Frosty Bites and Falling Temps: Fishing the Minneapolis Mississippi River

Artificial Lure here with your Mississippi River Minneapolis fishing report for Thursday, November 6, 2025. Weather’s the big talk this morning: the Twin Cities are waking up in the low 40s, but hang onto your hats because by this weekend, we’re primed for a burst of chilly air. Temperatures will dip down into the 30s—maybe our coldest stretch so far, according to WCCO’s meteorologists. The arctic snap is rolling in on gusty northwest winds, and more clouds will creep in as Thursday wears on. Expect sunrise today at 6:56 AM and sunset at 4:54 PM. The river itself is running low—so low in spots that the St. Paul gauge is clocking its fourth-lowest reading on record, as reported by CBS Minnesota. Water clarity’s decent, but expect some stubborn sandbars and tricky bank fishing conditions. No tidal changes here in Minneapolis, just river flow, but falling water will have fish pushing to deep holes and structure. Let’s talk activity: despite dropping temps, fish are active nipping before the cold hits. Anglers putting in work this week have reported channel cats, blue cats, and a good push of eater-sized flatheads below the St. Anthony Falls area. Smallmouth bass action has picked up along rip-rap and at confluence zones where feeder streams dump in a little warmer water. Last weekend, several 3-pound smallies and a handful of 20-inch walleyes were reported by locals near Boom Island Park and below the Franklin Avenue Bridge. For bait and lures, it’s classic cold-water fare. Locals say the best results have come on: - **Live fathead minnows**—tough to beat for walleyes and those bigger smallies. - **Cut sucker**—working great for catfish, drifting just above deep holes. - **Jig heads with soft plastics**—3” white/purple or dark green paddle-tails tight to structure. - For artificial fans, **slow-rolled crankbaits** (silver/black or craw colors) and blade baits have been pulling bonus fish, especially on overcast mornings. - Finesse tactics like a dark **Ned rig** or a simple twister tail grub will tempt neutral bass and the odd walleye. Word from Captain Experiences and local shops: the hot bait this fall for bigger cats has been fresh cutbait, while for bass, downsizing presentations as the water chills is key. For those after pike—yes, they’re here—try flashy spoons or jerkbaits retrieved slow, especially in the slack water behind islands. Hot spots to try today: - **Boom Island Park**—the current seams hold smallmouth and an occasional walleye. - **Hidden Falls Park**—plenty of structure, deeper holes, and reliable action for cats and panfish. - **Near the Ford Dam Pool**—steady for mixed bag fishing. Caution: some bank access remains muddy, and the early morning bite is best with the clear and chilly sky. Remember that Pool 2 remains catch-and-release for walleye and sauger. Thanks for tuning in to your local river report, folks. Remember to subscribe for more updates, tackle tips, and news on what's biting where. This has been a quie This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.