# Mississippi River Minneapolis Fishing Report – Thursday, November 27th

Hey folks, Artificial Lure here with today's fishing report for the Twin Cities.

We're looking at a cold one this Thanksgiving morning along the Mississippi. Sunrise hit at 7:24 AM and we're wrapping up daylight by 4:40 PM, so get out there early if you're planning to wet a line. Water temps are hovering in that low-to-mid 50s range, which means the fish have settled into their deeper winter patterns.

**The Action**

Walleye fishing has been solid on the Mississippi and our deeper metro lakes. Target the 18 to 30-foot breaks—you'll want to focus on 10 to 18-foot structure on Pool 1 and the main channel. Those jigs tipped with fatheads are working like a charm, and don't sleep on a Jigging Rap on inside turns. This time of year, smallmouth bass are pushing hard into current seams and midriver rubble, so swing Ned rigs and 3 to 4-inch swimbaits just off bottom.

The muskie reports have been improving too—watch for those bait clouds hanging over 12 to 20 feet. Northern pike are still prowling the remaining green weeds, and burning spinnerbaits over the tops will get their attention.

**Where to Go**

Head to **Saint Anthony Falls and Boom Island** near downtown—you're looking at some quality structure and current breaks. If you want to push a little further, **Lake Harriet and Lake Nokomis** have been consistent for walleye action, especially around windward edges and inside weedlines.

**Best Bet**

With the late-fall turnover wrapping up, prioritize areas with even slightly clearer water. Fresh fatheads or live bait will trigger more commitment in that short strike window. Dawn and dusk remain your money times, and overcast days have been delivering steady bites.

Get after it today, and thanks for tuning in. Don't forget to subscribe for more reports. This has been a Quiet Please production—for more, check out quietplease.ai.

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It’s Artificial Lure checking in with your Mississippi River, Minneapolis fishing report for Wednesday, November 26, 2025. Here’s what you need to know to make your time on the water count today.

We’re coming off a powerful winter front—up to 6 inches of snow fell overnight with northwest winds gusting up to 45 miles per hour. The air is biting, with the mercury stuck between 20 and 28 degrees through the day, and the wind chill making it feel even colder. Bundle up and keep an eye out for blowing snow drifts on the banks. According to St. Cloud State University, this December-like cold will stick around through Saturday.

The sun rose at 7:24 AM and will set at 4:35 PM. If you’re planning your outing, target low-light periods—first light and evening—as they’re the hottest bite windows with fish stacked up after last night’s turnover. The moon’s in a waxing gibbous phase, and FishingReminder points out major activity from about 6:52 to 8:52 AM and again from 7:03 to 9:03 PM, so there’s reason to set your lines early and stick around into dusk.

The Mississippi’s holding at about 43 degrees, running high and a touch stained from recent runoff, per USGS flow data. Fish are feeling that late fall chill—expect them on classic wintering structure: deep holes with moderate current, channel swings, and inside bends.

Here’s what’s being caught: walleye action is strong along Pool 1 and near the downtown locks. Local anglers report steady catches of 16–22", with the occasional kicker pushing 25". Fathead-minnow-tipped jigs in 1/8 to 1/4 oz are the standard, but don’t overlook a Jigging Rap if you find a pod hugging the bottom. Up toward Nicollet Island and St. Anthony Falls, smallmouth bass have moved to current seams and chunk rock. Drag a ned rig or hop a compact swimbait just off bottom—3" paddle tails in shad or perch colors are money this time of year.

Northern pike are prowling what’s left of green weeds—especially at Boom Island and the mouths of side creeks. Burn a spinnerbait or slow-roll a glider just outside the weeds for your best shot. Crappies are stacking on mid-depth basins and bridge pilings near Bassett Creek. Light tackle—think 1/16 oz hair jigs or small plastics under a slip float—is best, and don’t be shy about adding a crappie minnow to up your odds in the cold.

Hot spots for today: you’ll want to check out the **St. Anthony Falls Upper and Lower Lock and Dam** areas for both walleye and smallie bites—structure and current meet here, concentrating bait. For a mixed-bag option, **Boom Island** offers deeper holes, lingering weedbeds, and good shoreline access for both pike and panfish.

Because water clarity varies, prioritize clearer stretches after snowmelt and add a touch of scent or a lively fathead minnow if the fish are short-striking. On windy days, fish the windward side—baitfish stack there, and so do predators.

Top lures? Stick with **jigs tipped with minnows** or plastics for walleye and smallmouth, bucktail spinners and glide baits for pike, and float rigs for crappie. Orange, chartreuse, and white stand out in cloudy water. If you like using artificials (and who doesn’t?), a Jigging Rap or soft swimbaits will score, especially during the bite windows.

That’s your river rundown for today. Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to subscribe for more daily fishing action. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease dot ai.

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Artificial Lure here with your fresh-off-the-water fishing report for the Mississippi River around Minneapolis, Tuesday, November 25th, 2025. Welcome to late fall in the North Country—plenty to talk about!

We’re waking up to a true Minnesota transition: a major winter storm is on deck, with forecasters including DTN PF and AOL Weather both warning of 3–7 inches of snow and wind gusts up to 35 mph moving into the metro from Tuesday through Wednesday. Water temps on the river and metro lakes have cooled to the low-to-mid 50s, and there’s a definite chill in the air. Expect brisk northwest winds and a stiff chop on the water, so dress accordingly and mind slippery shoreline rocks.

Today’s sunrise arrived at 7:18 AM, with sunset slipping in at 4:37 PM. Major solunar bite windows for the area are prime just after dawn, 6:52–8:52 AM, and right before dark, 7:03–9:03 PM, according to FishingReminder. That dusk slot could be the ticket if you’re sneaking out after work.

Tidal influences are mild this far up the mighty Mississippi, but as per FishingReminder, low water is persisting despite some recent rain—the river is still running lower than normal, but it’s ticking up after last week’s showers. Expect one high at 3:03 AM (2.85 ft), low at 10:09 AM (0.49 ft), another high at 3:53 PM (2.62 ft), and low at 10:13 PM (0.49 ft).

Now, let’s talk fish! Minneapolis metro anglers are reporting solid late-November walleye action on the Mississippi, especially Pool 1. Work 10–18 foot breaks, inside river turns, and any channel edge where bait is stacking after turnover. Walleyes are smacking 1/8–1/4 oz jigs tipped with fathead minnows, and Jigging Raps are putting plenty of fish in the net.

Smallmouth bass are hugging the mid-river rubble and current seams—ned rigs and 3–4” swimbaits bounced right on bottom are the go-to. After turnover, slightly clearer water and scent-enhanced plastics or live bait can really help close the deal on the more finicky bites. Muskie action is heating up on the deeper metro lakes, but you might catch a river giant on a slow-rolled bucktail if you’re lucky. Northern pike are scattered around remaining green weed patches—burn spinnerbaits fast and cover water.

Early ice-up isn’t here yet, but crappies are starting their seasonal slide to mid-depth basins. Find those with side imaging and hover small hair jigs or plastics under a float.

Best baits: For walleye, fathead minnows are dynamite, but tougher bites call for adding scent or a piece of worm. For bass and pike, artificials dominate—ned rigs, swimbaits, spinnerbaits, and bucktails. If going for crappie, stick to hair jigs or a crappie minnow below a slip bobber.

For true hotspots:
- Saint Anthony Falls Upper Lock and Dam is a classic for walleyes and smallies—try the seams and slackwater near the walls.
- Nicollet Island and Boom Island are producing steady action and offer both easy access and multi-species opportunities.
If you want to try a lake, hit Lake Harriet or Nokomis for a shot at metro giants, but the river’s where the action is at today.

Quick reminder, with fast-moving water and plenty of weather, safety first—ice isn’t safe yet, and rocks are slick.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s river report. Be sure to subscribe for regular updates and the latest local tips. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Artificial Lure here with your Mississippi River Minneapolis fishing report for Monday, November 24th, 2025. It’s late fall and the river’s showing her seasonal colors: chilly mornings, glassy water, and fish making their final moves before winter.

Let’s talk weather first. According to the local FishingReminder service, sunrise hit at 7:22 AM and we’ll see sunset just after 4:42 PM. Temps range from a brisk 40°F to a mild 69°F, not bad for November, with overcast skies expected—a real plus for keeping walleye and smallmouth active through the daylight hours. No tidal action here on the river, but that late fall water turnover means bait is stacking up tight against wind-blown points and those channel edges.

Solunar tables say best bite times are around dawn and dusk, specifically 6:52 to 8:52 AM and 7:03 to 9:03 PM. If you can hit those windows this week, you’re set. Fish seem most committed early before the boat traffic and throughout the evening as temps drop.

Now, onto the fish. Recent river action reports steady walleye bites on Pool 1 and all through the main Minneapolis stretch. Target 10–18 feet breaks using small jigs, 1/8–1/4 oz, tipped with fathead minnows or try a Jigging Rap for aggressive fish on the inside turns. Smallmouth bass are pushing toward midriver rubble and current seams—swing ned rigs or 3–4 inch swimbaits just off the bottom for best results.

Folks still picking muskie from the deeper lakes in the metro: watch for bait clouds hovering between 12–20 feet and go slow with glide baits or big rubber baits. Northern pike are cruising in whatever green weeds remain; burning a spinnerbait across weed tops has picked up some quality fish lately.

Crappie action’s shifted to mid-depth basins—find them with side imaging and drop small hair jigs or plastic under a float. There’s talk on the local chatter of multi-species limits: the odd white bass mixed in with big panfish, and even a couple chunky catfish pulled from below the dam late last week.

Best baits today:
- Fathead minnows on light jigheads for walleye.
- Ned rigs, small swimbaits, or tubes for smallmouth.
- Glide baits or slow-rolled bucktails for muskie.
- Spinnerbaits for northern pike.
- Small plastics, hair jigs under floats for crappie.

If artificial is your thing, go natural colors in clear water and add some scent or live bait when the clarity drops—those short strike windows mean you want every edge.

Hot spots:
- Saint Anthony Falls Upper and Lower Lock and Dam: Both pumping out big walleyes and bass right by the seams and just above the rocky drop-offs.
- Boom Island: Working well for bass, crappie, and the occasional northern.
- Nicollet Island: Smaller crowd, but good numbers of smallmouth, especially near the rubble and pilings.
- Pool 1 near the Ford Dam: Known for quality walleyes when the water’s moving.

Remember, if you’re venturing out, bring some extra warm gear, keep an eye on boat traffic near the locks, and double check your ice gear for those early hardwater pans—local shops like L&M Fleet Supply have the Freefall Ghost reels ready to go for the season switch.

Thanks a ton for tuning in to the river report. Hit subscribe so you never miss out on the bite or the tips. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Artificial Lure here with your November 21st fishing report from the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. Gray skies are overhead after Thursday’s heavy rainfall, with showers tapering but leaving behind slick banks and rising humidity. Sunrise today was around 7:17 AM, sunset is set for 4:44 PM—the days are short, anglers, but bite windows remain solid during dawn, dusk, and just before the rain fronts move in. Temps will linger in the upper 40s this morning, dropping steadily in the afternoon as colder air sweeps in ahead of next week’s forecast deep freeze. The river itself is running a bit low, about 48% of normal near Winona based on the last USGS report, but urban stretches in Minneapolis remain ice-free and fishable, though water clarity is variable after the blow.

Yesterday’s rain has flushed bait into mid-channel breaks and washed out some shoreline structure. Walleye are the star of the show — local anglers have been scoring solid numbers in Pool 1 and below the Saint Anthony Falls Lower Lock and Dam. Jigging Raps and 1/8 to 1/4 oz hair jigs tipped with fathead minnows have been the ticket, especially where wind pushes bait onto inside turns or first drops. For smallmouth bass, focus efforts near Nicollet Island and Boom Island where current seams meet rubble. Ned rigs and 3–4” swimbaits, grayed-out or shad colored, have turned active fish just off bottom.

Muskie tales are circulating from local lakes, but river muskie chasers are working deeper bends and eddies below the locks—twitching glide baits and slow-rolled rubber when bait clouds show up on sonar. Northern pike remain prowling the last green weed beds; powderhorn plastics, spinnerbaits burned across the tops, have scored aggressive hits. Crappie fishing is picking up in mid-depth basins—Bassett Creek and Powderhorn Lake saw “basket fills” using small hair jigs under floats. Look for side-imaging marks near basin transitions, especially where the water is slightly clearer.

Top baits:
- **Walleye:** Fathead-minnow tipped jigs, Jigging Rap
- **Smallmouth:** Ned rig, 3–4” paddle tail swimbaits
- **Muskie:** White or perch-pattern glide bait, black and gold rubber tail
- **Northern pike:** Chartreuse spinnerbait, white paddle tail
- **Crappie:** 1/16 oz hair jig, small twister tail, tipped with minnow or crappie nibble

Best action today is expected between 6:52–8:52 AM and 7:03–9:03 PM, matching up nicely with the major solunar bite periods. The first quarter moon phase means fish are more active at these twilight windows despite quickly cooling water.

Bite report: The river above Saint Anthony Falls has given up full stringers of walleye (average 16–22”), a handful of beefy smallmouth, and a few bonus northern pike for anglers willing to patiently work the channel edges. Crappies are moving deeper, but some slabs have shown under the bridges at dusk. Chat around town says Lake Harriet and Lake Nokomis are still delivering decent mixed bags if you’re looking to mix it up.

Hot spots for today:
- **Saint Anthony Falls Lower Lock and Dam:** Consistent walleye and smallmouth; use vertical presentations just off the main seam.
- **Boom Island:** Smallmouth and occasional northern pike in deadfalls and eddy pools.
- **Nicollet Island:** Midday crappie and mixed bass, drift a float and jig near pilings.

Word to the wise: After turnover, focus on clearer water sections and add scent or live bait to pull wary fish into striking. With the cold snap looming, this is prime time before winter’s grip tightens—expect a flurry of action but layer up.

Thanks for tuning in to your Mississippi River fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe for your daily dose of local fishing insight. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.

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Artificial Lure here with your November 20th, 2025 fishing report for the mighty Mississippi River around Minneapolis, served local-style and straight to the point.

Sunrise hit at 7:16 AM and sunset’s coming early at 4:39 PM today, so those daylight hours are precious for any angler hoping to cash in on the late-fall bite. We’re under a first quarter moon, which tends to encourage a good bit of fish activity, and FishingReminder notes major bite windows from about 6:52 to 8:52 AM and again from 7:03 to 9:03 PM. If you’re watching the river, expect that early daylight or sundown window to be money[1][4].

Weather this week is classic November—cool but steady, with water temps hanging in the low to mid-50s. Cloud cover has been on our side, helping the bite hang on longer through the morning. According to Instagram fishing reports, water levels on the Mississippi are still running a bit low for the season—fish are stacking up on deeper channel edges and mid-river structure[2].

On the river itself and the immediate metro lakes, the walleye bite has stayed strong. Folks are pulling nice eaters—nothing record-breaking, but plenty in the 15 to 20-inch range, and the occasional lunker from deeper pools. Minnows on a jig are still the standard, but you can’t beat the classic Jigging Rap fished vertical on inside turns around 10 to 18 feet of water. Smallmouth bass are chasing Ned rigs and 3-inch paddle-tail swimbaits, especially near current seams and rubble piles. Muskie reports are picking up with the cool-off; glide baits and slow-rolled bucktails are getting whacked over deep holes, especially if you’re working baits near bait clouds in that 12 to 20-foot range[1].

Crappie aficionados: they’re sliding out to the mid-depth basins now. Use your electronics to find schools suspended over 18 to 25 feet, and try hair jigs under a float for steady action. Northern pike are still holding weed, though the green stuff is thinning—burn a big spinnerbait just over remaining coontail and you’re liable to stick a few gators[1].

When it comes to bait, nothing beats live fatheads for numbers, especially on a light jig. But scent-enhanced soft plastics and gulp minnows are a solid choice too; these help in the post-turnover clarity and colder water, giving fish just a little more reason to commit.

Best spots this week:
- **Saint Anthony Falls Upper Lock and Dam**: Walleye and smallie action right in town, especially on the downstream side of turbulent water.
- **Boom Island**: Current breaks and eddies are holding fish—especially productive around sunset.

Also, don’t sleep on Nicollet Island or Hall Island for shore-bound efforts, if you want a direct shot at evening walleyes or bonus crappie schools working up from deeper holes. Plenty of seasoned anglers are also reporting out of Lake Nokomis and Lake Harriet for those targeting metro muskies and a mixed bag of panfish[1].

Reminder: the bite is best dawn and dusk, with overcast keeping fish active a little longer into the mornings[1]. If you find dirty water from recent wind, upsize your offerings and tip your jig with live bait, giving those fish a little extra incentive.

That’s it for today’s rundown in the Minneapolis stretch. Thanks for tuning in and don’t forget to subscribe for updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure with your Minneapolis stretch Mississippi River fishing report for Wednesday, November 19, 2025.

We’re heading into the back half of November, a time when the river starts transitioning— but the fishing’s hanging tough for savvy folks braving the chill! If you’re out early, sunrise clocks in at 7:13 AM, and sunset’s at 4:38 PM. We’ve just come off a round of light rain Tuesday, and now we’ve got mild, mostly cloudy weather settling in, with highs in the mid-to-upper 40s— actually a few clicks above average for this time of year, according to CBS Minnesota’s meteorologist Lisa Meadows. The wind’s out of the west, steady but not howling, and the forecast stays dry and seasonable for the next few days. Perfect river weather, layered flannel and all.

No tides to wrangle this far upriver, but flow levels are still lower than normal thanks to lingering drought, says the National Weather Service. That means wood piles and channel edges are extra productive, as fish are stacking up in deeper holes and slower currents. Water clarity is holding pretty solid.

Solunar activity today is ‘good’, with bite windows strongest from 1:26 PM to 3:26 PM, and a minor bite just after sunrise between 6:26 and 7:26 AM, per the Solunar Forecast.

Now for the real meat: fish activity. November is prime time for Mississippi River walleye— they’re staging before true winter sets in. This week, local reports and chat from the ramps have shown decent numbers of eater-sized **walleye** coming in, especially on the edge of current breaks and the deeper runs below dams and bridges. Folks are also picking up **sauger** mixed right in, often in the same spots. During mid-day, small schools of **smallmouth bass** and the odd slab **crappie** are still active, as long as you work slow and deep. Northern pike reports are quieter, but if you hit mouth of Minnehaha Creek or the backside of Boom Island, you’ve got a fair shot.

Best bites right now are classic cold-water tactics:
- **Jig and minnow**: a 1/8 to 1/4 oz jig with a fathead or shiner, slowly dragged along the bottom, is putting most of the walleye in the net.
- **Blade baits and soft plastics**: silver or gold blades work wonders when fish are hugging bottom, especially below the Ford Dam. Downsized soft plastics on finesse jigs are scoring both bass and sauger— try something with a little tail action.
- **Live bait rigs** work too, but you gotta fish painfully slow.

Anglers have landed up to a dozen legal ‘eyes between two folks over a couple hours during peak times— plenty in that 15-18 inch slot, and sauger usually running a bit smaller, but catching is consistent if you’re patient.

Hot spots? You can’t beat the Ford Dam tailwaters right now— the slack water eddies just downstream are loaded with bait and holding fish all day. If that’s crowded, the north side of Boom Island Park is a reliable backup for smallies and bonus pike, especially where current meets backwater channels.

One important note per the Minnesota DNR— new rules let you run non-motorized automatic hook setters for your tip-ups if you’re thinking ahead to hardwater, and rigs with up to 3 hooks spread over 18 inches. Still, open water regs apply for now.

For bait and tackle, local favorites like chartreuse, orange, or blue jigs tipped with minnows, or a brown craw pattern paddle tail, are always solid picks. If the sun peeks, don’t be afraid to tie on a gold or chrome blade bait for some flash.

That’s the scene this week on the upper Mississippi in Minneapolis— fishing’s steady, and with mild weather, it’s a great window to boat a few more before freeze-up. Thanks for tuning in to your local river report. Make sure to subscribe for weekly updates, and tight lines until next time!

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Artificial Lure here, reporting on the fishing scene for November 18th, 2025, in and around the Mississippi River, Minneapolis. Locals are waking up to true late-fall weather: chilly mornings, a brisk northwest breeze, and water temps in the low-to-mid 50s. Sunrise hit at 7:14 AM and sunset is set for 4:41 PM, giving anglers a short, prime window to wet a line, especially around dawn and dusk. The day’s got a partly cloudy forecast—the cloud cover should help extend active bite periods, with daytime highs hovering in the low 40s.

There’s no tidal swing on the Mississippi up here, but fish activity is still keyed into lunar cycles. FishingReminder lists major feeding times today from 6:52 to 8:52 AM and again from 7:03 to 9:03 PM. Add in the average solunar rating, and you’ve got solid odds for action around early panels and after-work stints.

Late autumn means the river’s transitioned through turnover, and fish are stacking on inside turns, channel edges, and wind-washed points. Walleye are the main story: strong numbers are coming down from Pool 1, and locals report snap bites in 10–18 feet. The best tactic remains working 1/8–1/4 ounce jigs tipped with fresh fathead minnows, or bouncing Jigging Raps just off hard-bottom breaks near Saint Anthony Falls and up by the Upper Lock and Dam. If you’re on a shore spot at Nicollet Island or Boom Island, try casting downstream to seams where current slows.

Smallmouth bass are pushing up to rubble stretches and current seams. This time of year, they respond to finesse: ned rigs, especially green pumpkin, and 3–4 inch swimbaits worked slow just off bottom pull strikes from fish keyed up on shiners and drifting bait. Muskie reports are trickling in from metro lakes and deep bends—musky chasers dragging glide baits or slow-bucktails over open water and bait clouds have found a few late-season suburban giants.

Northern pike are prowling channels and remaining green weed beds in slack water, like Powderhorn Lake and Lake Harriet. If you’re after pike, firing spinnerbaits over the tops of the vegetation or working large flashy spoons near the first drop-off is yielding fatties. For crappie, anglers that’ve dialed in side imaging are finding schools sliding into mid-depth basins—try small hair jigs, plastics suspended under slip bobbers, and don’t be afraid to add a little crappie nibble for scent.

Recent catches, according to threads on FishingMinnesota, include good numbers of keeper walleye, quite a few chunky smallmouth, and occasional pike over 30 inches. Crappie counts are on the rise as fall progresses.

On lures and bait, here are the best bets:
- **Walleye:** 1/8–1/4 oz jig + fathead minnow, Jigging Rap.
- **Smallmouth:** Ned rig, 3–4” paddle tail swimbait, green pumpkin.
- **Muskie:** Glide bait, slow-rolled bucktail, Magnum rubber.
- **Pike:** White or chartreuse spinnerbait, 5” spoon.
- **Crappie:** 1/32 oz hair jig, tube jig, live minnow under slip float.

Insider tip: after turnover, seek out slightly clearer water and tip your jigs with scent or live bait to hook reluctant strikers. Use heavier fluorocarbon for skipping jigs under docks, especially when bass are holding tight in shade, as suggested by dock skipping experts in Major League Fishing publications.

Hotspots? Try Saint Anthony Falls/Upper Lock and Dam; river bends at Nicollet Island; Boom Island for shore and kayak casting; plus Lake Nokomis and Lake Harriet for multispecies action. These spots consistently deliver, especially when river traffic’s low and chop moves bait shallow.

That’s the November 18th report from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe for weekly updates and tips. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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This is Artificial Lure, your Mississippi River Minneapolis fishing expert, with today’s report for Monday, November 17th, 2025—live and local from the banks, where late fall’s in full swing. Air temps are crisp out there, so layer up because the wind bites a bit harder off the water these November mornings. The sunrise today hit at 7:09 a.m., with sunset rolling in at 4:43 p.m., so your best windows are short and sweet. Don’t forget, we’re riding a first quarter moon phase—according to Fishing Reminder, that means fish should be a bit more active around 7 a.m. and again just after 7 this evening, so time your casts around then.

No tides to report on this stretch of river, but water clarity’s been mixed after a couple blustery days—watch for wind-blown edges and inside turns that pull baitfish, and steer toward areas where the water’s just a shade clearer. After turnover, those slight advantages matter more than ever; a little extra scent or live bait can tip things your way when the bite’s shy.

Let’s talk fish activity. According to Mississippi River Minneapolis Fishing Report Today on Spreaker, walleye have been the main draw in recent outings, with steady numbers caught from Pool 1 and near Saint Anthony Falls. Jigging with a 1/8 to 1/4 oz jig tipped with fathead minnows or working a Jigging Rap along the 10–18 foot breaks has been the key. Early and late light has been most productive, and a light chop helps bring fish onto the bite. Smallmouth bass are still hanging on, pushing onto current seams and midriver rocks; ned rigs, compact swimbaits, even a well-paced jerkbait like the Jackall Rerange are putting fish in the net.

Northern pike are prowling the last green weedbeds, so if you’re hunting toothy critters, burn spinnerbaits or slow-roll a white or chartreuse bucktail where you find remaining coontail patches. Muskie chasers are seeing more action on the metro lakes, but don’t sleep on the deeper river holes—glide baits and big plastics score follows, especially when bait clouds show on your electronics. For crappies, mid-depth basins near Pool 1 and Boom Island have been productive—hair jigs or plastics under a float are best, and if you’re getting short strikes, tip with a minnow for extra appeal.

Recent catches, shared by local guides and anglers on Spreaker and in online forums, show mixed bags but solid numbers for late fall. Folks are still boating eater-size walleye and the odd trophy, though average size trends smaller on pressured spots. Bass action’s consistent but sporadic—smallies up to 18” reported, with most fish in that feisty 12–15” range.

If you’re looking for hot spots, here’s where to set up shop:
- **Saint Anthony Falls Upper and Lower Lock and Dam**—deep breaks and turbulent water hold both walleye and bass right now.
- **Boom Island and Nicollet Island**—slower current and structure draws in mixed species, and you’re in prime position for evening bites.
- **Bassett Creek inlet**—especially good on windy days when bait stacks along the seam.

Best lures and bait for today:
- For walleye, stick to jig-and-minnow combos or Jigging Raps in silver, firetiger, or gold.
- Smallmouth love ned rigs and natural-colored 3–4” swimbaits bumped along the bottom.
- Pike and muskie will hammer chartreuse or white spinnerbaits, glide baits, and slow-rolled bucktails.
- Crappies can’t resist a small hair jig or tube under a fixed float, especially with a slip of minnow.

Pro tip—focus on inside weedlines and first breaks nearest remaining green vegetation. If you find a patch of coontail, don’t leave it too quick.

That’s your local rundown for the Mississippi running through Minneapolis on this brisk fall day. Thanks for tuning in—remember to subscribe for up-to-date reports and community tips. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Artificial Lure here with your Mississippi River, Minneapolis fishing report for Sunday, November 16, 2025.

We’re waking up to a classic late fall scene along the river—air temps chilly this morning near 34°F, topping out around 56°F this afternoon. Winds light, and we’re looking at mostly sunny skies, perfect for working the banks or dropping a line off your favorite bridge. Sunrise came at 7:14 AM, sunset hits at 4:44 PM, so make those daylight hours count.

No tides to track here, but the seasonal solunar forecast says our major fish activity periods today are from 1:49 to 3:49 AM and again 2:12 to 4:12 PM, with minor activity from 6:51 to 7:51 AM and 10:44 to 11:44 PM—the afternoon major window should be your target for the hottest bite, especially with water temps dipping into the 40s and fish popping into winter feed mode.

In the stretch from St. Anthony Falls up through the Ford Dam, anglers report steady action on walleyes, saugers, and a bonus smallmouth here and there—especially below the dams and around deeper current seams. According to Outdoor News Minnesota from this weekend, local guides are putting clients on a mixed bag: mostly eating-size walleyes, the odd trophy over 25 inches, along with some big river catfish. Folks have also picked up the last of the season’s white bass, with channel cats still hitting on cut bait after dark.

Right now, best results are with bright jig-and-minnow combos—chartreuse, orange, and firetiger curly tails paired with fatheads or river shiners are pulling fish from the slow edges and just outside heavy current. When the bite slows, switch to blade baits or heavy lipless cranks fished deep and slow. River regulars like a live sucker minnow under a slip float off heavy structure after sunset—it’s a classic for a reason.

Don’t forget: the state consumption advisory for river-caught fish is in play, updated April 2025 by the Minnesota Department of Health, especially for larger walleyes and catfish, so check those guidelines if you’re keeping your catch.

If you’re looking for hotspots, locals are loving Boom Island near downtown for easy access and good numbers, as well as below Lock & Dam No. 1, where eddies and deep holes hold hungry walleyes in November. Another under-the-radar spot is the mouth of Minnehaha Creek, which is great for shore anglers targeting a mixed bag on jigs and soft plastics.

The river is busy with waterfowlers and late-season pleasure boaters, so fish with courtesy. Be sure your license is current and brush up on bag and slot limits before you hit the water. Local bait shops are well-stocked with fathead minnows, and keeper-sized fish have been surprisingly cooperative on both plastics and live bait.

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