Early Fall Fishing on the Minneapolis Mississippi: Smallies, Walleyes, and More

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. Thanks for tuning in to your Mississippi River report—don’t forget to subscribe for up-to-date tips and firsthand local intel. 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 content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.