Fishing the Mighty Mississippi: A Fall Walleye and Sauger Bonanza

As of October 31, 2024, the Mississippi River in the Minneapolis area is offering some excellent fishing opportunities as we dive into the fall season. ### 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. Sunrise was at 7:34 AM, and sunset will be at 5:04 PM. The river levels are currently stable, with no significant changes in water levels reported recently. ### Fish Activity Yesterday's fishing was quite active, especially for walleye and sauger. The cooler water temperatures, ranging from 54 to 57 degrees, have made the fish more aggressive. Walleyes were caught in decent numbers, with many in the 18.5-inch range, and some larger ones were also landed. Sauger were also plentiful, with most in the 14-15 inch range. ### Best Lures and Bait For walleye and sauger, dragging jigs with crawlers and leeches has been highly effective. Using bottom bouncers and vertical jigging with Berkley bonefish, curlybones, and ripple shads are also producing good results. Hair jigs in white, purple, and chartreuse colors are working well too. Crankbaits, especially on leadcore or longline trolling, are catching walleyes in areas with less bait. ### Hot Spots Some of the best spots to fish include Pool 2 (St. Paul) and Pool 3 (Hastings) of the Mississippi River. The St. Croix River, from Hudson down to Hastings, is also yielding good catches. Specifically, areas around wing dams, rock shorelines, and weedlines are producing good numbers of walleye, sauger, and panfish like bluegills and crappies. ### Additional Tips Keep an eye on your electronics, as the fish are moving between shallow and deeper waters. The presence of large schools of shad is a good indicator of where the walleyes and saugers might be. With the fall transition in full swing, the fishing is expected to remain strong as the water temperatures continue to drop. Good luck out there, and enjoy the beautiful fall scenery along the Mississippi River This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.