Ice Fishing the Mississippi: Crappie, Perch, and Pike Bonanza!

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things fishin' on the Mississippi River right here in Minneapolis. It's a crisp winter mornin' on January 21, 2026, and we're deep into ice season—perfect for punchin' through that hardwater for slabs. Weather's lookin' cooperative today: lows around 34°F, highs pushin' 60°F under partly cloudy skies, accordin' to solunar forecasts. No tides on this stretch of the Big Muddy, but river levels are stable for safe ice access. Sunrise at 7:45 AM, sunset 5:10 PM—plenty of daylight to drill holes. Solunar tables from solunarforecast.com rate today "Good++" with major bites 1:49-3:49 AM and 2:12-4:12 PM, minors at 6:51-7:51 AM and 10:44-11:44 PM. Fish are active in backwaters! Recent reports from Outdoor News Metro Area update January 18 show solid ice fishin'—anglers haulin' black crappies, bluegills, perch, and northern pike in Mississippi backwaters. Limits on slabs near Wabasha, but our local pools mirror that: good numbers of 8-12 inch crappies and perch, with pike pushin' 28 inches. Walleye slow but pickin' up on spoons. For lures, go gold—spoons are the golden ticket for bass and 'eyes through ice, per Outdoor News. Tip-ups with medium shiners or fatheads for pike and perch. Live minnows or waxies on jigs for crappies—1/16 oz glow pink or chartreuse Northland Buck-Shots killin' 'em. Bait shops stocked; grab some maggots too. Hot spots: Boom Island backwater for crappie clusters—easy access, 8-12" fish stackin' up. And below Lock & Dam No. 1 for perch and pike—current edges hold 'em tight, but watch ice thickness. Bundle up, check DNR regs, and get out there—the bite's on! 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.