Frosty Bites on the Mississippi: Walleye, Smallies, Pike, and More for the January Angler

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for anglin' on the Mississippi River right here in Minneapolis. It's January 7th, 2026, and we're lookin' at a crisp winter day with lows around 40°F and highs pushin' 52-69°F dependin' on the wind—perfect for bundlin' up and hittin' the ice or open water if it's thawed in spots. Sunrise kicks off early, sunset wraps by evenin', but the real action's in those solunar peaks: major bites from 12:43 PM to 2:43 PM and overnight 12:23-2:23 AM, minors at 6:06-7:06 AM and 8:32-9:32 PM, per FishingReminder's calendar. No tides on the river, but flows upstream at Brainerd are low at 1230 cfs, 41% of normal, so expect slower current near the cities. Fish are active in Pool 1—walleye stackin' on 10-18 ft breaks and inside turns, smallmouth bass hittin' current seams and midriver rubble, northern pike prowin' weeds, muskies on deeper edges, and crappies in mid-depth basins. Recent reports from FishingReminder note steady walleye on Lake Harriet and Pool 1, smallies swingin' ned rigs, pike on spinnerbaits over green weeds, crappies on hair jigs under floats. Amounts? Solid limits if you find 'em—dawn/dusk best, especially overcast. Best lures: 1/8-1/4 oz jigs with fatheads or Jigging Raps for walleye, ned rigs and 3-4" swimbaits for smallies, glide baits or bucktails for muskies, spinnerbaits for pike. Live bait like fatheads seals the deal in clearin' water post-turnover. Work wind-blown points, channel edges, and rubble. Hot spots: Saint Anthony Falls Upper Lock and Dam for current-loving smallies and walleye, and Nicollet Island for easy access to deep breaks and pike haunts. Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more reports! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.