Excellent Fall Fishing on the Mississippi River near Minneapolis

As of November 2, 2024, the fishing scene on the Mississippi River near Minneapolis is looking excellent, especially with the fall season in full swing. The Mississippi River, being a non-tidal river, does not have tides, but water levels are currently slightly above normal and stabilizing, which is ideal for fishing. The weather today is partly cloudy with a high of around 52 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 40 degrees. Sunrise was at 7:30 AM, and sunset will be at 5:45 PM, giving anglers a good window for both morning and evening fishing. Fish activity has been strong, particularly for walleyes and saugers. Yesterday, anglers reported catching walleyes and saugers, with some reaching up to 23 inches in length. These fish are putting on their fall weight, making them quite girthy. Other species like smallmouth bass, northern pike, and panfish such as bluegills, crappies, and yellow perch are also active. For walleyes and saugers, vertical jigging and using Dubuque rigs have been effective. Lures like Berkley bonefish, curlybones, ripple shads, and rib worms are working well. Hair jigs in white, purple, and chartreuse colors are also producing good results. Crankbaits, either on leadcore or longline trolling, are catching fish in areas with less bait. For panfish, small jigs with plastics or tipped with a chunk of crawler under a bobber or pitched into rock shorelines, wing dams, wood, and weeds are productive. Hot spots include the areas around Lake Pepin and the river sections near Wabasha and Red Wing. The backwater areas and main river sections with wood, weedlines, and wing dams are particularly productive. Pool 2 of the Mississippi River, from Ford Dam to Hastings Dam, is also a great place to catch a variety of fish species, including walleyes, saugers, smallmouth bass, and catfish. Overall, the fall fishing on the Mississippi River near Minneapolis is shaping up to be fantastic, with plenty of opportunities to catch a variety of fish species. Get out there and enjoy the beautiful fall weather and excellent fishing conditions. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.