Early Spring Smallmouth and Walleye Bite Heats Up on the Mississippi Post-Storm

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things rod and reel on the mighty Mississippi right here in Minneapolis. It's a crisp early spring mornin', post that big storm blowin' through the Upper Midwest—temps hoverin' in the low-to-mid 20s°F today after droppin' to mid-teens overnight, with light snow flurries windin' down and winds calm enough for safe lines in the water. Sunrise kicked off around 7:15 AM, sunset 'bout 7:25 PM, givin' us solid daylight. No tides on this river, but FishingReminder nails today's bite windows: major from 6:52-8:52 AM (you're right in it now!), minor 2:24-4:24 PM, another major 7:03-9:03 PM, and late minor past 11 PM under that 61% visible First Quarter Moon. River's runnin' clearish in spots after the churn, water temps creepin' to low 40s°F—perfect pre-spawn setup. Smallmouth bass are thumpin' heavy in deeper holes below dams, current seams, and rocky breaks; walleyes stackin' on 10-18 ft edges in Pool 1. Recent reports from FishingReminder show limits of smallies to 4+ lbs on ned rigs and 3-4" swimbaits bounced off bottom, walleyes hittin' steady on 1/8-1/4 oz jigs tipped with fathead minnows or Jigging Raps on inside turns. Northerns prowlin' shallower, crappies mid-depth basins on hair jigs or plastics under floats. Numbers are up—anglers pullin' 10-20 fish days easy on overcast bits. Best lures? Jig-and-minnow for walleyes, ned rigs or swimbaits for smallmouths—add scent post-turnover. Live fatheads or shiners seal the deal if they're finicky. Hit dawn/dusk for peak action, work windward edges and first breaks. Hot spots: Saint Anthony Falls Upper Lock and Dam for smallies in the tails, and Nicollet Island for walleyes huggin' rocks—easy access, killer current. Bundle up, check regs, and stay safe out there. Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more reports! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.