Artificial Lure here with your November 21st fishing report from the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. Gray skies are overhead after Thursday’s heavy rainfall, with showers tapering but leaving behind slick banks and rising humidity. Sunrise today was around 7:17 AM, sunset is set for 4:44 PM—the days are short, anglers, but bite windows remain solid during dawn, dusk, and just before the rain fronts move in. Temps will linger in the upper 40s this morning, dropping steadily in the afternoon as colder air sweeps in ahead of next week’s forecast deep freeze. The river itself is running a bit low, about 48% of normal near Winona based on the last USGS report, but urban stretches in Minneapolis remain ice-free and fishable, though water clarity is variable after the blow.

Yesterday’s rain has flushed bait into mid-channel breaks and washed out some shoreline structure. Walleye are the star of the show — local anglers have been scoring solid numbers in Pool 1 and below the Saint Anthony Falls Lower Lock and Dam. Jigging Raps and 1/8 to 1/4 oz hair jigs tipped with fathead minnows have been the ticket, especially where wind pushes bait onto inside turns or first drops. For smallmouth bass, focus efforts near Nicollet Island and Boom Island where current seams meet rubble. Ned rigs and 3–4” swimbaits, grayed-out or shad colored, have turned active fish just off bottom.

Muskie tales are circulating from local lakes, but river muskie chasers are working deeper bends and eddies below the locks—twitching glide baits and slow-rolled rubber when bait clouds show up on sonar. Northern pike remain prowling the last green weed beds; powderhorn plastics, spinnerbaits burned across the tops, have scored aggressive hits. Crappie fishing is picking up in mid-depth basins—Bassett Creek and Powderhorn Lake saw “basket fills” using small hair jigs under floats. Look for side-imaging marks near basin transitions, especially where the water is slightly clearer.

Top baits:
- **Walleye:** Fathead-minnow tipped jigs, Jigging Rap
- **Smallmouth:** Ned rig, 3–4” paddle tail swimbaits
- **Muskie:** White or perch-pattern glide bait, black and gold rubber tail
- **Northern pike:** Chartreuse spinnerbait, white paddle tail
- **Crappie:** 1/16 oz hair jig, small twister tail, tipped with minnow or crappie nibble

Best action today is expected between 6:52–8:52 AM and 7:03–9:03 PM, matching up nicely with the major solunar bite periods. The first quarter moon phase means fish are more active at these twilight windows despite quickly cooling water.

Bite report: The river above Saint Anthony Falls has given up full stringers of walleye (average 16–22”), a handful of beefy smallmouth, and a few bonus northern pike for anglers willing to patiently work the channel edges. Crappies are moving deeper, but some slabs have shown under the bridges at dusk. Chat around town says Lake Harriet and Lake Nokomis are still delivering decent mixed bags if you’re looking to mix it up.

Hot spots for today:
- **Saint Anthony Falls Lower Lock and Dam:** Consistent walleye and smallmouth; use vertical presentations just off the main seam.
- **Boom Island:** Smallmouth and occasional northern pike in deadfalls and eddy pools.
- **Nicollet Island:** Midday crappie and mixed bass, drift a float and jig near pilings.

Word to the wise: After turnover, focus on clearer water sections and add scent or live bait to pull wary fish into striking. With the cold snap looming, this is prime time before winter’s grip tightens—expect a flurry of action but layer up.

Thanks for tuning in to your Mississippi River fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe for your daily dose of local fishing insight. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.

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