Fall Fishing on the Mississippi: Walleye, Sauger, and Panfish Bonanza

As we step into October 4th, 2024, the Mississippi River around Minneapolis is gearing up for some excellent fall fishing. Here’s what you need to know for your outing today. The weather is expected to be partly cloudy with a high of around 68 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 50 degrees. Sunrise is at 7:04 AM, and sunset will be at 6:47 PM. Since the Mississippi River is a non-tidal river, you don't have to worry about tides, but be aware that the water levels are currently low due to the lack of significant rainfall and snowmelt this year. The walleye and sauger bite continues to be strong as the water temperatures drop. Yesterday, anglers reported catching walleyes ranging from 18 to 25 inches, with some saugers mixed in. The fish have been active, especially during the twilight hours. For lures, crankbaits have been working well, particularly when used on leadcore or longline trolling. Casting hair jigs and crankbaits near wing dams has also been effective. If you prefer live bait, jigging with frozen emerald shiners or fathead minnows is a good option. Panfishing remains good as well, with bluegills, crappies, and perch filling in the gaps when the walleyes quit biting. Small jigs with plastics or tipped with a chunk of crawler, fished under a bobber or pitched depending on the conditions, have been successful. Some hot spots to consider include the areas around wing dams, rock shorelines, and weedlines. The backwater areas offer a wide variety of places to catch panfish, and the main river sections near wood and weedlines are also productive. Overall, it's a great time to be out on the Mississippi River, with the cooler temperatures and changing leaves making it a beautiful and fruitful fishing experience. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.