Early June Twin Cities Walleye and Smallmouth: Current Seams and Low Light Windows

This is Artificial Lure with your Mississippi River, Minneapolis fishing report. We’re sitting on a classic early‑June pattern here in the Twin Cities stretch of the big river. Water’s running a little stained but very fishable, with levels around seasonal norms and a decent push of current on the main seams. No real “tide” to speak of on this inland river, but you’ll see a noticeable bite window when Xcel starts moving water at the dams and that current ramps up. Weather today around Minneapolis is mild and stable: cool morning in the 50s climbing into the 70s by afternoon, light northwest breeze, and mostly clear to partly cloudy skies. Sunrise is right around 5:25 a.m., sunset about 9:00 p.m., giving plenty of low‑light time on both ends of the day. That early first light and the last hour before dark should be prime. Fish activity’s been solid the past few days. Local chatter from pool 1 and pool 2 is all about numbers: • **Walleye and sauger**: Good eater‑size fish coming out of deeper current breaks below bends, wing dams, and the backside of islands. A lot of boats are reporting half‑dozen to a dozen fish in a short morning window if they stay mobile. Best bets: 1/8–1/4 oz jigs tipped with a fathead, or plastic paddletails in chartreuse, white, or firetiger. A slow‑rolled crankbait like a Flicker Shad or Shad Rap along the break lines is putting nicer keepers in the net. • **Smallmouth bass**: River bronzebacks are fired up. Anglers working riprap, bridge pilings, and rocky shorelines are seeing 10–20 fish mornings, with a few solid 18–19 inchers mixed in. Top producers: 3–4 inch tube jigs in green pumpkin, ned rigs, and small crankbaits. In low light or overcast, twitch a walking topwater or popper along current edges and hang on. • **Channel cats and flatheads**: Night crews and evening shore anglers have been doing well on cats around deep holes and outside bends. Cut sucker, goldeye, or stinkbait on a simple slip sinker rig is plenty. Once that sun dips, bigger flatheads are setting up tight to timber piles and rock. • **Panfish and rough fish**: Mixed bags of crappie, white bass, and sheepshead showing up in quieter backwater cuts and marinas. A small jig and twister tail or plain hook and worm under a float will keep the kids busy. Best lures and baits right now: • For walleye: 1/8–1/4 oz jig + fathead or half‑crawler, or 2.5–3 inch paddletail swimbaits. • For smallmouth: tubes, ned rigs, small squarebills, and walking topwaters. • For cats: fresh cut bait or live sucker on heavier gear. • For multispecies: simple jig and minnow or jig and plastic along current seams. A couple local hot spots to keep in mind: • **Below Ford Dam (Lock and Dam 1)** on the Minneapolis side: classic current breaks, eddies, and depth changes. Great for walleye, sauger, and smallmouth—just work those seams and keep your boat positioned safely out of the heavy flow. • **Pool 2 wing dams and bends between 494 and downtown St. Paul**: this stretch is catch‑and‑release only for walleye and sauger but kicks out quality fish. Target the tips and upstream faces of wing dams with cranks and jigs, and check any pronounced inside turns with good current. Work the low‑light windows, keep an eye on current changes, and don’t be afraid to hop spots until you land on an active school. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for more river reports and tips. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn