Fishing the Fall Bite on the Minneapolis Mississippi

Artificial Lure here with your Mississippi River, Minneapolis area fishing report for Monday, October 27, 2025. What a fine late October day we've woken up to in the Twin Cities. According to CBS Minnesota’s latest forecast, we’re sliding into an unseasonably warm week, with highs today pushing into the low 60s by afternoon. The morning started cool in the 40s, but those lingering clouds from yesterday’s round of scattered rain are clearing, making way for a stretch of sun and perfect autumn weather. Wind’s gusting up to 30 mph, so watch your casts if you’re slipping the kayak in or working open banks. Sunrise hit at 7:44 AM, and sunset is at 6:13 PM tonight—plenty of light for a long session on the river. If you’re tuning in for the tides, remember the upper Mississippi isn’t tidal, but river levels are running a tad low, just as they were the last few fall seasons, per CBS Minnesota. Boaters and shore casters alike might encounter exposed bank and rocky snags, especially near the locks and the University stretch—so double-check your launch points before backing down. For fish activity, Solunar Forecast marks today’s top windows at 12:02–2:02 PM and a nice early minor period from 5:48–6:48 AM. Reports from the past couple weeks have shown walleye action heating up, especially with these chillier nights moving in. Anglers working the deeper runs between Boom Island and Ford Dam are boating eater-size walleye and the occasional fat sauger. You’ll also find plenty of smallmouth bass hugging current seams—recent catches in the 16- to 18-inch range have been reported on both jerkbaits and live minnows. This week, local bait shops are pointing folks toward creek chubs and fatheads, especially during the midday bite. For artificial action, chartreuse or firetiger paddle tails on a 1/4 oz jighead are the ticket—with the river clearing up, that brighter flash is triggering more bites. Try slow-rolling those swimbaits along eddy seams, especially just downstream of the Plymouth Avenue Bridge. And don’t overlook blade baits: a silver or gold blade yo-yo’d off the bottom put several keeper walleyes in the net near St. Anthony Falls this weekend, according to reports from Mississippi River Minneapolis Daily Fishing. Northern pike are still active, particularly along the grassy banks above the Lowry Avenue Bridge—best luck’s been on silver spoons and large white spinnerbaits. A few bonus channel catfish have been reported after dark using cut sucker near River Flats Park, and one local even hauled in a surprise flathead near the Ford Parkway Bridge late last week. Hot spots for today: - **Boom Island Park:** near the paddle share dock, targeting smallmouth and the odd walleye. - **Below the Ford Dam:** use live minnows or brightly colored plastic tails—solid mixed bag area, just mind the current. - **Lower Locks and Dam:** low water’s concentrated fish below the tailraces; walleyes and sauger on jigs and vertical presentations. With leaves colori This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.