Mississippi River Minneapolis Fishing Report Today

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

We’re looking at a classic early summer pattern on the big river through town. The Mississippi here is technically non‑tidal, so no true tide swings to worry about, but the Corps gauges have levels running a touch above normal pool from recent rains, with a steady to very slight falling trend. That’s pushing a little extra current on the main channel and stacking fish on current breaks, wing dams, and inside turns.

Weather-wise, local forecasts call for a mild morning, light winds under about 10 mph, and highs climbing into the 70s to low 80s as the day wears on. Skies are expected to be partly cloudy with a chance of a pop‑up shower later, but nothing that should blow you off the water. Humidity is up, so expect that muggy river feel. Sunrise is right around the 5:25 a.m. mark, with sunset near 9:00 p.m., giving a long, juicy window for low‑light bites.

Fish activity has been good in the early mornings and again in the last hour of daylight. Daytime has been more of a grind, with fish sliding deeper or tighter to cover. Local reports from Minneapolis pool anglers say walleyes and sauger have been coming off the tops and fronts of wing dams and shoreline riprap transitions, especially where there’s a little stain in the water. Plenty of eater‑sized fish, with an occasional better walleye in the 20–24 inch class.

Smallmouth bass have been active along rocky banks, current seams below bridges, and around the islands. Folks tossing small crankbaits and finesse plastics are seeing decent numbers, with some solid 16–19 inch bronzebacks in the mix. Channel catfish are also getting more active with the warmer water; cut bait and stink bait on deeper holes, especially just downstream of major bends and around the bridge pilings, are producing good numbers.

For lures, think “summer current.” For walleyes, bring 1/8 to 3/8 ounce jigs tipped with fathead minnows or half‑crawlers, and a box of three‑way or live‑bait rigs with leeches or crawlers. A lot of locals are also doing well with paddle‑tail swimbaits in natural shad, chartreuse, and white, slow‑rolling them just off bottom along current breaks. Crankbaits like shad‑style plugs in firetiger, perch, or silver/black are solid for covering water on the wing dams.

For smallmouth, tube jigs in green pumpkin, small Ned rigs, and compact squarebill crankbaits in craw or baitfish patterns are hard to beat. Topwater action is starting to show on calm mornings; walk‑the‑dog baits and small poppers can be deadly right at first light along riprap and rocky points. For cats, stick with cut sucker, cut goldeye, or chicken liver on a simple slip‑sinker rig.

A couple of local hot spots to keep in mind:

– The stretch around the I‑94 and 10th Avenue bridges: work the current seams and eddies below the bridge pilings for walleyes, smallmouth, and cats. The mix of depth and structure makes this a reliable producer when the current’s moving.

– The wing dams and rocky shorelines downstream from the Upper St. Anthony/lock areas down toward the University stretch: hit the upstream faces of the dams early, then slide off the edges as the sun climbs. Smallies cruise the rocky breaks, and walleyes sit on those upstream lips and side pockets.

Focus on low‑light hours, target current breaks, and keep your presentations just ticking the bottom without hanging up too much. The river’s in good shape, and there’s plenty of life out there if you move until you find them.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, coming to you with your Mississippi River fishing report for the Minneapolis stretch.

We’re in a classic early-summer pattern on Pool 1 and just above and below the Ford Dam. Flows are moderate and water clarity is decent, with a light stain that’s perfect for reaction baits. The river isn’t tidal up here, so no tide swings to worry about—think in terms of current seams, dam releases, and boat traffic instead of tides.

Weather-wise, we’re looking at a mild start, light winds and comfortable temps building into a warm afternoon. Skies lean partly cloudy, which is ideal: just enough cover to keep fish comfortable but still push them to feed in windows. Humidity is up, so expect a little haze over the water early.

Sunrise hits right around that 5:25 a.m. mark, with sunset close to 9:00 p.m., giving a long low-light bite on both ends. The strongest feeding windows are that first two hours after sunrise and the last couple before dark. Midday can still produce if you slide deeper or tuck into shade and current breaks.

Recent chatter from local anglers along the University stretch and near Boom Island has been solid. Folks are reporting mixed bags of **smallmouth bass**, **walleye**, and plenty of **channel cats**, with bonus **sheepshead** and a few **pike** tossed in. Numbers have been good rather than huge—think a half-dozen to a dozen keeper-size smallies or walleyes per serious outing, plus cats if you soak bait.

Smallmouth have been active on rocky shorelines, bridge pilings, and riprap near the locks. A lot of fish are in that 14–18 inch range, with an occasional 19 or 20 showing up for those working slow and thorough. Walleye catches have come mostly from current edges below the dam faces and deeper bends. Catfish action has been consistent in the slower holes and behind big current breaks.

Best artificial lures right now:

- For smallmouth: **green pumpkin** or **brown tube jigs**, 3–4 inch **Ned rigs**, and small **crankbaits** in craw or shad patterns. Topwater **walkers** and **poppers** can shine right at dawn and dusk along calmer banks and eddies.

- For walleye: **1/8–1/4 oz jigs** tipped with plastics in chartreuse, white, or motor oil, slowly worked along the bottom. Deep-diving crankbaits in natural shad or perch colors are producing after dark.

- For pike: **spinnerbaits** and flashy spoons tossed near weed edges and current transitions.

Best live or natural bait:

- **Nightcrawlers** on a simple slip-sinker rig for both walleye and cats.

- **Fathead minnows** or small **shiners** on jigs or live bait rigs for walleye.

- **Cut bait**—sucker or goldeye chunks—for channel cats in deeper holes and behind big boulders or bridge pilings.

Couple of local hot spots to keep in your back pocket:

- The stretch **below Lock and Dam No. 1 (Ford Dam)**: classic seams, rocks, and depth changes for walleye and smallies. Work the edges of the main current and the first major breaks off it.

- The **University/Franklin Avenue bridge area**: rocky banks and pilings hold smallmouth, with cats stacking in deeper pockets and eddies. Cast tight to structure and let your bait drift naturally with the current.

As always on this river, watch your footing and boat position—the current can shift fast with any change in upstream flow. Keep your presentations just off bottom, match your jig weight to the flow, and don’t be afraid to move until you contact fish.

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

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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 right now. The river’s running a bit stained but very fishable through the Minneapolis pool—flows not ripping, not slack, just enough current to set up nice seams off the wing dams and below the dams. No real tides to worry about this far upriver, so think in terms of current changes from power releases and any bumps from recent rain.

Weather around the metro is classic June: mild morning temps sliding up into a warm, comfortable afternoon, with light to moderate winds and a mix of sun and clouds. Humidity’s up enough to keep the bugs around but not brutal. Sunrise is right around the early 5:20 a.m. hour, with sunset pushing close to 9 p.m., giving you a long window to work dawn and dusk—prime time on this stretch.

Early and late are your best bets. Low light has the smallmouth pushing shallow on rock, and the walleyes and saugers sliding up on the tops and upstream edges of wing dams and current breaks. Midday, fish are dropping a little deeper into the holes, backside eddies, and the bases of riprap banks.

Recent chatter from local anglers up and down the Minneapolis pool has been encouraging:

- Solid **smallmouth bass** action, plenty of 14–18 inch fish with the occasional bruiser north of 19. Numbers have been good on rocky shorelines, bridge pilings, and current-swept points.

- **Walleyes and saugers** have been coming in spurts—more of a grind than a slamfest—but guys dragging rigs are putting a few nice eaters in the livewell.

- **Channel cats** are starting to wake up in a big way; cut bait in the deeper bends and below the dams is producing steady action after dark.

- A mix of **white bass, sheepshead, and the odd pike** are filling in the gaps, especially for folks throwing moving baits.

Best lures right now:

- For smallmouth, go with **3–4 inch swimbaits**, **Ned rigs**, and compact **crankbaits** in natural shad, perch, or green pumpkin patterns. A simple tube dragged across rock is still money.

- For walleyes, **jigs with plastics** or a **live-bait rig** pulled upstream along the edges of the wing dams and channel breaks. Chartreuse, white, and firetiger remain staples in this stained water.

- For cats, **cut sucker**, **cut goldeye**, or a good, smelly prepared bait on a simple slip sinker rig will get it done.

Best bait:

- **Nightcrawlers** on a slip sinker or live-bait rig are putting both walleyes and bonus smallmouth in the boat.

- **Leeches** on a jig or Lindy-style rig are consistent producers when the fish get fussy.

- Don’t overlook **fatheads** or small **shiners** if you can find them—especially for sauger.

Couple of local hot spots to circle:

- The stretch just below **Upper St. Anthony and Lower St. Anthony** dams—anywhere you can find defined current seams, rock, and 8–14 feet of water. Work your way down until you mark bait and fish.

- The **Ford Dam area (Lock and Dam 1)**: upstream wing dams, downstream current breaks, and shoreline riprap are all holding mixed bags of smallies, walleyes, and rough fish right now.

Work those transitions—rock to sand, fast to slow water—and keep an eye on your electronics for bait clouds hugging bottom. If you’re not touching rock or feeling current, slide until you do.

That’s the river as I’m seeing it today. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report.

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

We don’t worry about tides up here – pool levels and current are the deal. With no big rain lately, the river’s running a touch low and clear for early June, so expect a little extra finesse in the main channel and better action in current seams, wing‑dam tips, and below the dams.

Weather around Minneapolis is classic early‑summer: cool morning in the 50s, pushing into the 70s this afternoon, light west to northwest breeze, mostly clear skies. That gives you good topwater windows at first and last light, then slower, deeper work once the sun gets high. Sunrise is right around a quarter after five, sunset just after nine, so you’ve got a long fishing day to play with.

Fish activity’s been solid this week. Local reports and bait shops have been talking about:

- Smallmouth bass putting on a show from above Ford Dam down past the U, hammering baits on rocky shorelines, riprap, and the upriver side of wing dams. Plenty of 12–17 inch fish with a few bigger bronzebacks mixed in.

- Walleyes and saugers coming off the edges of deeper holes and current breaks, especially early and late. Not a lights‑out bite every day, but enough eaters for a fish fry if you stick with it.

- Channel cats and a few flatheads waking up strong with the warmer water. Cut bait soakers have been doing well after dark and on cloudy stretches.

- Panfish, mostly crappies and sunfish, tucked into marinas, slackwater, and behind islands. Great option if you’ve got kids in the boat.

Best lures right now:

- For smallmouth: 1/4 oz tube jigs in green pumpkin, Ned rigs, and small paddle‑tail swimbaits on light jig heads. When the river’s calm at dawn or dusk, walk‑the‑dog topwaters and small poppers can be lights out along riprap and points.

- For walleyes: jig and plastic combos in natural minnows or chartreuse, dragged slowly upstream; or small crankbaits trolled along channel edges. Don’t overlook live‑bait rigs with leeches or nightcrawlers when the bite gets picky.

- For cats: cut sucker, cut goldeye, or fresh chicken liver on a simple slip sinker rig, set just inside the main current. Bigger live bait if you’re specifically hunting flatheads.

Best baits:

- Nightcrawlers and leeches for walleye and sauger.

- Fathead or small shiner minnows if you can find them, especially on jigs in heavier current.

- Crawlers, plastics, and little crankbaits for smallmouth.

- Fresh cut bait for catfish, and waxies or small pieces of crawler under a float for panfish.

Couple of local hot spots to circle:

- The stretch around the Ford Dam, both upstream and down, working the rocky banks, current breaks, and the first couple of wing dams. Great multi‑species water – smallmouth, eyes, and cats all live there.

- The University of Minnesota stretch, from the Washington Avenue Bridge down toward the 35W bridge. Focus on riprap, bridge pilings, and any visible current seams. Solid smallmouth water with bonus walleyes early and late.

Boat or bank, keep safety in mind – this is a working river with heavy current in spots, so wear the life jacket and respect the flow.

That’s the Mississippi River Minneapolis report from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next trip. 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‑June pattern. Air temps around the metro are starting cool at dawn in the 50s, climbing into the low 70s with light northwest breeze and low humidity. Skies are mostly clear with a mix of sun and clouds, just enough chop on the water to give your presentations some life. Sunrise is right around 5:25 a.m., sunset near 9:00 p.m., so you’ve got a wide prime window at first and last light.

No real tides to worry about on this stretch of the river, but flow and level matter. Expect moderate current; shorelines are mostly fishable, with a bit of stain to the water. That stain is your friend: lets you get close, throw heavier profiles, and fish a little faster.

Fish activity has been solid. Recent reports from local anglers around the Upper and Lower St. Anthony pools and down through the Ford Dam stretch mention good numbers of **smallmouth bass**, **walleyes**, and plenty of **channel cats**, with the odd **flathead** showing up after dark. Folks are picking up bonus **sheepshead** and **white bass** in the heavier current seams too.

Smallmouth have been the stars. Anglers are putting 10–25 bronzebacks in the boat or from shore on a good outing, with a handful in the 17–19 inch class and the occasional fish nudging 20. They’re holding on riprap banks, current breaks, and the downstream sides of bridge pilings. Work moving baits:

- 3–4 inch swimbaits on 1/4 oz jigheads

- Ned rigs in green pumpkin

- Small squarebill crankbaits in craw or shad patterns

Walleye reports are more hit‑and‑miss but steady. Think low‑light windows and current edges off deeper holes. A few anglers are sliding out in the evening and boating 3–6 eater‑sized fish, with the odd 25‑inch plus mixed in. Best plays:

- Jig and half a nightcrawler or fathead

- 1/4–3/8 oz jig tipped with plastic paddletail in chartreuse or white

- Slowly worked stickbaits after dark along rocky shorelines

Catfish are waking up strong. Channel cats in the 2–8 pound range are common, with some bigger fish around logjams and deeper bends. Cut sucker, chicken liver, or stink bait on a simple slip sinker rig will keep you busy. Flathead hunters should target dusk to well after dark with live sucker or bullhead on heavy gear near big wood and deep holes.

For live bait, prioritize:

- Nightcrawlers and fathead minnows for walleye

- Leeches if you can find them

- Cut bait and live baitfish for cats

For artificials, pack:

- **Green pumpkin** and **black/blue** finesse jigs and Ned rigs

- **White** or **chartreuse** swimbaits

- Topwater poppers and walking baits for the smallmouth early and late; calm evenings have kicked out some violent surface strikes.

Couple of local hot spots to put on your list:

- **Ford Dam / Hidden Falls area**: Work below the dam and along the riprap banks. Great mix of smallmouth, walleyes, and cats. Cast to current seams where fast water meets slow.

- **Downtown stretch around the Hennepin Avenue and 3rd Avenue bridges**: Classic urban smallmouth water. Target bridge pilings, eddies, and any visible rock. Early morning, you can walk a topwater right along the seams and hang on.

If you’re bank fishing, travel light and stay mobile. Hit a spot for 20–30 minutes; if you don’t contact fish, slide up or down to the next seam or piece of structure. Boat anglers, watch your electronics for bait pods and depth breaks off the main channel.

That’s the river rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget 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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This is Artificial Lure with your Mississippi River, Minneapolis fishing report.

We’re sitting on a classic early‑June pattern here in the Twin Cities stretch of the big river. Water’s running a little stained but very fishable, with levels around seasonal norms and a decent push of current on the main seams. No real “tide” to speak of on this inland river, but you’ll see a noticeable bite window when Xcel starts moving water at the dams and that current ramps up.

Weather today around Minneapolis is mild and stable: cool morning in the 50s climbing into the 70s by afternoon, light northwest breeze, and mostly clear to partly cloudy skies. Sunrise is right around 5:25 a.m., sunset about 9:00 p.m., giving plenty of low‑light time on both ends of the day. That early first light and the last hour before dark should be prime.

Fish activity’s been solid the past few days. Local chatter from pool 1 and pool 2 is all about numbers:

• **Walleye and sauger**: Good eater‑size fish coming out of deeper current breaks below bends, wing dams, and the backside of islands. A lot of boats are reporting half‑dozen to a dozen fish in a short morning window if they stay mobile. Best bets: 1/8–1/4 oz jigs tipped with a fathead, or plastic paddletails in chartreuse, white, or firetiger. A slow‑rolled crankbait like a Flicker Shad or Shad Rap along the break lines is putting nicer keepers in the net.

• **Smallmouth bass**: River bronzebacks are fired up. Anglers working riprap, bridge pilings, and rocky shorelines are seeing 10–20 fish mornings, with a few solid 18–19 inchers mixed in. Top producers: 3–4 inch tube jigs in green pumpkin, ned rigs, and small crankbaits. In low light or overcast, twitch a walking topwater or popper along current edges and hang on.

• **Channel cats and flatheads**: Night crews and evening shore anglers have been doing well on cats around deep holes and outside bends. Cut sucker, goldeye, or stinkbait on a simple slip sinker rig is plenty. Once that sun dips, bigger flatheads are setting up tight to timber piles and rock.

• **Panfish and rough fish**: Mixed bags of crappie, white bass, and sheepshead showing up in quieter backwater cuts and marinas. A small jig and twister tail or plain hook and worm under a float will keep the kids busy.

Best lures and baits right now:

• For walleye: 1/8–1/4 oz jig + fathead or half‑crawler, or 2.5–3 inch paddletail swimbaits.

• For smallmouth: tubes, ned rigs, small squarebills, and walking topwaters.

• For cats: fresh cut bait or live sucker on heavier gear.

• For multispecies: simple jig and minnow or jig and plastic along current seams.

A couple local hot spots to keep in mind:

• **Below Ford Dam (Lock and Dam 1)** on the Minneapolis side: classic current breaks, eddies, and depth changes. Great for walleye, sauger, and smallmouth—just work those seams and keep your boat positioned safely out of the heavy flow.

• **Pool 2 wing dams and bends between 494 and downtown St. Paul**: this stretch is catch‑and‑release only for walleye and sauger but kicks out quality fish. Target the tips and upstream faces of wing dams with cranks and jigs, and check any pronounced inside turns with good current.

Work the low‑light windows, keep an eye on current changes, and don’t be afraid to hop spots until you land on an active school.

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Good morning, this is **Artificial Lure** with your local fishing report for the Mississippi River around Minneapolis. The big river is waking up under **early-June** conditions, and with no fresh live reports in hand this morning, the safest read is that the bite should be strongest around current breaks, wing dams, shore slack, and the mouths of feeder pockets where fish can ambush bait.

For **weather**, plan on a classic Minnesota June mix: cool dawn air, a warming day, and enough breeze to push bait against shoreline structure. Check the nearest hourly forecast before you launch, because wind direction can make a huge difference on this stretch of river. For **sunrise and sunset**, early June in Minneapolis gives you a very early sunrise and a late evening finish, which means the best windows are usually first light and the last hour of daylight. The river also has no true **tidal** influence here, so your water movement is driven by dam releases, runoff, and local current seams rather than tide.

As for **fish activity**, this is prime time for a mixed bag. Anglers around the Mississippi in Minneapolis are typically targeting **walleye**, **smallmouth bass**, **channel catfish**, and an occasional **pike** when the water warms. Recent catch reports are not available in the material I checked, so I can’t give you a verified fish count, but this time of year usually brings active feeding on minnows, leeches, crawfish, and drifting insect life. If the water has a little color, expect the walleyes to stay tight to deeper seams; if it clears up, bass will push shallower onto rock and wood.

The **best lures** right now are the simple river classics: a jig and minnow setup, paddletails on a light jig head, hair jigs for walleyes, and small crankbaits or tube jigs for bronzebacks. For catfish, nothing beats **cut bait**, nightcrawlers, or stink bait if you’re set up on slower water. If you want one bait to cover the most water, a lively **minnow** is still hard to beat on this river.

A couple of **hot spots** to keep on your radar: one, the **downtown Minneapolis riverfront stretches** where eddies and current breaks stack bait near shore; two, the **areas below dams, bridge pilings, and wing dam edges** farther along the river, where fish pin food in moving water. Any spot with a clean seam, a slower inside bend, or a rocky drop is worth a few casts before you move on.

If I were making a local run today, I’d start with a jig and minnow at daybreak, then switch to a paddletail or tube once the sun gets up and the fish slide off the bank. Keep your casts upstream, let the bait work naturally with the current, and focus on those soft edges where the river looks calm but the food is funneling through.

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

We don’t worry about tides up here in pool country, but we do pay attention to river levels and flow. The upper Mississippi through Minneapolis is typically running a moderate flow this time of year, with slightly stained water and 1–3 feet of visibility in the current seams. Sunrise is right around 5:25 a.m., with sunset near 9:00 p.m., giving you a long window to work low-light bites.

Weather-wise, early mornings are starting cool and calm, often in the low 50s, warming into the 70s by afternoon, with light to moderate winds. Those overcast mornings and evenings have been the best windows. Stable barometer days have produced a more consistent bite; fast-dropping pressure ahead of a front has fired up short feeding flurries, especially for walleyes and smallmouth.

Recent reports from local anglers along the Minneapolis riverfront and the pool above and below the Ford Dam say the bite’s been solid. Folks are boating good numbers of 14–19 inch **smallmouth bass**, with a few pushing 20+. Mixed in are eater-sized **walleyes** and **sauger** in the 14–18 inch range. Shore guys near bridges and below current breaks have been tying into **channel cats** from 2–8 pounds, and an occasional bigger blue or flathead at night. Plenty of **sheepshead** and **white bass** to keep rods bending.

Best lure patterns right now:

- For smallmouth: 3–4 inch **swimbaits** on 1/8–1/4 oz jig heads, white or natural shad colors, slow-rolled through current seams and along riprap. Ned rigs and 3-inch tubes in green pumpkin are putting in work around rocky points and eddies.

- For walleyes and sauger: jig-and-plastic combos or jig-and-minnow, worked vertically in deeper holes and at the base of current breaks. Chartreuse, orange, and firetiger are the go-to colors in that stained water.

- For cats: cut suckers, cut goldeye, and stinkbait on slip rigs. Fish the downstream side of bends, deep holes, and along the base of riprap after dark.

If you’re strictly a bait angler, live **fathead minnows**, nightcrawlers, and leeches on a simple slip sinker or live-bait rig are catching just about everything in the river. Crawlers on a plain hook or small spinner rig are taking mixed bags of walleyes, drum, and the occasional surprise pike.

A couple local hot spots to keep in mind:

- The stretch **just below the Ford Dam** on the Minneapolis side: classic current seams, deep pockets, and lots of rock. Great for smallies, walleyes, and cats. Boat anglers do well drifting jigs; shore anglers pick apart the seams with plastics and live bait.

- The **riprap and bridge areas near the University of Minnesota / downtown Minneapolis**: plenty of current breaks, eddies, and man-made structure. Great shore access, especially for smallmouth and rough fish, with evenings producing consistent action.

Early and late are still your prime windows. Hit it at first light with reaction baits and finesse plastics, then slow down with jigs and live bait once the sun gets higher.

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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 ocean tides up here, but the river’s got its own “tide” in the form of flow and dam control. With recent spring and early‑summer rains upstream, expect a moderate to slightly higher flow, a bit of stain to the water, and some debris on the move. Focus on current breaks, seams, and eddies where fish can tuck out of the push.

Weather around Minneapolis is in classic early‑June mode: cool mornings, warming into a comfortable afternoon, light to moderate wind, and a decent mix of clouds and sun. Sunrise is right around the mid‑5 a.m. hour, with sunset landing just after 9 p.m., giving you a long window of low‑light feeding at dawn and dusk. Those shoulder hours are when the river really wakes up.

Fish activity has been solid. Walleyes are sliding off their spring patterns and holding on mid‑river current breaks, below wing dams, and along deeper bends. Smallmouth bass are very active along rocky shorelines, riprap, and the heads and tails of islands. Channel cats and flatheads are getting more aggressive with the warming water, stacking in deeper holes and along cutbanks with wood.

Recent reports from local anglers and shops around town say the bite’s been mixed but steady: most boats are putting a handful of eater‑sized walleyes in the livewell on a good outing, with a few nicer fish in the 20–24 inch range. Smallmouth catches have been strong, especially for folks covering water with moving baits; plenty of 12–16 inch fish, with the occasional 18‑plus showing up. Cat guys running at night are seeing a mix of 3–10 pound channel cats and some heavier flatheads when they commit to soaking good bait on prime structure.

Best lures right now:

- For walleyes:

Jig and plastic combos in 1/8 to 1/4 ounce, with chartreuse, orange, and white paddletails or ringworms. Slow‑rolled crankbaits in natural shad and firetiger patterns are producing on long upstream or cross‑current trolls.

- For smallmouth:

Ned rigs, 3–4 inch tube jigs in green pumpkin, and medium diving crankbaits banging into rock. Spinnerbaits and buzzbaits early and late in the day can trigger those aggressive river bronzebacks in the shallows.

- For catfish:

Slip rigs or simple bottom rigs with 2–4 ounce sinkers depending on flow. Big live bait or cut bait is the ticket: cut sucker, cut goldeye, or live bullheads for flatheads; cut bait, stink bait, or nightcrawlers for channels.

Best bait:

- Live fathead minnows or small shiners on jigs or live‑bait rigs for walleyes.

- Nightcrawlers on a simple jig or live‑bait rig can take walleyes, sauger, and bonus smallmouth.

- For cats, fresh cut bait is king; don’t bother with old, mushy stuff if you’re hunting bigger fish.

A couple of hot spots to keep in mind:

- The pool around the Upper St. Anthony and Lower St. Anthony areas: work the current seams, eddies, and downriver points where the flow slackens. Those transitions hold walleyes and smallmouth.

- The stretch near the Ford Dam and downstream: classic river structure, deeper holes, and plenty of current breaks. Great mix of walleyes, smallmouth, and catfish if you move until you find active fish.

Work the edges of current, fish low‑light windows, and don’t be afraid to downsize if the bite feels off. The river will tell you what it wants if you keep adjusting.

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