Mississippi River Minneapolis Fishing Report Today

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Mississippi River Minneapolis fishing report.

We’re sitting on a classic early-summer pattern on the big river through town. With no real tide to worry about this far upriver, the “tide” you care about is current: dam releases, wind, and barge traffic. Stronger flow pushes fish tight to seams, eddies, and behind any rock or wood that breaks current. Lighter flow spreads them onto flats and shallow riprap.

Weather-wise, local forecast calls for a mild, partly cloudy day with a light south breeze and comfortable temps climbing through the 70s into the low 80s. That broken cloud cover is perfect for walleyes and smallmouth to stay active a little longer after sun-up and fire up again ahead of dusk. Expect a stable barometer most of the day, which usually means consistent but not crazy feeding windows.

Sunrise comes early this time of year, with first light giving you prime action in that 30–90 minutes around dawn. Sunsets are late, and that last hour of light has been one of the most reliable bites all week, especially for smallmouth, channel cats, and panfish sliding shallow.

Recent word from local anglers along Pool 1 and just above and below St. Anthony shows a mix of species coming in: eater-size walleyes in the 15–18 inch range, plenty of feisty smallmouth from 12–18 inches, a few bonus pike, plus steady channel cats and some flatheads after dark. Shore anglers have been picking up nice crappies and bluegills in current breaks near marinas and slackwater pockets off the main channel.

Fish activity has followed a pretty clear schedule:

Early morning, walleyes and smallmouth are pushing bait up onto shallow gravel and riprap just off the main flow. Midday, they slide deeper—edges of holes, mid-river current seams, and the backside of wing dams where you can find that soft water next to a strong push of current. Evening brings a second wind: topwater and shallow reaction baits have been putting in work once the sun gets low.

Best lures right now:

- For walleye: quarter-ounce jigs with plastics in chartreuse, white, or motor oil; add a fathead or half crawler if the bite is finicky.

- For smallmouth: tube jigs in green pumpkin, 3–4 inch paddle-tail swimbaits, and squarebill crankbaits ticking rock. Topwater walkers and poppers around dawn and dusk are turning some big bronzebacks tight to shore.

- For pike: larger swimbaits and spinnerbaits slow-rolled along weed edges and current breaks.

- For cats: cut sucker, chicken liver, and nightcrawlers on simple slip rigs, parked just downstream of big eddies and deeper bends.

Best bait, if you’re going natural, has been nightcrawlers and fatheads for walleyes and mixed bag; crawlers and leeches under a slip float for panfish and smallies; and cut bait for cats. River fish here are used to chasing, so don’t be afraid to move and cover water if they’re not on your first spot.

A couple of local hot spots to consider:

- The stretches just above and below the Franklin Avenue Bridge: classic current seams, riprap banks, and eddies. Great multi-species water, especially early and late in the day.

- The pool below the Ford Dam area: deeper holes, wing-dam-style structure, and plenty of current breaks that hold walleyes, smallmouth, and cats. Work jigs and live bait along the breaks, and toss cranks across the seams.

Stay mobile, watch the current, and let the river tell you where to fish—anywhere you see bait flicking in a seam or birds working is worth a few casts.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Mississippi River Minneapolis fishing report.

The big river’s running a little high but clearing, with decent visibility in the main pools and a light stain tight to shore and below the dams. The Mississippi here isn’t tidal, so no tide report today—what matters is current seams and flow changes from recent rains and dam releases. Look for softer water just off the main push.

Weather-wise around Minneapolis, the day is shaping up mild with light winds and comfortable temps, a classic early-summer pattern. Expect a mix of clouds and sun with just enough breeze to put a chop on the water. Sunrise is right around the mid‑5 a.m. hour, with sunset landing near the mid‑9 p.m. mark, so you’ve got a long window of low‑light feeding at both ends.

Fish have been active in those prime windows. Local reports along Pool 1 and Pool 2 say smallmouth bass have been chewing well on rocky points, bridge pilings, and riprap banks. Anglers are seeing good numbers of 12–17 inch bronzebacks, with a few pushing 19–20. Walleyes have been more of a dawn and after‑dark deal, hanging on current breaks below the dams and off the tips of wing dams. Some solid eaters in the 15–20 inch range, plus a few bigger fish for those working slowly and tight to structure. Channel cats are consistent as always on cut bait, with plenty of fish in the 3–10 pound class and the occasional big one for patient soakers.

Best lures lately: for smallmouth, think classic river stuff. Tube jigs in natural green pumpkin, 3–4 inch paddle‑tail swimbaits on 1/8–1/4 oz heads, and small squarebill crankbaits ticking rock in 4–8 feet. Topwater has started turning on at first and last light—walk‑the‑dog baits and small poppers worked along shorelines and current breaks have drawn blowups when the river’s calm. For walleyes, anglers doing well are dragging live‑bait rigs with leeches or nightcrawlers, or slow‑rolling jig‑and‑plastic combos just off bottom in that 8–18 foot range. Bright chartreuse or orange when the water’s dingy, more natural shad or smelt patterns when it’s clearer.

Natural bait that’s working: nightcrawlers and leeches under slip bobbers on the edges of current, plus cut sucker or goldeye for the cats. If you’re after numbers of panfish in backwaters and marinas, small pieces of crawler or waxies under a float will keep a rod bending.

A couple local hot spots to put on your list:

• The stretch below Lock and Dam No. 1 (Ford Dam): classic current seams, eddies, and riprap. Great for smallmouth and walleyes, with cats hanging deeper. Work the first couple hundred yards down from the dam, and don’t ignore those softer inside turns.

• The University/Franklin Avenue bridge area: plenty of rocky structure, pilings, and current breaks that hold smallmouth all summer. Cast crankbaits and swimbaits upstream and swim them back with the flow, or pick apart the rocks with tubes.

Focus on low‑light periods, keep your presentations just off bottom in the heavier current and a bit higher in the slower seams, and you should find cooperative fish.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Mississippi River Minneapolis fishing report.

We’re in a classic early‑summer pattern on the river. Water’s running a touch high but plenty fishable, with 60s to low‑70s water temps in the main channel and a little warmer in the backwaters. The river isn’t tidal here, so no tide table to worry about – your “tides” are current speed and barge traffic. When the Corps is pushing more water, that current edge bite really lights up.

Weather today is textbook June river weather around Minneapolis: mild to warm, light to moderate southwest breeze, a mix of sun and clouds, and only spotty chances of a shower later. That wind is just enough to put a chop on the flats, which helps the bite. Sunrise is right around 5:25 a.m., sunset close to 9:05 p.m., giving you a long window to work those low‑light periods.

Fish activity has been solid all week. Morning and last‑light have been best, with a slower grind in the midday sun unless you tuck into deeper holes or shade lines. Local anglers have been reporting good mixed bags: eater‑size walleye, plenty of smallmouth, bonus channel cats, and some crappie and white bass out of the current.

Walleye: Folks have been putting nice numbers in the boat working the current seams below bridges and wing dams. A lot of 14–18 inch fish, with a few bigger ones in the mix. Best producers have been 1/8–1/4 oz jigs tipped with fatheads or half a nightcrawler, and also jigging rap‑style baits snapped along the breaks. Early and late, a #7 shad‑style crankbait in firetiger or perch pattern ticking rocks has been the ticket.

Smallmouth: The bronzebacks are doing what they do best – smashing moving baits on rock. Anglers are seeing good numbers of 12–17 inch fish with an occasional tank. Ned rigs in green pumpkin, 3–4 inch tube baits, and small white spinnerbaits are staples. Topwater walkers and poppers have been getting crushed at first light over shallow riprap and around current breaks.

Catfish: Channel cats are active in the slower bends and behind islands. Cut sucker, chicken liver, or stink bait on a slip sinker rig is all you need. Most fish are in that 2–8 pound range, with a shot at something bigger if you soak baits into the evening.

Best lures and bait right now:

- Jigs with fatheads, leeches, or crawlers for walleye.

- #5–#7 shad cranks in natural baitfish colors.

- Ned rigs, tubes, and small spinnerbaits for smallmouth.

- Cut bait or liver for channel cats.

Couple of hot spots to circle:

- The stretch just above and below the Hennepin Avenue and 3rd Avenue bridges: work the current seams, eddies behind pilings, and riprap edges for both walleye and smallmouth.

- Below Lock and Dam No. 1 (Ford Dam): classic river structure with heavy current, eddies, and deep holes. Hit the current breaks and wing‑dam tips early and late for walleye, then slide shallower onto rock and rubble for smallies as the sun gets up.

Remember: let the river tell you what it wants. If you’re not getting bit, change angle, change depth, or slide a little up or down that seam. Once you find one fish on this stretch, there are usually more sitting right there.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Mississippi River Minneapolis fishing report.

We don’t deal with tides up here, but we do watch river level and flow. The Mississippi through Minneapolis is running seasonally normal, a light stain with a decent push of current. Shoreline eddies, current seams below bridges, and the inside bends are the key setup spots this morning.

Weather today around Minneapolis is seasonable early-summer: cool at first light in the upper 50s to low 60s, climbing into the 70s and likely brushing low 80s this afternoon under partly cloudy skies, with a light south to southwest breeze. That breeze will riffle the surface just enough to help the bite. Sunrise is right around 5:25 a.m., with sunset close to 9:05 p.m., so you’ve got a long window to work prime low-light periods.

Fish activity has been best at dawn and again in the last two hours of daylight. Walleyes have been sliding up on the shallow gravel and riprap inside turns and around wing dams, especially where there’s 4–10 feet of water dropping into deeper runs. Smallmouth bass are chewing hard on rocky shorelines, bridge pilings, and below dams where the current breaks. Channel cats are posted up on the upstream lips of holes and along the deeper outside bends after dark.

Recent reports from local anglers along Pool 1 and the stretches near the University area say decent mixed bags: eater-size walleyes with an occasional fish in the 22–26 inch class, plenty of scrappy smallmouth in the 12–17 inch range, plus solid channel cats running 3–10 pounds with a few bigger fish at night. Panfish are more scattered, but crappies and bluegills are still popping in marina pockets and calmer backwater cuts.

For lures, think classic river stuff. For walleye, work 1/8 to 1/4 ounce jig-and-plastic combos in chartreuse, firetiger, or natural shiner tones, and run crankbaits like shallow Shad-style plugs along current edges in the evening. A live-rigged fathead or nightcrawler on a slip-sinker still puts fish in the boat when they get finicky.

Smallmouth are crushing downsized crankbaits, white or chartreuse spinnerbaits, and 3–4 inch paddle tails or tubes in green pumpkin or brown craw patterns. Topwater walkers and poppers can be dynamite right at first light over the rocky flats and along riprap.

For catfish, cut bait is king: cut suckers, chubs, or goldeye on a simple slip-sinker rig, 3–5 ounce depending on current, with a sturdy circle hook. Stink baits will pick up channels in slower side pools, but fresh cut bait tends to produce the better fish.

A couple local hot spots to consider:

• Below the Ford Dam area: Target current seams, eddies, and wing dams for walleyes and smallmouth, especially early and late.

• The stretches near the University and bridge lines: Rock, pilings, and mid-river humps hold strong smallmouth numbers and the occasional bonus walleye.

If you’re shore fishing, focus on riprap banks near bridge crossings, public access points, and park stretches where you can reach a current break or a bit of depth. Boat anglers should use electronics to slide along the channel edge and mark bait and fish hanging just off the drop.

That’s your Mississippi River Minneapolis rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Mississippi River Minneapolis fishing report.

We’re sitting on a stable early‑summer pattern on the upper Mississippi around the metro. River levels have been running near normal for June, with a gentle drop over the last few days, which usually pushes fish tighter to current seams and shoreline structure. The Mississippi here isn’t tidal, so no tide swings to worry about—current is driven by upstream flow and dam releases.

Weather-wise, early mornings are starting cool and comfortable, climbing into the upper 70s to low 80s by afternoon with light to moderate southwest winds. Skies have been partly cloudy, giving just enough cover to keep fish active a bit longer after sunrise. Local forecasts call for scattered showers later today, which can fire up a pre‑frontal bite, especially for smallmouth and walleyes.

Sunrise in Minneapolis is right around 5:25 a.m., with sunset near 9:00 p.m. The best windows lately have been first light until about 9 a.m., and again the last two hours before dark. Midday is still producing, but you’ll want to work deeper holes, shade lines, and faster current.

Recent reports from local anglers on Minneapolis fishing forums and social groups say the smallmouth bite has been solid from above the Ford Dam up through downtown. Folks are boating good numbers of bronzebacks in the 12–18 inch range, with a few 19–20 inch fish mixed in. Walleyes have been more hit‑or‑miss but still showing up early and late on current edges near deeper bends. Plenty of eater‑size channel cats are coming from slower inside turns and below the dams, and panfish—especially crappies and bluegills—are hanging near wood and calmer side channels.

For lures, stick with classic river stuff. For smallmouth, throw **1/4 oz tube jigs** in green pumpkin, **Ned rigs**, and **3–4 inch paddle‑tail swimbaits** on light jig heads along riprap, current breaks, and rocky points. Topwater walkers and poppers have been producing explosive strikes in the low‑light hours along shorelines and around islands. Walleyes are responding to **jig and minnow** or **jig and plastic** presentations worked slowly along the bottom on upstream edges of holes and wing dams. Don’t overlook **crankbaits** trolled or cast along channel edges in 8–15 feet.

Best bait right now:

- For cats: **cut sucker**, **chicken liver**, and **nightcrawlers** on slip rigs in slower holes and just below the dams.

- For walleyes: **fatheads**, **shiners**, or **leeches** on a jig or live‑bait rig.

- For panfish: **waxworms** and small pieces of crawler under a float near laydowns and back eddies.

A couple of local hot spots to circle on your map:

- **Below the Ford Dam (Lock and Dam 1)**: Classic current seams, eddies, and deeper runs holding smallmouth, walleyes, and cats. Work both banks, especially the first few major current breaks downstream.

- **Around the U of M and downtown stretches**: Riprap banks, bridge pilings, and island edges are stacked with smallmouth. Fish tight to rocks and current seams with tubes and Ned rigs.

- **Side channels and backwaters near the confluence with the Minnesota River, downstream of the metro**: Great for channel cats and panfish where the current softens and there’s wood and debris.

Water clarity has been slightly stained—just about perfect for power fishing. Go with natural colors in clearer stretches and switch to brighter or darker contrast after rain or in heavier stain. Downsizing your presentations and using lighter fluorocarbon leaders has been helping on the tougher bluebird days.

That’s your Mississippi River Minneapolis rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Mississippi River Minneapolis fishing report.

We’re rolling into a classic early-summer pattern on Pool 1 and the adjacent stretches. The river’s running a touch above normal summer flow but very fishable, with decent clarity in the backwaters and a little stain in the main channel. Being an inland river, we don’t have tides here, so current is driven by upstream flow and dam releases; expect the bite to pick up when you see that current push around wing dams and bridge pilings.

Weather around the metro is shaping up mild and comfortable: cool at first light, building into a warm afternoon with light to moderate winds and a mix of sun and clouds. That’s prime low-light feeding weather early and late in the day. Sunrise is right around 5:25 a.m., sunset close to 9:00 p.m., giving you a long window to work those morning and evening bites.

Recent action reports from local anglers and shop chatter have walleyes and sauger coming off the tops and edges of wing dams, especially where you’ve got 6–12 feet of water dropping into deeper holes. Smallmouth bass have been hot on rocky shorelines, current seams, and below dams. Plenty of eater-size catfish are showing up on cut bait along deeper bends, with a few bigger flatheads for those soaking live bait after dark. Panfish are more scattered, but you can still pick crappies and bluegills out of marinas and slower backwater pockets.

Numbers have been solid: folks are routinely pulling a half-dozen to a limit of eater walleyes in a morning if they stay on the move, with bonus sauger mixed in. Smallmouth catches run higher in count but smaller on average, with enough 17–19 inch fish to keep it exciting. Cat guys are reporting a handful of fish per sit, with the occasional 15–20 pound flathead when they commit to one spot.

Best hardware right now:

- For walleye and sauger, run **1/8–1/4 oz jigs** tipped with fatheads or plastics in chartreuse, white, or firetiger, dragged slowly upstream along the current edge.

- **Crankbaits** like shad-style plugs in natural or perch patterns are producing on the fronts of wing dams when there’s good current.

- For smallmouth, **ned rigs**, 3–4 inch swimbaits, and **topwater walkers** in the first and last hour of light are putting in work on rocky banks and riprap.

- Catfish are chewing on **cut sucker, cut goldeye, or chicken liver** on simple slip-sinker rigs parked on inside bends, log jams, and the base of drop-offs.

If you want a couple local hot spots to start with:

- The stretch just below **Lock and Dam 1** down to the Ford Bridge has been reliable for walleye, sauger, and smallmouth, especially around the wing dams and current breaks.

- The area near the **3rd Avenue and Stone Arch bridges** downtown holds good smallmouth and catfish, with plenty of current seams and structure around the pilings and riprap.

Focus your efforts at first light and the last two hours before dark; that’s when the bigger fish slide shallow and feed aggressively. Midday, slide off to deeper holes, shade lines, and heavier current.

That’s your Mississippi River Minneapolis report from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next update.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Mississippi River, Minneapolis fishing report.

We’re sitting on a stable early‑summer pattern. The Mississippi here isn’t tidal, so no tide swings to worry about, but river *current* is your tide. Flows are moderate with decent clarity—still a light stain along the edges from recent spotty showers. Water temps are running in the upper 60s to low 70s, putting most species in an active post‑spawn to early summer feeding mode.

Weather today: expect mild to warm conditions with light to moderate winds and a mix of sun and clouds—classic June river weather. Sunrise comes a bit before 5:30 a.m., sunset around 9:00 p.m., so you’ve got long low‑light windows to work with. Those first two hours after dawn and the last two before dark are prime.

Fish activity has been solid the last several days. Local reports along Pool 1 and the Minneapolis city stretch mention steady **smallmouth bass** action on rocky shorelines and current seams, with plenty of 12–17 inch fish and a few pushing 19–20. Panfish guys are seeing **crappies** and **bluegills** holding around slower back eddies and marinas off the main flow. A few nice **walleye** are still being taken on deeper bends and below current breaks, mostly eaters in the 15–19 inch range, with the odd 22–24 mixed in. **Channel cats** are starting to chew hard at night on cut bait.

For **lures**, think fast and flashy in the low light, subtle once the sun’s high. Smallmouth have been eating:

- 1/4 oz chartreuse or white **spinnerbaits** slow‑rolled along riprap.

- **Ned rigs** in green pumpkin dragged on gravel flats just off current.

- 3–4 inch **swimbaits** in natural shad colors through current seams.

When the bite gets tough, switch to a 3-inch tube or a finesse jig—light line, slow hops.

For **walleye**, work:

- 1/8–1/4 oz **jigs tipped with fatheads or nightcrawlers** along the bottom on inside bends.

- Subtle **crankbaits** in perch or silver patterns just ticking bottom at dusk.

Catfish folks should stick with **cut suckers, creek chubs, or stink bait** on slip rigs, set right on the edge where faster water dumps into a deeper hole.

Best **live bait** overall right now: nightcrawlers, leeches, and fatheads for eyes; crawlers and small minnows for mixed bag action; fresh cut bait for cats. If you’re shore fishing, a simple slip float with a leech or crawler drifted along current breaks is putting fish in the bucket.

A couple of local **hot spots** to circle:

- **Below the Ford Dam (Lock and Dam 1)**: classic spot—strong current, eddies, and deep holes. Work the downstream wing dams and shoreline breaks for smallmouth and walleye, especially early and late.

- **Boom Island / Nicollet Island stretch**: good mix of rock, wood, and moderate current. Smallmouth stack on the rocky points and bridge pilings; toss spinnerbaits, tubes, and small cranks tight to cover.

Also worth a look: the **U of M flats** area for smallies on mid‑depth rock, and quieter backwater pockets near marinas for panfish and the occasional bonus bass.

That’s your river rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Mississippi River Minneapolis fishing report.

We’re rolling into a warm, early‑summer pattern on the pool running through town. Air temps today sit in the 60s early, pushing into the upper 70s to low 80s by afternoon under partly cloudy skies, with a light south to southwest breeze around 5–10 mph. Sunrise is right around 5:25 a.m., sunset about 9:03 p.m., so you’ve got a long, bright window to work with. No true tide on the river, but expect the usual subtle current bumps from upstream releases and any overnight rain; if flows jump, fish will pin tighter to current breaks.

Water is clearing up after spring runoff, with visibility running a couple feet in many stretches. That’s been boosting the bite in low‑light and making fish a bit more cautious mid‑day. Overnight temps are mild, so the morning surface temps stay comfy for active feeders, then warm into the afternoon pushing more fish tight to shade and deeper seams.

Fish activity has been best at first light and again near dusk. Daytime is still producing, but you’ll want to slow down and get closer to structure. Local anglers have been reporting good mixed bags: walleyes in the 15–22 inch range with a few slot‑beaters, plenty of smallmouth bass from 12–18 inches, and the usual river cats—channel cats in the 3–10 pound class and a few bigger flats showing up after dark. Panfish are around in the quieter backwaters: crappies and bluegills running hand‑size and a bit better.

For walleyes, think current edges and the downstream side of islands and wing dams. A 1/8–1/4 oz jig tipped with a fathead or half a nightcrawler is still putting fish in the boat. When they slide shallower in low light, a medium‑running crankbait in firetiger, perch, or a natural shad color has been solid. If the sun gets high and the bite slows, rig up a slip sinker with a leech and drag it slowly along the seams.

Smallmouth have been hot on rocky shorelines, riprap, and the faster cuts below dams and bridges. Tube jigs in green pumpkin, 3–4 inch paddle‑tail swimbaits, and small squarebill cranks are all working. If the water’s a touch stained, bump up to something with chartreuse or a little flash. Topwater has started to turn on at dawn and dusk—walk‑the‑dog baits and poppers can draw some aggressive strikes when the river lays down.

Catfish folks are doing well setting up on upstream points of holes and at the tailouts after sundown. Cut sucker or goldeye for channels, live bullheads where legal for flatheads. A simple slip‑sinker rig, 3–5 oz depending on current, is all you need—drop it in, settle in, and let the scent work.

A couple local hot spots to keep in mind:

1. The stretch just below Lock and Dam No. 1 and around Ford Dam. Work the current breaks, eddies, and the first couple of deeper holes; good for walleyes, smallies, and cats.

2. The University area and bridges near downtown. Riprap banks, pilings, and nearby wing dams are holding smallmouth and the occasional big walleye, especially early and late.

Best bet today: hit it early with cranks and plastics, switch to live bait and slower presentations as the sun gets high, then fire up the cranks, swimbaits, and maybe a little topwater again toward sunset. Keep an eye on current speed and water clarity; let that dictate jig weight and color choice.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Mississippi River Minneapolis fishing report.

We’re looking at a classic early‑summer pattern on pool 1 and the stretch around downtown. Light north to northwest breeze, comfortable mixed clouds, and stable barometer—good conditions to get fish moving up on current seams and shallow rock. Air temps are swinging from cool early to warm afternoons, with only a slight chance of a pop‑up shower later in the day. According to the National Weather Service forecast for Minneapolis, winds should stay moderate, so boat control won’t be a nightmare if you’re working wing dams or mid‑river structure.

Sunrise is right around the mid‑5 a.m. hour, with sunset near the mid‑9 p.m. mark, giving you a long low‑light window on both ends of the day. That first 2–3 hours after sunrise and the last hour before dark are lining up as prime time for aggressive bites, especially for smallmouth and walleyes pushing shallow on riprap and current breaks.

The Mississippi here isn’t tidal, so no tide tables to worry about, but river level and flow are the key. River stage has been near normal for early summer, with manageable current; that’s got fish relating tight to classic structure—wing dams, bridge pilings, and the heads and tails of islands. With the water warming, the bite is shifting from slow live bait to faster presentations, and fish are willing to chase.

Recent reports from local anglers and shops around Minneapolis say smallmouth bass action has been solid, with numbers days not uncommon and plenty of 14–18 inch fish, plus the occasional bigger bronzeback. Walleyes and saugers are still coming from deeper current breaks and the upstream edges of wing dams, mostly eaters in the 14–20 inch range, with a few slot‑class fish mixed in. Channel cats and flatheads are picking up too, especially after dark along deeper bends and loggy banks.

For lures, think “reaction and flash.” For smallmouth, throw 1/4–3/8 oz chartreuse or white spinnerbaits, medium‑running crankbaits in shad or craw patterns, and 3–4 inch paddle‑tail swimbaits on jig heads. Ned rigs and tube jigs in green pumpkin or brown still clean up when the bite slows. Walleyes are hitting 1/4–3/8 oz jigs tipped with fatheads or plastics, as well as #5 and #7 shad‑style cranks trolled or cast along current edges. For cats, cut sucker, cut goldeye, or chicken liver on a simple slip‑sinker rig is putting fish in the net.

Best baits right now:

- Live fathead minnows or small leeches on jigs or live‑bait rigs for walleyes and saugers.

- Nightcrawlers and cut bait for channel cats.

- For smallmouth, it’s hard to beat a simple green pumpkin tube or a minnow‑imitating swimbait worked along rock.

A couple of local hot spots to circle:

- The stretch just below the Ford Dam (Lock and Dam 1): strong current, classic seams, and a mix of walleyes, smallmouth, and cats. Work the current edges with jigs and plastics, and crank the rocky banks for bronzebacks.

- The downtown Minneapolis stretch near the bridges and riprap: smallmouth stack on the rocks and around pilings. Cast crankbaits and spinnerbaits parallel to shore, and pitch tubes into any chunk rock or eddies you can find.

Focus on low‑light, fish the current edges, and don’t be afraid to move until you bump into active fish.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Mississippi River fishing report for the Minneapolis stretch.

We don’t deal with real tides up here, but the “tide” you care about is river flow. With recent stable flows and normal pool levels reported by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Pool 1 and Pool 2, current is moderate and edges are very fishable. Focus on current seams, wing dams, and any inflow from creeks or storm drains.

Weather-wise, the National Weather Service is calling for seasonable temps, light to moderate winds, and only a slim chance of showers. Cloud cover on and off should help the bite, especially for walleyes and smallmouth tight to structure. Sunrise is around 5:25 a.m. and sunset about 9:00 p.m., giving you a long low-light window on both ends of the day.

According to recent local angler reports and metro fishing forums, Pool 2 has been giving up solid numbers of **walleyes** in the 14–20 inch range, plus some bigger slot fish. Channel **catfish** and a few flatheads are showing up on cut bait in the deeper bends, especially after dark. Shore anglers below the dams and at bridge pylons are seeing steady **white bass** and the occasional **crappie** mixed in. Smallmouth **bass** are active on rocky banks, especially where there’s chunk rock and a little extra current.

Fish activity has been best early and late. Daytime bites are still happening, but you’ll want to slow down and work deeper holes, current breaks behind wing dams, and riprap. Walleyes are coming on 1/8–1/4 oz jigs tipped with fatheads or plastics in chartreuse, white, and motor oil. A lot of folks are also doing well dragging live-bait rigs with nightcrawlers on the edge of the channel.

For **lures**, keep it simple:

- For walleye: jig and minnow, jig and plastic paddletail, or a slowly cranked shad-style crankbait in natural shiner or firetiger.

- For smallmouth: 3–4 inch tube jigs in green pumpkin, ned rigs, and small topwaters like poppers or walking baits during low light. Spinnerbaits in white or white/chartreuse around current breaks are also producing.

- For cats: cut sucker or goldeye, chicken liver, or stink bait on a slip sinker rig. Big live bait if you’re targeting flatheads at night.

Best **bait** right now is live: fatheads, shiners, and nightcrawlers for eyes; crawlers and leeches where you can get them for smallmouth and mixed bag; cut bait for cats. If the water is a bit stained, don’t be afraid to upsize to a brighter plastic or add a rattle.

A couple of local hot spots to keep in mind:

- **Below Lock and Dam No. 1 (Ford Dam)**: Classic current seams, eddies, and deep runs. Walleyes, saugers, and cats hold along the breaks, and the sauger bite can stay good even when the sun is up if you work your jig slow along the bottom.

- **The confluence areas and wing dams on Pool 2 between downtown St. Paul and the airport**: Plenty of rock, current changes, and bait. Smallmouth stack on the rocky points, while walleyes cruise the inside turns and the tips of the wing dams. Work crankbaits over the tops during low light, then switch to jigs and live bait as the sun climbs.

Closer to downtown Minneapolis, riprap banks and bridge pilings near the University area and northward are holding smallmouth and the odd walleye. Cast along the shade lines of bridges and let your bait swing in the current. If you’re on foot, any accessible bank with rock and a little current is worth a few casts.

That’s the Mississippi River report from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next update.

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