Fall Fishing on the Mississippi River Near Minneapolis

As of November 1, 2024, the fishing scene on the Mississippi River near Minneapolis is looking promising, especially with the cooler weather setting in. ### Weather and Tidal Report The weather today is expected to be partly cloudy with a high of around 48 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 38 degrees. There is no significant tidal activity on the Mississippi River, as it is a freshwater system, but water levels are currently at normal levels after recent stabilization. ### Sunrise and Sunset Sunrise is at 7:30 AM, and sunset will be at 5:30 PM, providing a good window for both morning and evening fishing trips. ### Fish Activity The fish activity has been robust, particularly for walleye and sauger. As the water temperatures drop into the mid to low 50s, these species are becoming more active. Yesterday saw a decent walleye bite, with anglers catching eater-sized walleye and sauger, as well as some trophy fish. ### Types and Amounts of Fish Caught Anglers reported catching a mix of walleye, sauger, and some jumbo perch. The walleye and sauger were primarily caught in depths ranging from 15 to 25 feet, with the best catches coming from areas with structure such as points, neck-down areas with current, and transition zones from rock to mud. ### Best Lures and Bait For walleye and sauger, vertical jigging with frozen or live emerald shiners has been highly effective. Jig colors such as gold, glow white, glow red, chartreuse, orange, and pink are recommended, with gold combined with any of these colors often being a good choice. Berkley plastics like bonefish, curlybones, rib worms, and ripple shads in bright colors have also been producing well due to the slightly dirty water conditions. ### Hot Spots Two hot spots to consider are the areas around the tributary mouths and rocky habitats, particularly near the dams and locks. The stretch of the Mississippi River from Granite Falls Dam upstream to Ortonville is known for good channel catfish, freshwater drum, and walleye fishing. Additionally, the area below Lac qui Parle Dam and Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge Dam has been productive for shore fishing. Overall, with the cooler temperatures and the right presentations, today should be a great day to hit the Mississippi River for some excellent fall fishing. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.