and current seams if you toss a big bucktail or glide bait.

Tide fluctuations aren’t a factor on this stretch, but river current and water clarity are—if we catch rain, expect fish to slide closer to shore and into the side channels.

Thanks for tuning in to the local scoop right here on the Mississippi. If you want more tips, be sure to subscribe, and don’t miss tomorrow’s report.

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Artificial Lure here with your Mississippi River Minneapolis fishing report for Saturday, June 21, 2025.

We’re starting off this morning with a sunrise at 5:26 AM, and you’ve got daylight stretching all the way to sunset at 8:51 PM—plenty of time to get on the water and chase the bite. Weather’s looking cooperative, with temps in the mid-70s and light breezes making for a comfortable day to be out along the river. Water levels are holding steady after last year’s swings, but keep an eye out for exposed structure in shallow stretches.

Fish activity has been picking up big time all month. Pool 2, running from the Ford Dam down to Hastings Dam, is the go-to zone right now. Walleye and sauger are absolutely stacked along the drop-offs—catch-and-release only, but it’s consistent action, especially during those low-light periods at dawn and dusk, as reported by Outdoor News on June 18. If you’re after walleye, a jig paired with a minnow or half a crawler is still king, but don’t overlook trolling a shad-pattern crankbait through the deeper runs for bigger fish.

White bass are busting bait in the main channel and slack-water eddies, hitting hard on small spinners, swimbaits, and even simple twister tails. Catfish anglers are putting up solid numbers of both channels and flatheads. Channel cats are favoring deeper holes with a slow current—nightcrawlers and cut sucker have been the ticket. Flatheads are lurking around downed timber and heavy structure, and nothing beats a lively bullhead or green sunfish for bait.

Bass action is stellar right now, especially smallmouth. Work rocky shorelines, bridge pilings, and current seams with tubes and crayfish-pattern jigs. You’ll find plenty of eaters and some real slabs.

Folks up near the St. Cloud metro are reporting great mixed-species days from shore—anything from smallmouth and walleye to crappie and rock bass, according to the DNR. If you’re limited to bank fishing, target the eddies and pool edges where the current slows down. Nightcrawler under a slip bobber will catch nearly anything swimming.

Hot spots today include Hidden Falls Regional Park for easy city access and reliable walleye and catfish, and below the Coon Rapids Dam where the deep water and current breaks attract a mix of species all day long. Early risers along Boom Island are finding good numbers of bass and the odd northern pike.

Remember, muskie season is open, though they’re not thick in Minneapolis proper—the occasional follow’s possible near deeper pools and current seams if you toss a big bucktail or glide bait.

Tide fluctuations aren’t a factor on this stretch, but river current and water clarity are—if we catch rain, expect fish to slide closer to shore and into the side channels.

Thanks for tuning in to the local scoop right here on the Mississippi. If you want more tips, be sure to subscribe, and don’t miss tomorrow’s report.

This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Artificial Lure here with your Mississippi River Minneapolis fishing report for Saturday, June 21, 2025.

We’re starting off this morning with a sunrise at 5:26 AM, and you’ve got daylight stretching all the way to sunset at 8:51 PM—plenty of time to get on the water and chase the bite. Weather’s looking cooperative, with temps in the mid-70s and light breezes making for a comfortable day to be out along the river. Water levels are holding steady after last year’s swings, but keep an eye out for exposed structure in shallow stretches.

Fish activity has been picking up big time all month. Pool 2, running from the Ford Dam down to Hastings Dam, is the go-to zone right now. Walleye and sauger are absolutely stacked along the drop-offs—catch-and-release only, but it’s consistent action, especially during those low-light periods at dawn and dusk, as reported by Outdoor News on June 18. If you’re after walleye, a jig paired with a minnow or half a crawler is still king, but don’t overlook trolling a shad-pattern crankbait through the deeper runs for bigger fish.

White bass are busting bait in the main channel and slack-water eddies, hitting hard on small spinners, swimbaits, and even simple twister tails. Catfish anglers are putting up solid numbers of both channels and flatheads. Channel cats are favoring deeper holes with a slow current—nightcrawlers and cut sucker have been the ticket. Flatheads are lurking around downed timber and heavy structure, and nothing beats a lively bullhead or green sunfish for bait.

Bass action is stellar right now, especially smallmouth. Work rocky shorelines, bridge pilings, and current seams with tubes and crayfish-pattern jigs. You’ll find plenty of eaters and some real slabs.

Folks up near the St. Cloud metro are reporting great mixed-species days from shore—anything from smallmouth and walleye to crappie and rock bass, according to the DNR. If you’re limited to bank fishing, target the eddies and pool edges where the current slows down. Nightcrawler under a slip bobber will catch nearly anything swimming.

Hot spots today include Hidden Falls Regional Park for easy city access and reliable walleye and catfish, and below the Coon Rapids Dam where the deep water and current breaks attract a mix of species all day long. Early risers along Boom Island are finding good numbers of bass and the odd northern pike.

Remember, muskie season is open, though they’re not thick in Minneapolis proper—the occasional follow’s possible near deeper pools and current seams if you toss a big bucktail or glide bait.

Tide fluctuations aren’t a factor on this stretch, but river current and water clarity are—if we catch rain, expect fish to slide closer to shore and into the side channels.

Thanks for tuning in to the local scoop right here on the Mississippi. If you want more tips, be sure to subscribe, and don’t miss tomorrow’s report.

This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Artificial Lure here with your Mississippi River Minneapolis fishing report for Saturday, June 21, 2025.

We’re starting off this morning with a sunrise at 5:26 AM, and you’ve got daylight stretching all the way to sunset at 8:51 PM—plenty of time to get on the water and chase the bite. Weather’s looking cooperative, with temps in the mid-70s and light breezes making for a comfortable day to be out along the river. Water levels are holding steady after last year’s swings, but keep an eye out for exposed structure in shallow stretches.

Fish activity has been picking up big time all month. Pool 2, running from the Ford Dam down to Hastings Dam, is the go-to zone right now. Walleye and sauger are absolutely stacked along the drop-offs—catch-and-release only, but it’s consistent action, especially during those low-light periods at dawn and dusk, as reported by Outdoor News on June 18. If you’re after walleye, a jig paired with a minnow or half a crawler is still king, but don’t overlook trolling a shad-pattern crankbait through the deeper runs for bigger fish.

White bass are busting bait in the main channel and slack-water eddies, hitting hard on small spinners, swimbaits, and even simple twister tails. Catfish anglers are putting up solid numbers of both channels and flatheads. Channel cats are favoring deeper holes with a slow current—nightcrawlers and cut sucker have been the ticket. Flatheads are lurking around downed timber and heavy structure, and nothing beats a lively bullhead or green sunfish for bait.

Bass action is stellar right now, especially smallmouth. Work rocky shorelines, bridge pilings, and current seams with tubes and crayfish-pattern jigs. You’ll find plenty of eaters and some real slabs.

Folks up near the St. Cloud metro are reporting great mixed-species days from shore—anything from smallmouth and walleye to crappie and rock bass, according to the DNR. If you’re limited to bank fishing, target the eddies and pool edges where the current slows down. Nightcrawler under a slip bobber will catch nearly anything swimming.

Hot spots today include Hidden Falls Regional Park for easy city access and reliable walleye and catfish, and below the Coon Rapids Dam where the deep water and current breaks attract a mix of species all day long. Early risers along Boom Island are finding good numbers of bass and the odd northern pike.

Remember, muskie season is open, though they’re not thick in Minneapolis proper—the occasional follow’s possible near deeper pools and current seams if you toss a big bucktail or glide bait.

Tide fluctuations aren’t a factor on this stretch, but river current and water clarity are—if we catch rain, expect fish to slide closer to shore and into the side channels.

Thanks for tuning in to the local scoop right here on the Mississippi. If you want more tips, be sure to subscribe, and don’t miss tomorrow’s report.

This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.