Mississippi River Minneapolis Fishing Report Today

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things fishing on the Mississippi River right here in Minneapolis. It's Friday morning, January 2nd, 2026, and we're lookin' at a crisp winter day—lows around 34°F, highs pushin' 56°F under partly sunny skies, per the latest solunar forecasts. Sunrise at 7:49 AM, sunset 4:48 PM, with prime bite windows from 4:20-6:20 AM and 4:47-6:47 PM today. No tides on this river, but current's steady, and ice is formin' in spots—safety first, check that thickness.

Fish activity's pickin' up post-holidays. Outdoor News reports a 37-inch northern pike landed December 20th just downstream, and locals are pullin' walleyes, saugers, and northerns steady. Panfish like crappies and bluegills are hot too, especially with this cold front pushin' 'em shallow. Numbers are solid—dozens per outing if you're dialed in.

Best lures right now? For walleyes and saugers from shore, 1/4–3/8 oz hair jigs or jig-and-minnow combos are killin' it, straight from the Mississippi River Minneapolis Fishing Report. Tip-ups with pre-rigged rattle reels on 75' line for pike—super strong and tangle-free. If open water, try a slow spybait like the Duo Realis Spinbait 80 on light spinning gear with 5-6 lb fluoro; it's a finesse reaction bait that shines in clear water for suspended fish.

Live bait? Minnows hands down—hook 'em on jigs for eyes, or under tip-ups for toothy critters.

Hot spots: Boom Island Park for shore jiggin' walleyes in the eddies, and the main channel below Lock & Dam No. 1 where current breaks hold northerns. Bundle up, drill safe holes, and limit out.

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Hey folks, Artificial Lure here, your go-to guy for anglin' on the Mississippi River right here in Minneapolis. It's a crisp winter mornin' on December 27th, 'round 8:25 AM, with solunar charts from Fishingreminder showin' prime major bite windows from 6:48 to 8:48 AM and 7:02 PM to 9:02 PM—get out there early or late when the fish are feedin' heavy under this waxin' gibbous moon. No real tides on our river stretch, but water levels are risin' steady per CBS Minnesota reports, expected to crest soon, so watch for muddy currents near St. Paul—could mean spooky fish but good oxygen pushin' 'em shallow.

Weather's holdin' cool, low around 40°F risin' to upper 50s by afternoon, per solunar forecasts for nearby Minnesota Lake—light winds, perfect for jiggin' without freezin' your fingers off. Sunrise hits at 7:48 AM, sunset 4:43 PM, givin' ya short daylight but active coldwater species.

Fish activity's pickin' up post-front; walleyes and sauger are key players now, schoolin' in 10-20 feet off current breaks. Recent catches include limits of 15-20 inch walleyes, some perch and smallmouth bass holdin' deep, accordin' to local chatter and Outdoor News updates. PFAS advisories in Pool 2, so eat 'em sparse.

Best lures? Vertical jig with 1/4-oz. glow spoons or blade baits for walleyes—drop-shot rigs with minnow imitating tubes shine for smallies, like the pros swear by on Major League Fishing. Live bait rules: fathead minnows or medium shiners on a Lindy rig, tipped with wax worms for perch.

Hit these hot spots: Boom Island Park for easy bank access and eddy lines holdin' baitfish, or the Ford Dam tailrace where current seams stack 'em up—park close, Spot-Lock your Ultrex, and pitch jigs precise.

Bundle up, check regs, and tight lines!

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Hey folks, Artificial Lure here, your go-to guy for anglin' on the Mississippi River right here in Minneapolis. It's a crisp winter mornin' on December 26th, 'round 8:26 AM local—perfect for ice fishin' if the bays are locked up tight. Weather's overcast with temps hoverin' near 17°F, light winds from the NNE at 2 mph, humidity at 68%—stay bundled, that fog could turn icy early. Sunrise kicked off early, sunset wraps by late afternoon, and with a waxin' gibbous moon, solunar charts from Fishingreminder show major bite windows from 6:48-8:48 AM and 7:02-9:02 PM—hit 'em hard!

River flows are low and steady—USGS reports at Brainerd upstream clock 1260 cfs, 47% of normal, and Aitkin at 3380 cfs with gage heights around 4-7 ft. No real tides up here, but Pool 2 water's calm, though watch for PFAS advisories near St. Paul. Fish are active under the ice: recent YouTube reports from local boat harbors nabbed non-stop panfish like crappies and perch, plus walleye and northern pike holdin' strong per Snoflo fishing notes. Limits are decent—folks pullin' 10-20 panfish strings, a few slot walleyes to 20 inches.

Best lures? Jiggin' with small glow spoons or tungsten jigs tipped with minnows or waxies for crappies—drop 'em 10-15 ft in 8-12 ft depths. For pike and walleye, big swimbaits or tip-ups with dead smelt. Live bait shines: medium shiners under a bobber or on tip-ups. Artificials like Rat-L-Traps if open water edges.

Hot spots: Boom Island Park lagoons for panfish—ice is buildin' nice—and the main river channel drop-offs near the Stone Arch Bridge for walleye. Stay off thin ice, check Minnesota DNR reports.

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

We’re in an odd warm stretch for late December. WCCO’s NEXT Weather team reports highs running well above average with rain chances instead of heavy snow, so shoreline access is open and most backwaters are either thinly iced or still open. That means late‑fall tactics on winter dates.

Sunrise around the metro is about 7:45 a.m. with sunset near 4:40 p.m., and solunar forecasts for south‑central Minnesota show the main feeding window lining up early to mid‑afternoon, roughly noon to 3 p.m., with a minor bump right at first light. Plan to be set up by dawn or slide out for that midday push.

There’s no real tide on this stretch of the Mississippi, but river levels are running on the low side all up and down the system, and ag weather services note only a modest bump from snowmelt. Low, stable flows mean clearer water and more concentrated fish, especially below dams and in wintering holes.

Recent chatter from metro anglers has been consistent:

- **Walleyes and saugers** have been coming from below the Coon Rapids and St. Anthony pool dams, mostly eaters in the 14–19 inch range with a few bigger fish mixed in.

- **Smallmouth** are largely slid off into deeper current breaks, but guys dragging hair jigs are still picking a few solid bronzebacks.

- **Crappies and bluegills** are staging in the slower backwaters and marina basins; numbers are decent once you find them on electronics.

- A handful of **channel cats** are still biting on cut bait or fatheads in the deepest bends.

Best producers right now:

- For walleyes/saugers, think classic river stuff: a 1/8–1/4 oz jig and fathead or rainbow chub, or a subtle plastic like a paddletail or ringworm in chartreuse, white, or motor oil. On the cleaner days, a plain jig and minnow out‑fishes everything.

- Vertical jigging blade baits in gold, silver, or perch patterns has been putting fish in the boat when they pin tight to bottom.

- For panfish in the marinas, small tungsten jigs with waxies or a tiny crappie minnow under a fixed float are hard to beat.

- If you’re chasing late‑season smallmouth, drag a hair jig or small finesse tube painfully slow along rocks and current seams.

Couple local hot spots to consider:

- **Below Coon Rapids Dam**: Work the current breaks and deeper slots downstream of the main boil. Start with jigs and minnows; if they’re aggressive, switch to blades or plastics to cover water.

- **Upper Pool 1 around the Ford Dam area**: Focus on inside bends, eddies, and any 14–20 foot holes for winter walleyes and saugers.

- For panfish, poke around the **North Minneapolis and Fridley marinas** and any protected backwater with 10–15 feet and minimal flow.

With the unseasonably warm weather, safety is split: open‑water anglers still need cold‑water gear and PFDs; would‑be ice anglers should stay off anything that isn’t clearly measured and at least four inches of solid, clear ice. Treat

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Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things rod and reel on the Mississippi River right here in Minneapolis. It's Monday, December 22nd, 2025, and we're kickin' off the day at 8:23 AM with a crisp winter bite in the air—lows around 34°F this morning climbing to a high near 56°F under mostly sunny skies, south winds 10-15 mph with gusts to 25. Sunrise hit at 8:02 AM, sunset's at 4:30 PM, givin' us about 8.5 hours of light to chase 'em.

No tides on this stretch, but flows near Anoka are steady at 5,040 cfs, 71% of normal per SnoFlo reports—perfect for wadin' in without the big current pushin' ya around. Solunar forecast from SolunarForecast.com calls today a "Good++" day: hit the major bite windows from 1:49-3:49 AM (you night owls got it) and 2:12-4:12 PM, with minors 6:51-7:51 AM and 10:44-11:44 PM. Fish are active in these cold waters, schoolin' up in deeper pools.

Recent catches? Anglers pullin' solid walleye and northern pike—folks report limits of 18-24" eyes on jigs, plus northerns hittin' 30"+ from the upper river sections like Aitkin, per USGS and local chatter. Smaller smallies and sauger mixin' in too. Numbers are decent, 5-15 fish per outing if you're dialed in.

Best lures right now: Vertical jig with 1/4-3/8 oz heads tipped with minnows or soft plastics like Keitech swimbaits in natural shad colors—slow glow 'em off bottom. Spoons like Daredevle in gold or firetiger for pike. Live bait kings it: fathead minnows or shiners on a Lindy rig, quick-hitch style for the eyes.

Hot spots: Boom Island Park for easy access and current breaks holdin' walleye; hit the deeper slots below the locks at East Harriet or below St. Anthony Falls for pike ambushes—park smart and bundle up.

Stay safe out there, measure 'em, and release the big breeders.

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

We’re locked into true winter patterns now. The river in town is running low and clear, with skim ice in the backwaters and slow edges, but main channel stretches below the dams are still open and fishable. USGS gauges on the upper river are showing moderate, stable flows, which keeps fish glued to current seams and deeper winter holes.

No real tide to speak of on this stretch of river, but the fish are working off light and moon. Fishingreminder’s solunar tables show strong major activity early and again around dusk, so plan on the first few hours after sunrise and that late-afternoon push as your best windows.

Weather-wise, local forecasts call for cold but stable conditions: daytime highs in the 20s to low 30s, light northwest breeze, and high pressure. That combo usually means slower, more deliberate bites. Sunrise is right around 7:45 a.m. with sunset close to 4:30 p.m., so your prime feeding windows are tight—don’t waste them running around.

Recent reports from Minnesota-focused sites and local chatter out of the metro shops say the best action has been:

- **Walleyes and saugers** stacked below dams and in deeper runs, 18–28 feet.

- **Smallmouth** are mostly dormant, but a few bonus fish are coming on slow plastics.

- **Channel cats** still nipping cut bait in the deepest holes if you soak it long enough.

Catch rates haven’t been crazy numbers, but quality’s there: handfuls of 15–20 inch walleyes with some bigger girls mixed in, plus plenty of eater-size saugers for those working slow and tight to bottom.

Best producers right now:

- **Lures**

- 1/4–3/8 oz jig heads with plastic paddletails or ringworms in chartreuse, purple, or motor oil.

- Vertically jigged blade baits and lipless cranks, yo-yo’d just off bottom in current seams.

- Finesse hair jigs for neutral walleyes when they won’t touch plastics.

- **Live bait**

- Fathead or small shiner minnows on a plain jig or live-bait rig.

- A simple river jig tipped with half a nightcrawler if the water bumps a degree or two.

Keep your presentation slow: short hops, long pauses, and hold that jig still in the current until you feel that “mushy” weight. Most bites are subtle.

A couple metro hot spots to consider:

- **Below Ford Dam (Lock & Dam 1)**: Classic winter walleye water. Work the current breaks, eddies, and the first deep shelf below the dam with jigs and blades. Boat and shore anglers both have a shot here when conditions allow.

- **Upper Pool below the U of M and up toward the Camden/Lowry area**: Focus on deeper bends and inside turns where the current softens. Dragging jigs with minnows along the breaklines has been putting saugers and the occasional walleye in the net.

Safety note from local guides: watch for ice shelves along shorelines and floating chunks in the main channel, and remember the water is deadly cold—life jacket on, no exceptions.

That’s your Mississippi Rive

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Hey folks, Artificial Lure here with your Mississippi River Minneapolis fishing report.

We’re in that early-ice / late-open-water limbo on the metro stretch of the Mississippi. Shorelines and back bays are skimming over, but the main channel is still pushing good current, so treat any ice with extreme caution and stick to known launches and riprap if you’re staying on foot.

According to the National Weather Service for Minneapolis, we’re sitting near the freezing mark this morning with light northwest wind and highs creeping into the upper 20s to low 30s, mostly cloudy with a chance of flurries. Sunrise is right around 7:50 a.m. and sunset about 4:35 p.m., so it’s a short window – make those prime hours count.

SolunarForecast’s Minneapolis data pegs the best fishing periods around mid‑day and again late afternoon, with a minor activity bump right at daybreak. That lines up nicely with what anglers reported yesterday on the Mississippi River Minneapolis Fishing Report podcast on Spreaker: slower early, then a definite midday push once the light gets up.

No real tide to speak of on this stretch of river – water level is governed by the dams. Pool 1 flows below Ford Dam are near seasonal norm per the U.S. Geological Survey gauges, with slightly stained water after recent snow and melt. That stain is your friend: lets you upsize baits a bit and get away with heavier line.

Recent catches: local Facebook river groups and bait shops are talking decent numbers of **walleyes and saugers** below the dams, plus a surprise mix of **smallmouth bass** still chewing in the slower wintering holes. Most reports mention “a handful per angler” in a couple hours, with the better crews putting 6–10 fish in the net, including legal eaters. A few folks are also grabbing **crappies and bluegills** out of backwater cuts where first ice is barely forming, but those are very hit‑or‑miss and safety is the big concern.

Best baits and lures right now:

- For walleyes and saugers from shore:

- 1/4–3/8 oz **hair jigs** or jig-and-minnow combos, pitched slightly upstream and hopped back. Fatheads and small shiners from local bait shops are producing.

- Subtle **paddle‑tail plastics** in natural colors on a light jig head for when they won’t commit to meat.

- From a boat in the main channel edges:

- Vertically jigged **blade baits** and 3/8–1/2 oz jigs tipped with minnows, worked slow right on the break.

- A small **river rig** with a floating jig head and live minnow dragged upstream of wintering holes.

- For panfish in the backwaters (only if ice is truly safe):

- Tiny tungsten jigs tipped with waxies or spikes, and small glow spoons for crappies. Several YouTube ice channels showing Mississippi River backwater trips this month are all leaning on those same combos for big ‘gills and slabs.

Couple of local hot spots to try:

- **Below the Ford Dam (Lock and Dam 1)** – Classic winter walleye stretch. Fish the current seams, eddies, and the first deep

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Hey folks, Artificial Lure here with your Mississippi River Minneapolis fishing report for Friday, December 19th, 8:26 AM. Winter's grip is on, but the bite's heating up under the ice—Outdoor News reports slush after recent snow, but ice depths are improving across Minnesota waters as of Dec 17th. No tides on this stretch, just steady current pulling fish tight to structure.

Weather's crisp: expect highs around 30°F, lows in the teens, with strong winds dropping visibility—CBS Minnesota warns of slick spots lingering through the weekend. Sunrise at 8:02 AM, sunset 4:28 PM, per solunar forecasts. Peak fishing times hit major from noon to 2 PM, minors early mornin' and evenin'.

Fish activity's solid early winter style. Metro area reports from Dec 16th note walleyes, crappies, and perch stackin' up in backwaters—YouTube anglers pulled big bluegills from first ice on the Mississippi pools. Limits of 12-15 inch perch and eater walleyes (up to 4 pounds) comin' steady; sauger mixin' in too. Schools of baitfish holdin' key.

Best lures? Jigs with soft plastics like Zoom or Netbait on 1/8 oz heads—BBC Boards guys swear by 'em for vertical jiggin'. Tube jigs and swimbaits for perch. Live bait shines: wax worms, spikes, or minnows under slip bobbers over 10-20 feet.

Hot spots: Boom Island Park shallows for crappies, and the Lock & Dam #1 tailrace for walleyes huggin' the current breaks. Bundle up, drill safe—ice is 6-10 inches in spots, but check local.

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Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things rod and reel on the Mississippi River right here in Minneapolis. It's a crisp winter morning on December 17th, 2025, and we're talkin' early ice-up conditions with cold temps lockin' down many metro waters, per FishingReminder's December report. Sunrise hits around 8 AM, sunset 'bout 4:30 PM—plenty of daylight for a quick outing if you're bundled up.

No tides on this stretch of the Big Muddy, but river levels are low, concentratin' fish and makin' 'em easier to find, as noted in Outdoor News updates on recent Mississippi action. Best bite times today: major from 6:52-8:52 AM, minor 2:24-4:24 PM, another major 7-9 PM, and late minor past 11 PM—First Quarter Moon at 61% visibility means solunar peaks should fire up walleye and pike.

Fish activity's pickin' up on Pool 1 near the city. Recent reports show walleye hittin' steady in 10-18 ft breaks around Locks and Dam #1, smallmouth bass on current seams and midriver rubble, northern pike prowin' green weeds, and crappies slidin' to mid-depth basins. Catfish and sauger are full-bellied too from low water concentratin' bait—anglers pullin' limits of eyes up to 20 inches, pike in the 30s, and perch stacks.

Top lures: 1/8-1/4 oz jigs tipped with fatheads or Jigging Raps for walleye on inside turns; ned rigs and 3-4" swimbaits for smallies off bottom; glide baits, rubber, or slow-rolled bucktails for muskies over 12-20 ft. Live bait shines—minnows under floats for crappies, shiners for pike. Work windward edges, first breaks, and channel edges with a light chop.

Hot spots: Saint Anthony Falls Upper Lock and Dam for current-huggin' walleye and smallies; Nicollet Island and Boom Island for pike and sauger in the rubble—easy access from shore or boat.

Bundle up, check ice thickness, and stay safe out there. Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more reports! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

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