Mississippi River Minneapolis Fishing Report Today

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

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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.

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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

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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 w

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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.

Thanks for tuning in to your Mississippi River fishing update. Be sure to subscribe for more reports—this has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Artificial Lure here with your Saturday fishing report for the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, November 15, 2025.

The **sun rises at 7:10 AM and sets at 4:44 PM** today—those short days mark the transition into late fall bite patterns. A cold front rolled through overnight, and local CBS Minnesota says temps this morning are dipping into the mid-30s, with a high pushing to about 46°F. Expect cloud cover and some lingering light rain, plus brisk northwest winds that’ll keep it chilly, so layer up and bring the thermos.

There’s no tidal influence up here, but solunar forecasts point to **minor fish activity between 6:51 and 7:51 AM**, with a major activity spike from **2:12 to 4:12 PM**. If you’re debating when to be on the water, afternoon looks best.

River levels are steady, but flow is up a bit after recent showers, so the current’s moving good, and clarity is moderate. Fish adjust to these changes—expect them to tuck behind structure to stay out of the push.

**Recent catches** have included a healthy mix of late-season *smallmouth bass*, *walleye*, and *northern pike*. A handful of reports on the BBC Boards rave about the continued bite for **smallies below warm water outflows, like at the nuclear plant downstream**, using jerkbaits, especially the Megabass Vision 110SR. Several locals working the riprap below the Plymouth Avenue and Franklin Avenue bridges have been sticking chunky bass, some pushing 4 pounds, along with decent eater walleyes around 15-18 inches.

Walleye anglers are switching to vertical presentations in deeper holes and seam lines. The top lures this week: **1/4 to 3/8 oz jig heads tipped with fathead minnows**. Chartreuse and orange remain winning colors in lower light. Jigging Rapalas and blade baits also turn heads when fished slow and tight to bottom.

For smallmouth bass, jerkbaits like the Vision 110SR and classic Rapala X-Rap in ghost or shad color have been hottest. Anglers are casting to slackwater pools near bridge pilings and rocky shorelines. If it’s slow, bounce a **Ned rig or tube jig** in green pumpkin along the gravel.

Northern pike are still prowling—the best action is coming on **white spinnerbaits and suspending swimbaits** fished near deadfalls and weed edges. Pike are aggressive with the water cooling, and they’ll chase, especially on overcast days.

**Bait shops** confirm high demand for fatheads and sucker minnows, ideal if you’re after walleye or targeting big pike with a bobber rig.

**Hot spots:**

- The stretch between **Boom Island and the Plymouth Avenue Bridge** is holding piles of bass and decent eater-sized walleye—focus on transition areas where rocks meet sand.

- The **mouth of Minnehaha Creek** at the confluence is reliably productive after rainfall, with mixed bags of walleye, pike, and the occasional slab crappie.

- That **Franklin Avenue Bridge undercurrent** routinely produces after a cold front, especially mid-afternoon.

Fish are feeding heavy before winter and rewards go to t

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# Artificial Lure's Mississippi River Fishing Report

Well, folks, it's Friday, November 14th, and we're looking at some excellent conditions out on the Mississippi River here in Minneapolis. Let me break down what's happening on the water today.

**Weather and Light**

We've got ourselves a beautiful fall day developing. Sunrise was at 6:52 AM, and we're looking at a sunset around 7:41 PM, giving us just under 13 hours of good fishing light. The dry stretch continues with less wind than we've seen recently, and there's more of that fall warmth moving in. These are solid conditions for getting out there.

**Fishing Activity**

The solunar forecast shows us major feeding times between 2:51 AM and 4:51 AM this morning, with another excellent window from 3:21 PM to 5:21 PM this afternoon. If you're planning an evening trip, that late afternoon window is going to be prime time. Minor feeding periods hit around 7:48 AM to 8:48 AM. The overall day rating is sitting at average, but those major windows are where the action happens.

**What's Been Working**

Looking at recent tournament success on similar Mississippi River systems, anglers have been crushing it with swim jigs paired with PowerBait chunks in darker colors like black-and-blue. Forward-facing sonar has become a game-changer for targeting specific structure, particularly around docks and deeper areas. If you're targeting suspended fish, drop-shots with small flukes have been producing quality bites. Jerkbaits in shad patterns are also solid choices, especially early morning.

**Fish Species and Catches**

You're looking at solid populations of largemouth and spotted bass throughout this system. Walleye and pike are also hanging around these waters. Recent reports show anglers getting consistent action on bass fishing the deeper structure and suspended fish near main river channels.

**Hot Spots to Target**

Head up toward the deeper outside bends where the river channel cuts tight—that's where the bigger fish stack up this time of year. Also check out any dock structure near the lock and dam areas where baitfish congregate.

**Lures and Bait**

Swim jigs with dark-colored trailers, shad-pattern jerkbaits, drop-shot rigs with small flukes, and swimbaits are your go-to presentations. Live baitfish like shiners work great if you want to keep it simple.

That's your Mississippi River fishing report for today. Thanks for tuning in and make sure to subscribe for daily reports. This has been a Quiet Please production—for more, check out quietplease.ai.

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Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your November 13, 2025 Mississippi River fishing report for Minneapolis.

First things first, the weather is just about perfect for a fall bite—plenty of sunshine and temps reaching up to 52 degrees today with breezy westerly winds running 10 to 20 mph according to FOX 9 and CBS Minnesota. Bundle up if you’re pushing dawn or dusk, as it dips to the upper 20s tonight. Sunrise today was at 7:10 AM; sunset is coming early, just after 4:48 PM, so plan your sets and retrieves accordingly. Heads up: the Northern Lights may make an encore tonight, so you might just be fishing with an aurora in the background.

The Mississippi’s water levels remain on the low side, per DTN Progressive Farmer, which puts fish tight to deeper channels and structure. Expect mild current and clearer water than usual. With no tides in Minneapolis, focus your efforts on slack water pockets, especially near river bends and below the dams.

Fish activity has surged with the cooler nights. Recent logs on Fishbrain show strong numbers: nearly 30,000 largemouth bass caught in greater St. Paul, about 9,800 northern pike, and over 5,500 bluegills through this season so far. There’s been a steady pick of walleyes—anglers are reporting healthy fish at the tailwaters and deep holes—and the occasional monster sturgeon for those willing to put in the grind below the Ford Dam.

Best baits right now? For bass, work a shad-colored jerkbait or a finesse Ned rig along rocky banks and submerged timber. Northern pike are smashing chartreuse spinnerbaits, especially mid-morning. Walleye anglers are doing well with live fathead minnows on a jig head, but a firetiger Rapala or similar crankbait bounced along the bottom is getting hits near dusk. Bluegills are stacking up at the river mouths—use wax worms or small jigs under slip bobbers.

Top hotspots:

- The stretch below the Franklin Avenue Bridge, where deep cuts and riprap hold active walleyes and smallmouths this time of year.

- Boom Island Park, on the upriver side of the island—fish the eddies along the main current seam for mixed bags, pike included.

- Marshal Terrace, just north of Lowry Bridge, is producing solid numbers of bass and the occasional bonus crappie. Pick apart the pilings and slackwater pockets here for best results.

A couple pro tips: Don’t neglect forward-facing sonar if you have it—Major League Fishing recommends locking in on bait schools with a higher-mounted transducer. Keep your trolling motor pointed into the wind to stay on target and adjust your position to follow the roaming fish. As water temps continue dropping, slow down your presentation and keep it near the bottom unless you spot suspended schools.

Access is solid at most public ramps around downtown and North Minneapolis, but always check closures and city regulations before launching. The St. Anthony Lock is closed to navigation, but shore fishing is allowed upstream and below the falls.

As we settle into

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This is Artificial Lure with your November 11th, 2025, Mississippi River fishing report right from the heart of Minneapolis.

Let's talk weather—after a cold snap over the weekend, we've got improving conditions rolling in. Minnesota Public Radio News says we had one last day of chilly air on Monday, but now we're looking at temps climbing above normal for the rest of this week. Next Weather on CBS Minneapolis reports a warm air mass is on the way, promising comfortable days ahead for anglers, though early mornings are still brisk. Bundle up for dawn launches—temps are in the high 20s at sunrise, but warming fast. Sunrise today hit at 7:11 AM, with sunset wrapping things up at 4:48 PM.

Water levels remain low along the Mississippi, and that's not changing soon. DTN Progressive Farmer notes navigation's still restricted, but fish are stacking tight to drop-offs, deeper holes, and classic current seams—especially where feeder creeks push in, thanks to the ongoing dry spell.

Now, tides aren’t a player here—Mississippi in Minneapolis is strict river flow, not tidal. But with conditions stable and river current steady, light jigs and finesse tactics are working best.

Fish activity’s still solid. Late fall’s putting walleye and sauger on the move downstream, schooling up at mouths and deeper bends. Reports from local guides highlight limits on eater-sized walleyes the past week, with sauger mixed in and bonus smallmouth—especially near the Ford Dam and down by Minnehaha Creek confluence. Walleyes up to 24 inches have come in, though 15–18 inchers are most common right now.

Crappies and perch are biting in slackwater zones behind islands and wing dams. The fall bite for these is peaking, and those cooler overnights are keeping them aggressive through midday. Largemouth bass can still be found near rocky banks and deadfalls, but numbers are dropping as the water cools, mixing in with smallies.

On the lure front, stick to tried-and-true fall offerings:

- For walleye and sauger, go with a ¼ ounce jig—chartreuse or bright orange—tipped with a fathead minnow. Plastic paddletails like a 3-inch Big Bite Baits Pro Swimmer are also producing, especially where shad schools are present.

- Where current is light, slip float rigs with live minnows will put more panfish in your bucket.

- Bass anglers should slow down with finesse jigs or soft plastics worked tight to cover.

Major League Fishing and OutdoorsFIRST both highlight the swim jig as a sleeper pick for late autumn smallmouth—try white or green pumpkin with a subtle paddletail trailer, hopped through shallow rocky runs near dam faces.

Couple of hot spots:

- **Below Lock and Dam No. 1 (Ford Dam)**: Classic for fall walleye, and the deeper pools here are holding big numbers.

- **Hidden Falls Park and upstream towards Minnehaha Creek**: Spawning shad keep predatory fish close, so cast along drop-offs at dawn.

- **Boom Island/W. River Parkway backwaters**: Crappie and perch school here in late fall.

No

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This is Artificial Lure bringing you your Mississippi River fishing report straight from Minneapolis for Monday, November 10, 2025.

Mother Nature’s setting a brisk stage out there this morning: overnight temps dipped into the low 30s, with a chilly northwest breeze around 10–12 mph. As the sun rises at 6:57 AM and looks to set at 4:48 PM, anglers will want to layer up and watch for patchy river fog early. No tidal swing here as we’re well up the Mississippi, but river levels are above winter pool after last week’s rains—expect some stained water and higher current, especially south of St. Anthony Falls, making some backwaters and slower seams the ticket for action.

Fishing’s in that late-fall phase—a little quiet compared to summer, but there’s still good opportunity if you work methodically. According to outdoornews.com’s latest Minnesota fishing and hunting report, most folks have switched to hunting, but the die-hards still pulling walleye and smallies from the river have been rewarded, especially on warming afternoons. Walleye action is best on deep holes and current breaks close to the confluence with the Minnesota River and below the Ford Dam. This is the time to slow-roll your presentation; think jigs tipped with fatheads or plastics in natural colors. For smallmouth, rocks and the mouths of tributaries continue to produce, especially on sunny afternoons.

Local forums at fishingminnesota.com show several recent catches of smaller eater-size walleyes, a couple pushing 22 inches, and decent numbers of sauger mixed in. Folks are also finding some bonus crappies and sizeable white bass stacked below the dams and in the slow pockets near Lilydale and Hidden Falls Park. Reports mention fewer but larger northern pike showing up—you’ll want a bigger swimbait or a bright spoon for those.

Best baits this week:

- **Walleye and sauger:** ⅜ oz. jigheads with a fathead minnow or a 3–4” paddle tail plastic in chartreuse/orange or blue/white.

- **Smallmouth:** ⅛–¼ oz. jig and creature bait or a suspending jerkbait in shad and perch patterns.

- **Crappie and white bass:** 1/16 oz. tube or jig with white or pink bodies. A slip bobber with a crappie minnow is still a strong bet.

- **Northern pike:** Oversized silver or fire tiger spoons and white swimbaits retrieved along weedlines.

Skip the live bait shop rush and try a Z-Man ChatterBait in green pumpkin, or a Yo-Zuri squarebill crankbait near brush and riprap—both lures have produced in cool, moving water these past few days.

Two local hot spots worth targeting today:

- **Boom Island Park:** Work the channel edge near the old railroad bridge pylons for mixed smallmouth and walleye.

- **Below Ford Dam:** Focus on the swirling current seams and eddies with heavy jigs for walleyes, sauger, and the occasional surprise pike.

It’s prime time for a last shot at river trophies before the serious freeze-up sets in. There’s still quiet beauty on the water—bundle up, bring a thermos, and keep moving until you

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