Ideal Fall Fishing on the Mississippi River near Minneapolis

As we step into October 3rd, 2024, the Mississippi River around Minneapolis is offering some excellent fall fishing opportunities. Here’s what you need to know for a successful day on the water. First off, the Mississippi River, being a non-tidal river, does not have tides, but the water levels are currently low due to the lack of significant rainfall and snowmelt this year. However, the levels have stabilized somewhat after a period of low flow earlier in the year. The weather today is expected to be partly cloudy with a high of around 68 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 50 degrees. Sunrise is at 7:04 AM, and sunset will be at 6:47 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to get out on the water. Fish activity has been strong, particularly for walleyes and saugers. Yesterday, anglers reported catching these species in various depths, ranging from 2 to 16 feet. The walleye and sauger bite continues to be robust as the water temperatures drop, with many quality fish up to 21 inches being caught. For lures, vertical jigging and Dubuque rigs are working well. Berkley bonefish, curlybones, ripple shads, and rib worms are good choices, along with hair jigs in colors like white ice, purples, and chartreuse. Crankbaits, either on leadcore or longline trolling, have also been effective, especially in areas with less bait. Panfishing remains good as well, with bluegills, crappies, and perch filling in the gaps when the walleyes quit biting. Small jigs with plastics or tipped with a chunk of crawler, used under a bobber or pitched, are recommended. Hot spots include the rock shorelines, wing dams, and areas with wood and weeds. Pool 4, which includes Lake Pepin, is particularly promising, with its unique fishery offering both size and quantity of walleyes and saugers. Overall, the conditions are ideal for a great day of fishing on the Mississippi River around Minneapolis. Get out there and enjoy the fall bite This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.