Mississippi River Minneapolis Fishing Report Today

Hey folks, it's Artificial Lure here with your fishing report for today, September 17, 2025, focusing on the Mississippi River around Minneapolis. The weather is looking calm, with gentle winds, but the river is running low, which might affect fishing conditions.

Recently, fish in the Mississippi River have been contaminated with PFAS, so be cautious with your catch. For fishing, minnows and small jigs are great for panfish, while spinners can attract walleyes and pike. Trolling along shorelines and near submerged structures is recommended.

Hot spots include the area around the Ford Dam and downstream towards Hastings. For walleyes, try using small crankbaits or jigs tipped with live bait.

Sunrise is at 6:48 AM, and sunset is at 7:10 PM. Unfortunately, tidal reports aren't relevant here since we're on a river.

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Artificial Lure here serving up your Mississippi River, Minneapolis fishing report for Sunday, September 14th, 2025. Sunrise was at 6:48 AM, with sunset rolling in about 7:27 PM, giving you a nice, full day to wet a line. Let’s get right to what you need to know out on the water.

Weather’s shaping up like a classic early fall morning—temps starting off crisp in the upper 50s, warming up to the mid-70s by afternoon with a gentle breeze out of the northwest. We’re looking at clear skies and just a wisp of fog burning off the river at daybreak. No significant rain in the forecast so water clarity should be good, especially up by the pools and wing dams.

Tides aren’t a factor up here on this stretch of the river, so focus your attention on water flow, current seams, and those eddies off the main channel. After last week’s steady weather, fish are holding tight to structure and seams, chasing an easy meal as water temps slowly start to drop.

Reports from local anglers and guides say the bite has been steady the last few days. Smallmouth bass are providing plenty of action, with most fish running 12 to 17 inches but a few 19- and 20-inchers showing up, especially if you’re working rocky banks and deep current breaks. Good numbers of walleye are still being pulled in near the lock and dam areas—target depths of 8 to 15 feet using jig-and-minnow combos early in the morning, then switch to crankbaits or crawler harnesses as the sun gets higher.

Channel catfish are very active in the evenings, especially near the mouth of Minnehaha Creek and below the Ford Dam. Local legend says dip baits and cut sucker are pulling ‘em in, with several cats over 10 pounds landed just this week. And don’t overlook the white bass schooling up at the mouths of the tributaries; small spinners and twister tails are working wonders.

Recent catches on YouTube’s Minnesota Cabin Life show folks landing solid smallmouth, walleye, and a few respectable northern pike—one angler even reeled in a surprise muskie near Boom Island. Artificial baits are hot, but Outdoor News reports stonecats—those small, lively native catfish—are drawing big strikes from river bass, both live on the hook or imitated with a chunky brown streamer on the end of your fly rod.

For lures, stick to medium-diving crankbaits in natural shad or crawfish patterns, 3”-4” soft plastic swimbaits, and classic chartreuse or white spinnerbaits. If you’re targeting river smallies, nothing beats a tube jig or a 1/4 oz jig with a curly tail grub, bounced right past the rocks. Don’t forget live bait—crawlers and fathead minnows are always a solid bet.

Hot spots this weekend? Hit the stretch from the 35W Bridge down to Hidden Falls Park—lots of boulders and current breaks, perfect for both smallmouth and walleye. The confluence with Minnehaha Creek is another prime location, especially for late evening channel cats and occasional pike cruising along the weed edges.

Remember, safety first out there: water levels are ave

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Artificial Lure here with your Mississippi River fishing report for Minneapolis on Saturday, September 13th, 2025. Sunrise hit at 6:47 AM, and we’re looking at sunset at 7:23 PM, giving us a sprawling late-summer day. Now, locals will tell you the River hasn’t got tides, but fluctuates with rain and dam activity, so no proper tidal chart—but levels remain steady with drought easing up a bit thanks to earlier showers.

We're stuck in a September heat wave. Temps in Minneapolis are pushing 90 degrees, about 10-15 degrees above normal. Plan for lots of sunshine and minimal breeze, so bring the sunscreen and extra water. The muggy conditions might slow midday action—early morning and evening are your best bets.

Fishing pressure is light this week, as reported by Outdoor News, with water temperatures dipping after last week’s cold front but bouncing high again with the recent heat. The cooler temps had started moving fall patterns forward, but now fish are hanging a bit deeper until the heat breaks. Walleyes are holding steady in deep mud basins, with schools pushing toward the shorelines as these swings continue. Anglers are seeing reliable catches, just not the raucous bite that cool, cloudy days can trigger.

**Recent Catches and Fish Activity**

- **Walleyes:** Good numbers caught in 20-30 feet, especially near channel edges, submerged islands, and outside bends. Metros anglers are reporting limits, with most fish measured between 15” and 22”. Jig and minnow combos—especially fathead—are hot right now, outperforming spinners or crankbaits in the morning and evening. On sunny afternoons, bite slows but trolling crawler harnesses (gold, pink, firetiger blades) gets some action. Local guides recommend jigging if you want to put more fish in the boat.

- **Smallmouth Bass:** The bite is best during low light. Topwater lures near riprap and bridge pilings early, then switching to chatterbaits and wacky worms once the sun’s up. Ned rigs and tubes along rocky shorelines and deeper eddies are producing fish 2-4 lbs. Smallies are more sluggish midday, so target shaded stretches.

- **Northern Pike:** Caught mainly upstream of Minnehaha Falls and near Boom Island Park. Most are “eater size,” as the bigger toothy critters are running deeper. Flashy spoons, white spinnerbaits, and big minnows work along weedy backwaters.

- **Jumbo Perch & Panfish:** Perch are mixing in with walleyes, especially on submerged flats. Try small jigs tipped with waxworms or chunks of crawler. Bluegill and crappies are spotty, holding under docks and shaded shorelines. Small leeches, plastics, or tube jigs get bites, though you’ll need to keep moving.

**Best Lures and Bait**

- **Walleye:** Jigs and fathead minnows, gold or pink spinner rigs tipped with crawler.

- **Bass:** Early—popper or whopper plopper. Late—Ned rig, tubes, wacky worms.

- **Pike:** Dardevle spoons, white or chartreuse spinnerbaits, large shiners.

- **Perch:** Small jigs with waxworms or bits of worm.

- **Crappie:*

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Weather on the Mississippi River in Minneapolis this morning started out stable, surface temps hovering right around 61 degrees after a week of cooling winds and patchy clouds according to local Minnesota fishing reports. The sky’s overcast with a gentle 5–10 mph breeze, making for classic September river conditions. Sunrise hit at 6:45 AM and you can expect sunset to close things out about 7:30 PM, so anglers get a good stretch of daylight for casting.

There’s no tidal report to give—the Mississippi isn’t tidally influenced up here—but water levels are steady and the current’s got a slow push, perfect for working the main channel edges and backwater sloughs. If you’re an early riser, the morning bite’s been best, especially as those first rays break through the mist.

Fishing activity has picked up with the cooling trend. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are on the move, responding well to topwater and wake baits thrown near rip rap and bait balls early. Just last week, anglers working Pool 10 were catching largemouth with topwater wake baits, especially where minnows were thick and you could see fish busting on the surface. If you’re trying for bass, focus on rocky shorelines and rip rap. Smallmouth in particular are holding tight to current breaks and hitting wake baits and prop-style topwaters during overcast hours; mid-morning through mid-day has seen schooling action when shad or smaller forage are active. These bass are keyed into minnow and shad patterns as forage is concentrated with cooling temps.

Panfish and perch catches have been solid. Crappies are moving, and there’s no shortage of sunfish hanging around slacker waters and vegetation. Reports yesterday from Minnesota waters saw good action with perch in the 6–9-inch range and some bonus keepers up to 12 inches—a jig and minnow is your most reliable combo for these, but don't overlook spinners tipped with live bait either. Bluegill are going deep in clear water, and Outdoor News says targeting them on steep drop-offs with small hair jigs or worms is the ticket.

Walleye action has ramped up as river temperatures drop. Folks trolling perch-colored crankbaits in 15 to 25 feet, particularly along mud and sand flats, are boating keeper-sized walleyes. Evening bite along deeper channel ledges using crankbaits and spinner rigs tipped with crawlers or fathead minnows has also produced well. Jigging with a lively minnow is the top method when things slow down—local guides confirm this switched the bite back on after trolling stopped producing.

Northern pike aren’t as thick as the panfish or bass, but persistent casters have nabbed mid-sized “eaters” trolling spinners with fathead minnows, especially around submerged humps or weedy points. Pike hit best mid-morning once things warm and are likely to strike flashy artificial lures like spoons or spinnerbaits.

Best lures for today:

- **Topwater wake baits** for bass

- **Perch or bluegill colored crankbaits** for walleye and bass

- **Jigs tip

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Good morning, anglers—Artificial Lure here, bringing you the Mississippi River Minneapolis-area fishing report for Wednesday, September 10, 2025.

Today’s shaping up to be classic early fall river weather—expect partly cloudy skies, light winds, and temps climbing from the high 50s into the low 70s by lunchtime. Sunrise hit just before 6:45 a.m. and sunset will slide in around 7:30 p.m. The river’s moving with steady late summer flow; while tides on the upper Mississippi aren’t a concern, water levels are stable and clarity is moderate—ideal for targeting active fish before colder evenings start pushing them deeper.

Reports from local guides and area anglers over the past few days are pointing to excellent mixed-bag opportunities. Smallmouth bass have been the marquee catch this week—multiple anglers reported good numbers and size, with fish pushing 16–18 inches holding tight to riprap, current breaks, and bridge pilings. There’s steady action on walleyes in the deeper runs, and channel catfish remain hungry in the slower, muddy side channels. Panfish—especially crappie and big bluegill—are showing up in shallower backwaters and near fallen timber.

Hot lures right now include green pumpkin and chartreuse tube jigs, as well as classic black-and-gold Rapala crankbaits—especially in mid-shallow dives, which have been hot along rocky shorelines and wing dams. For live bait, jumbo leeches and fathead minnows are both getting results, especially for walleye and cats. Surface bite’s been best at the crack of dawn with walk-the-dog style topwater lures—think Zara Spook or Whopper Plopper—especially in shallow current seams.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is looking to expand the bass season to year-round, and that’s reflected in a real uptick of local bass effort and catch rates. Outdoor News staff and local boards are showing readers landing both nice largemouth and smallmouth, particularly on spinnerbaits and craw-pattern soft plastics fished slow and low.

A couple hotspots to circle for your next outing:

- **Boom Island and the north end of Nicollet Island:** Plentiful rocky structure and current, reliable for smallmouth any time through fall.

- **Ford Dam tailwaters:** Prolific for mixed species this month—walleyes, sauger, and even the occasional trophy catfish congregating below the dam in deeper holes and eddies.

- **Backwaters near Hidden Falls Regional Park:** Excellent for late-season panfish and bonus northern pike on flashy inline spinners.

Fishing pressure is moderate, so there’s elbow room if you start early or stick it out towards dusk. The fish are in pre-fall feeding mode—cover water with moving baits but don’t hesitate to slow down if the bite gets tentative.

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Artificial Lure here with your Mississippi River Minneapolis daily fishing report for Sunday, September 7, 2025.

Early fall is showing up strong on the river. Water temps are starting to drop, and the fish are responding—especially during those low-light windows around dawn and dusk. Today’s sunrise hit at 6:42 AM and sunset will fall at 7:38 PM, so make sure to hit the water just before or after those times for the best bite. The weather forecast calls for a high near 69°F with a cool morning bottoming out around 40°F. Light breeze out of the northwest and clear skies make for primo conditions to spot active fish in the shallows or off main current seams.

There’s no tidal influence here, but solunar tables rate the day as “Best”: major fish feeding times are running from about noon to 2 PM, with minor periods just before sunrise, 5:48 AM to 6:48 AM, and again 7:28 PM to 8:28 PM. Plan your serious casts around those windows to maximize results according to the Solunar Forecast.

Recent catches have been solid. The word on the docks is that smallmouth bass are still aggressive near rocky riprap and along the channel edges, especially north of the Stone Arch Bridge and over by Boom Island. Anglers targeting deeper holes and mid-river eddies are finding plenty of action with walleyes and some bonus northern pike. Crappies are popping up whenever folks are patient enough to work jigs under structure—especially around laydowns and bridge pilings. According to reports from Outdoor News and local video posts, September’s cooler mornings are bringing those big bites.

Most anglers are getting success with a mix of classic lures:

- For smallmouth: 3-4” paddle tails in green pumpkin, chartreuse, or hot craw patterns. Ned rigs and tubes fished slowly across gravel bars.

- For walleye: Spinners rigged with nightcrawlers or minnows are taking fish in deeper current breaks. Bright-colored, shallow-diving crankbaits and jig/minnow combos are working when the bite is slow.

- For crappie: Downsized soft plastics, hair jigs, and plain old fathead minnows beneath a slip float.

- Northern pike are whacking white Mister Twister tails and larger spinnerbaits with gold blades near submerged weeds and mud/rock transitions.

Live bait shops report minnows are best for walleye and crappie right now, with crawlers and leeches picking up bonus fish if you’re working the bottom. Don’t leave home without some tried-and-true artificials—the river’s got plenty of hungry mouths willing to hit them.

Numbers-wise, you can expect decent amounts: several boats have reported up to a dozen respectable smallmouths in a morning, with walleye limits seen from shore-based folks pulling spinners at twilight. Crappie catches have been spotty but solid where folks target the right structure. Pike are hit-or-miss, mostly smaller fish but with the occasional big one mixed in.

A couple hot spots to target:

- Boom Island Park: Find smallies behind the islands and pike near the weedier backwa

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Good morning from the riverfront, folks. Artificial Lure here with your Mississippi River Minneapolis fishing report for Saturday, September 6, 2025.

Daybreak came early today—sunrise at 6:40 AM, sunset’s expected around 7:40 PM, giving us a good twelve hours to work those lines. The weather’s got us in true September mode: crisp and cool this morning, with temps hovering around 37 at dawn and warming up to a high just reaching the low 60s this afternoon. Cloud cover will mix with the sun, and there’s a light northwest wind—8 to 15 mph—so dress in layers and expect that bite in the air. There’s a slim 30% chance for a brief shower or even a rogue thunderstorm, but overall, a solid early fall bite is shaping up for the weekend according to the St. Cloud State University weather discussion.

River levels remain typical for this time of year and currents are moderate, but recent cold fronts have started driving water temps down. These conditions are firing up those classic fall fishing patterns. According to Outdoor News, the fall walleye bite is developing quick across the metro. Look for walleyes moving out of their summer haunts and setting up on deeper holes, edges, and transitions. Jumbo perch are showing up as a bonus, mixed in with the walleye—nothing wrong with a little mixed bag action.

Recent catches logged around Minneapolis and St. Paul from Fishbrain and reports on the ground show solid numbers of largemouth bass, northern pike, and bluegill hitting the nets. The stretch from Boom Island down to Ford Dam has produced good bags, and over in Minnehaha Creek and even Lake Harriet, anglers are racking up big bass and the occasional trophy carp. Numbers in St. Paul alone logged thousands of bass and pike caught this season.

Best bets today: for walleye, rig up with a firetiger or purple crankbait, or stay classic with a jig tipped with fathead or shiner minnow. As the water cools, walleyes go for slower presentations—try dragging a live bait rig along current breaks or deep channels. For bass, topwater baits can still get hit early, but the switch has definitely started toward jigs and soft plastics fished slow along weedlines and drop-offs. Northern pike are crushing spinnerbaits and large spoons where the river bends and weeds meet current but consider a big sucker or cutbait if you’re feeling catfishy—Matt Cat on TikTok can’t stop talking up big bait for big cats, and the Mississippi’s flatheads are never shy this time of year.

Two local hot spots to try:

- The mouth of Minnehaha Creek, especially morning and evening, for both multi-species action and surprise bruiser pike.

- The Ford Dam tailwaters (below Lock and Dam No.1): classic fall walleye and sauger territory, with access from both shores and good parking for river regulars.

Don’t overlook the deeper pools between Boom Island and the Stone Arch Bridge for mixed-action, either—they’ve been holding perch, walleye, and smallmouth as the flow stabilizes.

Big picture: fall patte

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It’s Artificial Lure here with your September 5th Mississippi River fishing report for Minneapolis. Sunrise came in at 6:39 a.m. this morning and expect sunset to slip behind the bluff at 7:42 p.m. This early fall day is starting crisp, with temps climbing from the low 50s this morning up to a pleasant 73°F by afternoon. Light winds out of the northwest and the air feels clean after yesterday’s rain, though expect some residual current and a little haze on the water as humidity tapers off. The river itself is still running low—according to CBS Minnesota, we’re seeing some of the lowest water levels in years—but clarity is good and flow is moderate for this time of year.

No tidal influence on this stretch, so our bite windows are more about light and weather than any moon-drawn movement. According to SolunarForecast.com, today’s best fishing periods are from 12:43 p.m. to 2:43 p.m., with minor spikes right around dawn and at dusk. I always tell folks: linger near the water just after sunrise for bonus action, and don't pack up too quick before twilight.

Fishing has picked up this week with the water cooling off. Late-summer patterns are still holding, but we’re right at that turn to early fall feeding, especially for walleye, sauger, and some chunky smallmouth. OutdoorNews.com says fall walleye patterns are already developing, and anglers in the metro have reported consistent action. Out in Pool 20 further south, biological sampling turned up paddlefish and hefty bowfin—evidence that fish are still moving far and wide across the system. While those paddlefish sightings are rare this far north, Minneapolis stretches are yielding good numbers of walleye, sauger, bass, and channel cats.

For tackle, it's prime time to punch through that late-summer vegetation for bass. Focus on thick weedlines, rock piles, and around rip-rap near the locks. Local bassheads are cleaning up on smaller soft plastics like Missile Baits Baby D-Bomb, Baby Destroyer, or the classic Smallie Beaver in green pumpkin or shades of natural brown—simple is better right now. Rig those on a 3/0 Jungle Hook Texas-style with a punch skirt behind a 1- to 1¼-ounce tungsten slip sinker. Heavy braid (at least 50 lb) on a stout rod is a must when you’re yarding lunkers out of that slop. The key is to hit the mat fast and let the bait drop naturally—many big bites are coming as the lure rockets to the bottom, so keep that drag tight and your senses alert.

If you’re looking for walleye or sauger, early mornings and late afternoons are your windows. Jigging with half-ounce jigs tipped with fathead minnows or plastic paddletails in the current breaks is working. Crankbaits in crawfish and shad patterns are also scoring strikes along gravel and rocky stretches—just slow your retrieve down as we move toward fall. For those targeting channel catfish, cut bait or nightcrawlers fished near deep holes and eddy seams are solid bets.

Recent catches from the river above and below the cities include

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This is Artificial Lure, your Mississippi River Minneapolis fishing expert, with your Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025 angling report.

It’s been an abrupt seasonal shift—this morning kicked off with a chilly northwest breeze, cloudy skies, and a taste of autumn in the air. According to St. Cloud State’s forecast, highs today struggled into the upper 50s to low 60s, with wind gusts topping 30 mph and occasional scattered showers rolling through the afternoon. Air quality is a little smoky, so keep that in mind if you’re out for a long session. The sun rose at 6:38 a.m., with sunset expected around 7:41 p.m. today.

Now, there’s no tide report here since we’re on the inland river, but elevated water levels continue—the Mississippi is running high this week, a result of upstream rainfall and the significant summer flood crest currently traveling through. The river in St. Paul is already at its fourth-lowest ever measured, but near Minneapolis it remains swollen, creating challenging but promising conditions for local anglers.

With the cold front and dropping water temps, the fish are on the move. Mornings have been seein’ bursts of activity close to structure—current seams, wing dams, and rocky shorelines are holding mixed bags. Just two days ago, a new Minnesota catch-and-release record bowfin, 31 inches, was landed further upstream in Beltrami County, underscoring how good the current is for big, toothy critters. In Minneapolis pools, around Boom Island and the Hennepin Avenue Bridge, smallmouth bass action is reliable but spotty—numbers are up but size is mixed. Average smallies of 12-16 inches are coming in, mixed with occasional bruisers breaking 18 inches. White bass are schooling up where creek mouths dump in, and a few nice walleyes have been picked off the main channel edges after dusk.

Near the downtown locks, anglers are reporting hefty freshwater drum and plenty of channel cats, with cut bait and nightcrawlers getting it done. Also keep an eye out for the surge in yellow bass—they’re native here and have been increasingly prominent, according to the DNR’s recent monitoring. Their numbers are up, and if you’re patient with ultralight gear and small blade baits, you can put together a mess of them in short order.

Best lures today have been darker paddle tails and craw patterns—think black, green pumpkin, or purple—jigged slow as the water feels cool and a bit off-color. Topwater bite is nearly done for the season, but a walk-the-dog spook can still provoke reaction near sunrise. Natural shad patterns are good when the sun breaks through. Live bait is effective: sucker minnows for pike and muskie, fatheads or nightcrawlers for perch, panfish, and bass. With the water high, fish are seeking slack behind large rocks and logs, so target those spots. Artificial jerkbaits and small jigs tipped with twister tails are still consistent producers for smallmouth and walleye.

If you’re looking for a hot spot, check out the flats just downstream of

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This is Artificial Lure coming to you with your September 3rd fishing report for the mighty Mississippi through Minneapolis. Let’s get straight into what today holds for metro river anglers.

Weather’s cooled nicely after that late-summer heat, with a crisp low around 52 and a high peaking at 73 degrees. According to CBS News Minnesota, some recent rain has swollen the river and brought higher water conditions, so you’ll see a few flooded banks and maybe some tricky current seams in the usual stretches. No tidal fluctuations here—the Mississippi in Minneapolis is well above any tidal influence, so it’s all about river flow and what the local rains have been doing.

Sunrise hit at 6:37 AM, and expect sunset to grace the skyline at roughly 7:48 PM. According to Fishingreminder, your best fishing “major time” today is set for just after noon, from about 12:43 to 2:43 PM, with a solid minor activity window right at daybreak and again near dusk. If you’re an early riser or working after hours, aim for those periods to maximize your luck.

The cool front has dropped water temperatures a bit, and Outdoor News reports that fish are starting to transition out of their deeper mid-summer haunts and firing up their feeding ahead of fall. Right now, smallmouth bass are putting up a real show. Kayakers and shorecasters alike have found good action near riprap, log jams, and shaded banks, especially under bridge pilings and overhanging willow stands. When the sun’s high, fish stick tighter to heavy cover.

Over the past week, most anglers have been catching respectable numbers of smallmouth bass, some pushing the 18-inch mark. The average stringer’s holding about 3–6 solid keepers after a good session, and quite a few have reported bonus catches of big fall-run walleyes, especially at dawn or after dark running shallow crankbaits through current edges around Boom Island and the flats below the Ford Parkway Bridge. There have also been reliable panfish catches, with mixed bluegills, yellow bass, and even a few slab crappies showing up in current breaks and side channels.

If you’re targeting smallmouth, tie on a 3" or 4" jerkbait in shad or perch colors, matching local forage. Anglers drifting wacky-rigged Senkos or flipping jigs tipped with half a nightcrawler have also been rewarded, especially near submerged boulders and downed trees. For walleyes, a #7 Rapala Shad Rap or Rippin’ Rap in firetiger or natural silver has done the trick at dawn, while live baiters using fatheads or leeches on a jig are getting steady action after sunset.

Pan anglers, try a small twister tail or tube jig below a slip float along calmer eddies—we’re seeing bluegills up to 8” and plenty of palm-sized yellow bass, which now have a generous bag limit per recent Minnesota DNR guidance, making them a fun target for a light rod.

Two hot spots to put on your map for today:

- The deep current break edges below the Upper St. Anthony Falls lock (careful with the flows), where smallies an

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