Fall Fishing on the Mississippi River: Walleyes, Saugers, and Panfish Thrive Despite Cooler Temps

As of November 9, 2024, the fishing scene on the Mississippi River near Minneapolis is looking promising, despite the cooler fall weather. ### Weather and Tidal Report The weather today is expected to be partly cloudy with a high of around 48°F and a low of 32°F. Since the Mississippi River is not a tidal waterway, water levels are primarily influenced by rainfall and human management. Currently, the water levels have dropped below normal due to the lack of significant rainfall, but this hasn't deterred the fish activity. ### Sunrise and Sunset Sunrise is at 6:43 AM, and sunset is at 4:43 PM, giving anglers a good window to hit the water. ### Fish Activity The fish activity has been strong, particularly as the water temperatures continue to drop. Walleyes and saugers are the main targets this time of year. Over the last couple of weeks, there has been a consistent bite on the river system, with both eater-sized walleyes and saugers, as well as some trophy fish, being caught. ### Types and Amounts of Fish Yesterday saw a good number of walleyes and saugers caught, especially in areas like Pool 4 near Redwing, Minnesota. The fish have been gorging on large shad schools, making them quite girthy. Panfish such as bluegills, crappies, and perch are also active, providing a mixed bag for anglers. ### Best Lures and Bait For walleyes and saugers, vertical jigging with lures like Berkley bonefish, curlybones, ripple shads, and rib worms has been effective. Colors such as white ice, purples, and chartreuse are working well. Crankbaits, either on leadcore or longline trolling, are also producing good results. For panfish, small jigs with plastics or tipped with a chunk of crawler are recommended. ### Hot Spots One of the hot spots is around the wing dams and rock shorelines on Pool 4. These areas continue to produce good numbers of walleyes and saugers. Another spot is the transition zones from rock to mud, where the fish tend to congregate. In summary, the Mississippi River near Minneapolis is offering some great fall fishing opportunities. With the right lures and bait, and by targeting the right spots, anglers can expect a productive day on the water. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.