Fishing the Mississippi: Walleye, Sauger, and Panfish Bonanza near Minneapolis this Fall

As of September 27, 2024, the fishing scene on the Mississippi River around Minneapolis is looking promising, especially as we dive into the fall season. ### Weather and Tidal Conditions The weather today is expected to be partly cloudy with a high of around 68 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 50 degrees. Sunrise was at 7:04 AM, and sunset will be at 6:54 PM. The Mississippi River, being a non-tidal river, does not have tides, but water levels are currently at normal levels after a period of low flow earlier in the year. ### Fish Activity The walleye and sauger bite has been strong as the water temperatures start to drop. Yesterday, anglers reported catching walleyes and saugers in various depths, ranging from 2 to 16 feet. The fish are active, particularly in areas with less bait, making them more aggressive. Panfishing for bluegills, crappies, and perch has also been good, filling in the gaps when the walleyes are not biting. ### Types and Amounts of Fish Walleyes up to 23 inches and saugers of similar size have been caught, with many fish showing significant girth from their fall feeding. Bluegills and crappies are plentiful, especially around rock shorelines, wing dams, wood, and weed beds. ### Best Lures and Bait For walleyes and saugers, vertical jigging with jacks jigs tipped with crawlers and leeches has been effective. Dragging bottom bouncers and using crankbaits on leadcore or longline trolling are also producing results. For panfish, small jigs with plastics or tipped with a chunk of crawler under a bobber or pitched into the right spots are working well. Colors such as white ice, purples, and chartreuse are good choices. ### Hot Spots Pool 4 of the Mississippi River, particularly around Red Wing, is a hot spot for walleyes and saugers. The area around Lake Pepin is also productive, with fish congregating around wing dams and rocky habitats. Another good spot is the stretch near Hastings, where the river's structure and bait schools attract a variety of fish. Overall, it's shaping up to be a great fall for fishing on the Mississippi River. With the right techniques and bait, you're likely to have a successful and enjoyable day on the water. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.