Mississippi River Minneapolis Fishing Report Today

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Mississippi River Minneapolis fishing report. We’re rolling into a warm, early‑summer pattern on the pool running through town. Air temps today sit in the 60s early, pushing into the upper 70s to low 80s by afternoon under partly cloudy skies, with a light south to southwest breeze around 5–10 mph. Sunrise is right around 5:25 a.m., sunset about 9:03 p.m., so you’ve got a long, bright window to work with. No true tide on the river, but expect the usual subtle current bumps from upstream releases and any overnight rain; if flows jump, fish will pin tighter to current breaks. Water is clearing up after spring runoff, with visibility running a couple feet in many stretches. That’s been boosting the bite in low‑light and making fish a bit more cautious mid‑day. Overnight temps are mild, so the morning surface temps stay comfy for active feeders, then warm into the afternoon pushing more fish tight to shade and deeper seams. Fish activity has been best at first light and again near dusk. Daytime is still producing, but you’ll want to slow down and get closer to structure. Local anglers have been reporting good mixed bags: walleyes in the 15–22 inch range with a few slot‑beaters, plenty of smallmouth bass from 12–18 inches, and the usual river cats—channel cats in the 3–10 pound class and a few bigger flats showing up after dark. Panfish are around in the quieter backwaters: crappies and bluegills running hand‑size and a bit better. For walleyes, think current edges and the downstream side of islands and wing dams. A 1/8–1/4 oz jig tipped with a fathead or half a nightcrawler is still putting fish in the boat. When they slide shallower in low light, a medium‑running crankbait in firetiger, perch, or a natural shad color has been solid. If the sun gets high and the bite slows, rig up a slip sinker with a leech and drag it slowly along the seams. Smallmouth have been hot on rocky shorelines, riprap, and the faster cuts below dams and bridges. Tube jigs in green pumpkin, 3–4 inch paddle‑tail swimbaits, and small squarebill cranks are all working. If the water’s a touch stained, bump up to something with chartreuse or a little flash. Topwater has started to turn on at dawn and dusk—walk‑the‑dog baits and poppers can draw some aggressive strikes when the river lays down. Catfish folks are doing well setting up on upstream points of holes and at the tailouts after sundown. Cut sucker or goldeye for channels, live bullheads where legal for flatheads. A simple slip‑sinker rig, 3–5 oz depending on current, is all you need—drop it in, settle in, and let the scent work. A couple local hot spots to keep in mind: 1. The stretch just below Lock and Dam No. 1 and around Ford Dam. Work the current breaks, eddies, and the first couple of deeper holes; good for walleyes, smallies, and cats. 2. The University area and bridges near downtown. Riprap banks, pilings, and nearby wing dams are holding smallmouth and the occasional big walleye, especially early and late. Best bet today: hit it early with cranks and plastics, switch to live bait and slower presentations as the sun gets high, then fire up the cranks, swimbaits, and maybe a little topwater again toward sunset. Keep an eye on current speed and water clarity; let that dictate jig weight and color choice. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Mississippi River Minneapolis fishing report. We’re looking at a classic early‑summer pattern on pool 1 and the stretch around downtown. Light north to northwest breeze, comfortable mixed clouds, and stable barometer—good conditions to get fish moving up on current seams and shallow rock. Air temps are swinging from cool early to warm afternoons, with only a slight chance of a pop‑up shower later in the day. According to the National Weather Service forecast for Minneapolis, winds should stay moderate, so boat control won’t be a nightmare if you’re working wing dams or mid‑river structure. Sunrise is right around the mid‑5 a.m. hour, with sunset near the mid‑9 p.m. mark, giving you a long low‑light window on both ends of the day. That first 2–3 hours after sunrise and the last hour before dark are lining up as prime time for aggressive bites, especially for smallmouth and walleyes pushing shallow on riprap and current breaks. The Mississippi here isn’t tidal, so no tide tables to worry about, but river level and flow are the key. River stage has been near normal for early summer, with manageable current; that’s got fish relating tight to classic structure—wing dams, bridge pilings, and the heads and tails of islands. With the water warming, the bite is shifting from slow live bait to faster presentations, and fish are willing to chase. Recent reports from local anglers and shops around Minneapolis say smallmouth bass action has been solid, with numbers days not uncommon and plenty of 14–18 inch fish, plus the occasional bigger bronzeback. Walleyes and saugers are still coming from deeper current breaks and the upstream edges of wing dams, mostly eaters in the 14–20 inch range, with a few slot‑class fish mixed in. Channel cats and flatheads are picking up too, especially after dark along deeper bends and loggy banks. For lures, think “reaction and flash.” For smallmouth, throw 1/4–3/8 oz chartreuse or white spinnerbaits, medium‑running crankbaits in shad or craw patterns, and 3–4 inch paddle‑tail swimbaits on jig heads. Ned rigs and tube jigs in green pumpkin or brown still clean up when the bite slows. Walleyes are hitting 1/4–3/8 oz jigs tipped with fatheads or plastics, as well as #5 and #7 shad‑style cranks trolled or cast along current edges. For cats, cut sucker, cut goldeye, or chicken liver on a simple slip‑sinker rig is putting fish in the net. Best baits right now: - Live fathead minnows or small leeches on jigs or live‑bait rigs for walleyes and saugers. - Nightcrawlers and cut bait for channel cats. - For smallmouth, it’s hard to beat a simple green pumpkin tube or a minnow‑imitating swimbait worked along rock. A couple of local hot spots to circle: - The stretch just below the Ford Dam (Lock and Dam 1): strong current, classic seams, and a mix of walleyes, smallmouth, and cats. Work the current edges with jigs and plastics, and crank the rocky banks for bronzebacks. - The downtown Minneapolis stretch near the bridges and riprap: smallmouth stack on the rocks and around pilings. Cast crankbaits and spinnerbaits parallel to shore, and pitch tubes into any chunk rock or eddies you can find. Focus on low‑light, fish the current edges, and don’t be afraid to move until you bump into active fish. 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. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Mississippi River fishing report for the Minneapolis stretch. We don’t deal with real tides up here, but the “tide” you care about is river flow. With recent stable flows and normal pool levels reported by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Pool 1 and Pool 2, current is moderate and edges are very fishable. Focus on current seams, wing dams, and any inflow from creeks or storm drains. Weather-wise, the National Weather Service is calling for seasonable temps, light to moderate winds, and only a slim chance of showers. Cloud cover on and off should help the bite, especially for walleyes and smallmouth tight to structure. Sunrise is around 5:25 a.m. and sunset about 9:00 p.m., giving you a long low-light window on both ends of the day. According to recent local angler reports and metro fishing forums, Pool 2 has been giving up solid numbers of **walleyes** in the 14–20 inch range, plus some bigger slot fish. Channel **catfish** and a few flatheads are showing up on cut bait in the deeper bends, especially after dark. Shore anglers below the dams and at bridge pylons are seeing steady **white bass** and the occasional **crappie** mixed in. Smallmouth **bass** are active on rocky banks, especially where there’s chunk rock and a little extra current. Fish activity has been best early and late. Daytime bites are still happening, but you’ll want to slow down and work deeper holes, current breaks behind wing dams, and riprap. Walleyes are coming on 1/8–1/4 oz jigs tipped with fatheads or plastics in chartreuse, white, and motor oil. A lot of folks are also doing well dragging live-bait rigs with nightcrawlers on the edge of the channel. For **lures**, keep it simple: - For walleye: jig and minnow, jig and plastic paddletail, or a slowly cranked shad-style crankbait in natural shiner or firetiger. - For smallmouth: 3–4 inch tube jigs in green pumpkin, ned rigs, and small topwaters like poppers or walking baits during low light. Spinnerbaits in white or white/chartreuse around current breaks are also producing. - For cats: cut sucker or goldeye, chicken liver, or stink bait on a slip sinker rig. Big live bait if you’re targeting flatheads at night. Best **bait** right now is live: fatheads, shiners, and nightcrawlers for eyes; crawlers and leeches where you can get them for smallmouth and mixed bag; cut bait for cats. If the water is a bit stained, don’t be afraid to upsize to a brighter plastic or add a rattle. A couple of local hot spots to keep in mind: - **Below Lock and Dam No. 1 (Ford Dam)**: Classic current seams, eddies, and deep runs. Walleyes, saugers, and cats hold along the breaks, and the sauger bite can stay good even when the sun is up if you work your jig slow along the bottom. - **The confluence areas and wing dams on Pool 2 between downtown St. Paul and the airport**: Plenty of rock, current changes, and bait. Smallmouth stack on the rocky points, while walleyes cruise the inside turns and the tips of the wing dams. Work crankbaits over the tops during low light, then switch to jigs and live bait as the sun climbs. Closer to downtown Minneapolis, riprap banks and bridge pilings near the University area and northward are holding smallmouth and the odd walleye. Cast along the shade lines of bridges and let your bait swing in the current. If you’re on foot, any accessible bank with rock and a little current is worth a few casts. That’s the Mississippi River report from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next update. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

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. 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. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

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. Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure’s Mississippi River report, and make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the next one. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn