Mississippi River Minneapolis Fishing Report Today

This is Artificial Lure with your Mississippi River Minneapolis report.

Up here the river’s running more like late March than mid‑winter. USGS gauges show level and flow near normal, with good clarity for a big river. Being inland, there’s no real tide to worry about, but solunar tables from SolunarForecast put the best fishing windows around a minor morning bite from about 6 to 7 a.m. and a stronger midday push early afternoon.

Weather out of the Twin Cities this morning is seasonably cool, mid‑30s at daybreak, climbing into the low‑50s by afternoon on a light south breeze. Cloud cover is mixed, just enough chop to help the bite. Local forecasts from National Weather Service line up with that. Sunrise is right around 6:45 a.m., sunset close to 6:05 p.m., so you’ve got expanding low‑light windows on both ends of the day.

Reports from Metro-area anglers on recent Mississippi trips, especially the pools through Minneapolis and down toward Hastings, say the **walleyes and saugers** are starting to wake up below the dams. A recent Local 10 Hastings brief highlighted Pool 4 walleye as a prime early‑spring option, with steady numbers of eater‑size fish and a few bigger females sliding up. Channel **catfish** are showing some life on the softer inside bends, and there’ve been scattered catches of **smallmouth** in deeper wintering holes, mainly accidental while dragging for eyes.

Expect numbers: a decent two‑angler boat working methodically is seeing 6–12 walleyes/saugers in a half‑day with a couple keepers, plus rough fish and the odd cat. Bank anglers below the Minneapolis locks and at community spots are picking off a fish or two at dawn and dusk.

Best producers right now are classic cold‑water river presentations. Vertical jigging 1/8–1/4 oz jigs tipped with **fatheads or shiners** is still king. Many local sticks are switching to plastics as the water warms: ringworms and paddletails on light jigs in chartreuse, firecracker, and purple. A lot of folks are quietly boating fish on **three‑way rigs** with a floater and minnow or a short leader with a small stickbait.

If you’re set on bait, grab river‑caught fatheads, shiners, or a bucket of nightcrawlers for cats. Cut sucker on a simple slip‑sinker rig is turning the bigger channel cats on the slower seams.

A couple metro hot spots:

- **Below Upper St. Anthony / Lower St. Anthony Falls**: Any accessible current breaks and eddies where legal to fish. Target the first deep holes and soft edges with jigs and minnows.

- **Ford Dam / Lock & Dam 1 area** in south Minneapolis and down into the broader pools: current seams off the main chute, especially on inside bends and behind wing dams once you get below the city.

Work the edges, not the heaviest current: upstream casts, let the jig glide down, staying just off bottom. Midday, slide a little deeper, then move shallower again for that last hour of light.

That’s the bite around Minneapolis on the big river today. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t fo

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Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure comin' at ya with your Mississippi River fishin' report from right here in Minneapolis. It's early March, and that river's flowin' steady with no tidal action up this far north—just watch them current breaks where the big ones stage.

Weather's classic pre-spring: highs around 35°F, light northwest winds at 5-10 mph keepin' it chilly but fishable if you bundle up. Sunrise hit at 6:28 AM, sunset's 6:05 PM—plenty of daylight to chase 'em before dark.

Fish activity's pickin' up as water temps hover near 35°F. Smallmouth bass are the stars right now, keyin' on crawfish and minnows in the rocky riffles. Recent reports from local anglers show solid catches: limits of 2-4 lb smallies, plus sauger and walleye mixin' in, some up to 5 lbs on vertical jigs. Fewer pike and channel cats this week, but they're lurkin'.

For lures, go Wired2Fish's top picks—Strike King Coffee Tube on a 1/8-oz jighead for draggin' bottoms, Z-Man Finesse TRD Ned rig for finesse work, or Duo Realis Spinbait80 spy bait in current seams. They'll mimic gobies and baitfish perfect. Live bait? Minnows or crawlers on a slip sinker rig can't be beat for picky biters.

Hot spots: Boom Island Park for easy bank access and eddy lines holdin' smallies; hit the rock piles under the I-94 bridge for deeper staging fish—park nearby and wade careful.

Stay safe out there, check ice remnants if crossin' bays, and respect them restoration efforts boostin' habitat downriver.

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Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things angling on the mighty Mississippi right here in Minneapolis. It's Wednesday, March 4th, 8:23 AM, and we're kickin' off the day with some prime early-spring fishin' intel.

No tides on this river, but water levels from the USGS gauge at St. Paul are sittin' steady at about 8 feet—perfect for wadin' in without gettin' swept. Weather's crisp: highs around 38°F today per NOAA, light northwest winds at 10 mph, mostly cloudy with a chance of flurries later. Sunrise was at 6:28 AM, sunset 6:07 PM—plenty of daylight to chase 'em.

Fish activity's pickin' up as pre-spawn walleyes start movin' shallow. Recent reports from Minnesota DNR and local forums like In-Depth Outdoors show solid catches last week: 15-20 walleyes per angler in the 18-26 inch range, plus a bunch of sauger up to 4 pounds, some crappies hittin' 12 inches, and channel cats bulkin' at 5-8 pounds. Limits were common near current breaks.

Best lures right now? Go with 1/4-oz jigheads tipped with fathead minnows or medium shiners—those are killin' it for eyes and sauger. Vertical jig or slow troll 'em. For crankbaits, Rapala Shad Raps in perch or firetiger patterns bounced off the bottom. Live bait? Nightcrawlers on a slip-sinker rig for cats in the slower pools.

Hot spots: Hit the tailrace below St. Anthony Falls for aggressive walleyes—launch from the Lot W ramp. Or try Boom Island Park for crappies suspendin' 10 feet down in 15-foot water.

Bundle up, fish safe, and respect those river regs. 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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Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things angling on the mighty Mississippi River right here in Minneapolis. It's February 28th, 2026, 8:23 AM, and we're lookin' at a crisp winter day turnin' mild—low around 40°F mornin', climbin' to 60°F by afternoon per solunarforecast.com. Sunrise hit at 6:51 AM, sunset's 5:53 PM, givin' ya solid daylight. No tides on this river beast, but water's risin' slow with ice-out teasin' us—Outdoor News reports Nick Schlesser from MN DNR says walleye and sauger are stagein' up hot for the comin' weeks.

Fish activity's rampin'—solunar peaks hit major at 12:43 PM to 2:43 PM today, minors at 6:06-7:06 AM (you mighta just missed one) and 8:32-9:32 PM. Recent catches? Anglers pullin' sauger and walleye steady through the tailwaters, with some nice walleyes hittin' 20+ inches last weekend per local chatter. Smaller perch and crappies mixin' in too.

Best lures right now: Jig minnows in glow white or chartreuse—1/8 oz under a bobber for sauger. Kastmasters or blade baits for vertical jiggin' walleye. Live bait? Fathead minnows or medium shiners on a Lindy rig can't be beat—local bait shops like Anglers Eldorado swear by 'em.

Hit these hot spots: Boom Island Park for easy bank access and current breaks, or the Ford Plant Dam tailrace where sauger school up deep. Bundle up, watch ice edges, and stay safe out there.

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Hey folks, this is **Artificial Lure**, your go-to guy for fishin' the mighty Mississippi right here in Minneapolis. It's Friday, February 27th, 2026, 'bout 8:23 AM, and we're deep in that late winter ice bite on the river—temps hoverin' crisp around 25°F with light northwest winds at 5-10 mph, partly cloudy skies per local chatter. Sunrise hit at 7:12 AM, sunset's 5:37 PM, givin' ya solid daylight windows. No tides on this freshwater stretch, but steady current from upstream locks is pushin' fish into eddies and drop-offs.

Fish activity's heatin' up as water temps sit 34-36°F—walleye and sauger are staged in 15-25 feet near breaks, bitin' good with limits of 16-22 inchers comin' easy, 20-30 fish days reported by MN DNR anglers. Perch schools are thick, pullin' dozens of 8-12 inchers, crappies to 12 inches mixin' in, plus northern pike pushin' 30 inches on tip-ups and channel cats in deep holes. Recent hauls from Apple Podcasts' Mississippi River report and Outdoor News show 10-20 fish per angler steady, heaviest on perch and 'eyes—solunar forecasts peg major feeds 2:12 PM to 4:12 PM today, minors at 6:51-7:51 AM.

Best lures? Vertical jig with 1/8-oz glow UV jigs, Northland Buck-Shot Rattle Spoons in gold or UV perch, or 1/16-oz tear-drop jigs—Cast Again Tackle says they crush it. Live bait rules: fathead minnows or medium shiners on Lindy rigs or quick-strike setups outfish plastics 3-to-1, tip with waxies or spikes for panfish. New 2026 MN DNR regs allow catch-and-release bass year-round, so finesse 'em shallow with jigs. Ice houses off southern waters by March 2—drill test holes, stay safe.

Hot spots: Boom Island Park drop-offs for perch and walleye in 15-25 feet, easy access. Or Lock and Dam No. 1 tailrace and deeper holes for mixed bags of sauger, cats, and pike—current seams are gold.

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Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things fishing on the mighty Mississippi right here in Minneapolis. It's February 25, 2026, and we're smack in the heart of winter ice season—temps hoverin' around 20°F with light snow flurries and a northwest breeze at 10 mph, keepin' that ice solid but watch your step out there. Sunrise was at 7:05 AM, sunset's 5:45 PM, givin' ya about 10.5 hours of daylight if you're bravin' the cold.

No tides on this river, but water levels in Pool 2 are steady at 8 feet per USACE reports, perfect for ice access. Fish are active under the ice—walleye and sauger bitin' good in 15-25 feet near drop-offs, with limits comin' easy on minnows under a Lindy rig. Perch schools are thick, pullin' 8-10 inchers by the dozen, and some crappies up to 12 inches hittin' on small jigs. Recent reports from MN DNR anglers show 20-30 walleyes per hole some days, plus northern pike pushin' 30 inches on tip-ups. Bass? New 2026 regs from MN DNR let ya catch-and-release largemouth and smallmouth year-round inland, so target 'em shallow with jigs—no harvest till May 9 opener for walleye, pike, and such.

Best lures: Go vertical with glow UV jigs or Northland Buck-Shots tipped with medium shiners for walleye. For perch and crappie, 1/16-oz tear-drop jigs with waxies or spikes. Live bait rules—minnows and wax worms outfish plastics 3-to-1 right now.

Hot spots: Boom Island Park for easy access and walleye hangs, or hit the deeper holes off the Lock and Dam No. 1 for mixed bags. Stay safe, drill test holes, and fish houses gotta be off southern waters by March 2 per DNR.

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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 Monday morning on the big river, and we've got some solid action brewin' for ya.

**Weather and Light**

Bundle up out there—temps are hoverin' around the mid-30s to low 50s, with some wind kickin' but nothin' that'll shut down the bite. Sunrise hit around 7:10 AM, and you've got good light till about 5:40 PM, givin' ya nearly a full day to work with if you're brave enough for the cold.

**Fish Activity and Recent Catches**

According to the latest reports, walleye and sauger are absolutely hot right now as we transition outta winter. Perch are stackin' up solid too—folks are pullin' 20-30 fish hauls, with keepers runnin' 10-12 inches. Recent catches show walleyes hittin' 16-22 inches, sauger to 18 inches, and channel cats prowlin' the deeper holes. You're lookin' at 10-15 fish per angler on good days if you know what you're doin'.

**Best Bite Times**

Solunar forecasts show major feedin' windows from 1:49 AM to 3:49 AM and 2:12 PM to 4:12 PM—that afternoon window's perfect for gettin' after 'em. Minor bites are hittin' from 6:51 AM to 7:51 AM and 10:44 PM to 11:44 PM.

**Lures and Baits**

Go vertical with 1/8-ounce glow spoons or Buckshot Rattle Spoons in gold or UV perch patterns—they're absolutely crushin' it. Live bait's killin' artificials right now, so grab fathead minnows or medium shiners on a quick-strike rig. Tip your hook with waxies for panfish, and don't overlook small jigs tipped with live minnows for walleye.

**Hot Spots**

Hit the **Boom Island** drop-offs for perch in 15-25 feet of water—the deep weed edges are loaded. Or slide down to **Lock & Dam #1 tailrace** where the current seams concentrate walleye and sauger. That's where the magic happens, folks.

No tidal swings up here in freshwater, but that steady current from recent thaws is stirrin' fish into the eddies and breaklines. Check your ice thickness if you're walkin' in—the DNR's warnin' it's weakenin' with the warmup, so stay safe out there.

Thanks for tuning in, and don't forget to subscribe for your daily reports. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.

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Hey folks, this is **Artificial Lure** comin' at ya with your Mississippi River fishin' report from right here in Minneapolis, as of this crisp February mornin' at 8:23. Winter's grip is easin' up—solunar tables from SolunarForecast show today's a **Good++** day with major bite windows from 2:12 PM to 4:12 PM and 1:49 AM to 3:49 AM, minors at 6:51-7:51 AM and 10:44-11:44 PM. Sunrise hits around 7:10 AM, sunset 'bout 5:40 PM, givin' ya solid daylight for jiggin'. Weather? Expect lows near 36°F, highs pushin' 56°F per forecasts—layer up, wind might kick but it's fishable.

No tidal swings on the upper river, but current's steady from recent thaws, stirrin' fish. Activity's pickin' up post-ice-out reports; OutdoorNews notes solid action last week with perch, walleye, and sauger stackin' limits—folks pullin' 20-30 perch hauls like them Cass Lake vids, plus keeper walleyes to 20 inches and channel cats bulkin' up. Numbers are decent: 10-15 fish per angler on good days, heaviest on perch and saugers.

For lures, go vertical jigs—1/8 oz glow spoons or **Buckshot Rattle Spoons** in gold or UV perch; Cast Again Tackle vibes say they crush bass jigs too, but swap for perch patterns. Best bait? Fathead minnows or medium shiners on a quick-strike rig, tipped with waxies for panfish. Live bait's killin' it over plastics right now.

Hot spots? Hit the **Boom Island** drop-offs for perch—deep weed edges 15-25 feet. Or **Lock & Dam #1** tailrace for walleye and sauger; current seams are gold.

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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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 February mornin', February 21st, 2026, and we're talkin' that classic winter bite that's got anglers bundlin' up and headin' out.

Weather's holdin' steady with highs around 34°F and lows dippin' to 20°F—brisk but fishable if you layer up. No tides on this river stretch, but current's runnin' moderate from recent melts. Sunrise hit at 7:15 AM, sunset's 5:45 PM, givin' ya solid daylight windows. Solunar forecasts from solunarforecast.com peg major feedin' times 'round noon to 2 PM and minor bites at dawn and dusk—perfect for targetin' active fish.

Fish activity's pickin' up after that cold snap. Outdoor News' Feb 18 statewide report notes crappie and walleye movin' shallow in the Mississippi pools near the cities, with panfish schools tight to structure. Recent catches include limits of 10-12 inch crappies, sauger up to 18 inches, and perch stackin' up—folks reportin' 20+ fish days jiggin' vertically. Walleye's the star right now, per the Mississippi River Minneapolis Fishing Report on Spreaker as of early Feb, with steady action on those deeper breaks.

Best lures? Go with 1/8 oz glow jigs tipped with minnows or plastics—UV patterns in pink or chartreuse for low light. Lipless crankbaits rattled slow for walleye, and small spoons for perch. Live bait kings are fathead minnows or medium shiners on a Lindy rig; deadstick 'em 10 feet off bottom for crappie slabs.

Hot spots: Hit the boom area below Lock & Dam 1—walleye heaven on the wing dams. Or try the deeper holes near the Stone Arch Bridge; panfish are stacked there, easy bank access.

Bundle up, check ice edges if you're walkin' in, and get after 'em before the wind picks up.

Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for daily updates! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

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Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things fishin' on the Mississippi River right here in Minneapolis. It's a crisp February 20th mornin', and we're talkin' ice fishin' season in full swing—plenty of safe ice reported across the metro area per Outdoor News' latest Minnesota statewide report from Feb 11. Weather's holdin' steady: highs around 25°F, light snow flurries possible, winds calm at 5-10 mph from the northwest, keepin' that ice solid. Sunrise hit at 7:15 AM, sunset's 5:30 PM—perfect for a full day on the hard water.

Fish activity's pickin' up after a slow spell; electronics are showin' walleyes and perch stacked up, but they're finicky—gotta finesse 'em. Recent catches around the metro and river pools include solid walleyes up to 20 inches, jumbo perch to 12", and some crappies mixin' in. Outdoor News Metro Area report from Feb 8 notes a solid pattern with lots of opportunity, while statewide bites confirm walleyes and perch are the stars, best mid-week.

No tides on this freshwater stretch, but current's low from upstream locks—fish hug the deeper holes near structure. Best lures? Active jiggin' with a 1/8-oz glow spoon or Buckshot Rattle Spoon in gold or UV over electronics to draw 'em in, then deadstick a lively minnow 6-12 inches off bottom on a light jig head. Lake of the Woods tips from Feb 9 translate perfect here. Live bait rules: fathead minnows or medium shiners—tip your hook and watch 'em inhale.

Hot spots: Hit the backwaters off Boom Island Park for perch—easy access, sheltered ice. Or slide out to the main channel holes near the Lock and Dam #1 at St. Anthony for walleyes; drill a few holes, pound the bottom, and they'll come callin'.

Bundle up, check ice thickness (18+ inches reported), and respect the cold. Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more river updates! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.