Mississippi River Minneapolis Fishing Report Today

Early Summer Walleye and Smallmouth on the Minneapolis Mississippi River

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Mississippi River Minneapolis fishing report. We’re rolling into a classic early-summer pattern on Pool 1 and the adjacent stretches. The river’s running a touch above normal summer flow but very fishable, with decent clarity in the backwaters and a little stain in the main channel. Being an inland river, we don’t have tides here, so current is driven by upstream flow and dam releases; expect the bite to pick up when you see that current push around wing dams and bridge pilings. Weather around the metro is shaping up mild and comfortable: cool at first light, building into a warm afternoon with light to moderate winds and a mix of sun and clouds. That’s prime low-light feeding weather early and late in the day. Sunrise is right around 5:25 a.m., sunset close to 9:00 p.m., giving you a long window to work those morning and evening bites. Recent action reports from local anglers and shop chatter have walleyes and sauger coming off the tops and edges of wing dams, especially where you’ve got 6–12 feet of water dropping into deeper holes. Smallmouth bass have been hot on rocky shorelines, current seams, and below dams. Plenty of eater-size catfish are showing up on cut bait along deeper bends, with a few bigger flatheads for those soaking live bait after dark. Panfish are more scattered, but you can still pick crappies and bluegills out of marinas and slower backwater pockets. Numbers have been solid: folks are routinely pulling a half-dozen to a limit of eater walleyes in a morning if they stay on the move, with bonus sauger mixed in. Smallmouth catches run higher in count but smaller on average, with enough 17–19 inch fish to keep it exciting. Cat guys are reporting a handful of fish per sit, with the occasional 15–20 pound flathead when they commit to one spot. Best hardware right now: - For walleye and sauger, run **1/8–1/4 oz jigs** tipped with fatheads or plastics in chartreuse, white, or firetiger, dragged slowly upstream along the current edge. - **Crankbaits** like shad-style plugs in natural or perch patterns are producing on the fronts of wing dams when there’s good current. - For smallmouth, **ned rigs**, 3–4 inch swimbaits, and **topwater walkers** in the first and last hour of light are putting in work on rocky banks and riprap. - Catfish are chewing on **cut sucker, cut goldeye, or chicken liver** on simple slip-sinker rigs parked on inside bends, log jams, and the base of drop-offs. If you want a couple local hot spots to start with: - The stretch just below **Lock and Dam 1** down to the Ford Bridge has been reliable for walleye, sauger, and smallmouth, especially around the wing dams and current breaks. - The area near the **3rd Avenue and Stone Arch bridges** downtown holds good smallmouth and catfish, with plenty of current seams and structure around the pilings and riprap. Focus your efforts at first light and the last two hours before dark; that’s when the bigger fish slide shallow and feed aggressively. Midday, slide off to deeper holes, shade lines, and heavier current. That’s your Mississippi River Minneapolis 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

Mississippi River Minneapolis: Early Summer Smallmouth and Walleye Action on Pool 1

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Mississippi River, Minneapolis fishing report. We’re sitting on a stable early‑summer pattern. The Mississippi here isn’t tidal, so no tide swings to worry about, but river *current* is your tide. Flows are moderate with decent clarity—still a light stain along the edges from recent spotty showers. Water temps are running in the upper 60s to low 70s, putting most species in an active post‑spawn to early summer feeding mode. Weather today: expect mild to warm conditions with light to moderate winds and a mix of sun and clouds—classic June river weather. Sunrise comes a bit before 5:30 a.m., sunset around 9:00 p.m., so you’ve got long low‑light windows to work with. Those first two hours after dawn and the last two before dark are prime. Fish activity has been solid the last several days. Local reports along Pool 1 and the Minneapolis city stretch mention steady **smallmouth bass** action on rocky shorelines and current seams, with plenty of 12–17 inch fish and a few pushing 19–20. Panfish guys are seeing **crappies** and **bluegills** holding around slower back eddies and marinas off the main flow. A few nice **walleye** are still being taken on deeper bends and below current breaks, mostly eaters in the 15–19 inch range, with the odd 22–24 mixed in. **Channel cats** are starting to chew hard at night on cut bait. For **lures**, think fast and flashy in the low light, subtle once the sun’s high. Smallmouth have been eating: - 1/4 oz chartreuse or white **spinnerbaits** slow‑rolled along riprap. - **Ned rigs** in green pumpkin dragged on gravel flats just off current. - 3–4 inch **swimbaits** in natural shad colors through current seams. When the bite gets tough, switch to a 3-inch tube or a finesse jig—light line, slow hops. For **walleye**, work: - 1/8–1/4 oz **jigs tipped with fatheads or nightcrawlers** along the bottom on inside bends. - Subtle **crankbaits** in perch or silver patterns just ticking bottom at dusk. Catfish folks should stick with **cut suckers, creek chubs, or stink bait** on slip rigs, set right on the edge where faster water dumps into a deeper hole. Best **live bait** overall right now: nightcrawlers, leeches, and fatheads for eyes; crawlers and small minnows for mixed bag action; fresh cut bait for cats. If you’re shore fishing, a simple slip float with a leech or crawler drifted along current breaks is putting fish in the bucket. A couple of local **hot spots** to circle: - **Below the Ford Dam (Lock and Dam 1)**: classic spot—strong current, eddies, and deep holes. Work the downstream wing dams and shoreline breaks for smallmouth and walleye, especially early and late. - **Boom Island / Nicollet Island stretch**: good mix of rock, wood, and moderate current. Smallmouth stack on the rocky points and bridge pilings; toss spinnerbaits, tubes, and small cranks tight to cover. Also worth a look: the **U of M flats** area for smallies on mid‑depth rock, and quieter backwater pockets near marinas for panfish and the occasional bonus bass. That’s your 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. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Mississippi River Minneapolis: Early Summer Walleye and Smallmouth Bite Heating Up

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

Early Summer Smallmouth and Walleye on Pool 1: Minneapolis River Report

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

Mississippi River Minneapolis: Summer Walleyes, Smallmouth, and Cats on the Rise

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