June 18 Minneapolis Mississippi River Fishing Report - Walleye, Smallmouth, Cats and More

Mississippi River Minneapolis Fishing Report – June 18, 2025 Hey folks, Artificial Lure here with your fresh Mississippi River report right out of Minneapolis. Weather this morning is setting up for a classic June bite: we’re looking at partly cloudy skies, temps climbing to the low 80s, and a mild south breeze. Humidity is sticking around, so pack layered clothing and plenty of water. Sunrise hit at 5:26 AM, and sunset will stretch out to 9:02 PM, giving us a solid window for morning and evening action. No tides to worry about in the Mississippi this far upriver, but the river’s got decent flow and water clarity is fair. The stable weather over the past few days has fish in a typical early summer pattern — active in the morning and evening, with a midday lull. Recent catches have been all over the board. According to the Minnesota DNR’s Central Region Outlook, Pool 2 (from Ford Dam down to Hastings) is a year-round hotspot, offering catch-and-release fishing for walleye, sauger, both largemouth and smallmouth bass. Local anglers this week have been finding steady walleye (plenty under 18 inches), chunky smallmouth, and a decent mix of channel catfish and flathead catfish. There’s also reports of some surprise pike and largemouth showing up along the weedlines and backwaters, especially early and late in the day. Best baits this week? A lot of folks are dragging jigs tipped with fathead minnows or plastics in 6 to 10 feet of water, especially near current seams and riprap. Crankbaits are also putting up numbers for walleye and smallies — shad patterns and natural craw colors are working best. For catfish, it’s tough to beat cut bait or stink bait fished on the bottom; reports have come in of some real brutes caught after dark. If you’re chasing panfish, crappies and bluegills are still hanging near brush piles and fallen trees — small jigs with a minnow or waxie will do the trick. Hot spots you’ll want to check include: - The stretch below the Ford Dam (Lock and Dam No. 1), which always produces a mixed bag and some underrated shore action, especially for bass and walleyes. - The mouth of Minnehaha Creek, where moving water draws in catfish, pike, and the occasional trophy bass. - Downtown’s Boom Island Park for easy access and a shot at everything from crappie to catfish. Remember, Pool 2 is catch-and-release only for gamefish like walleye, sauger, and bass, so bring a camera — not a stringer. That’s the river update for June 18th. Thanks for tuning in to your local angling report with Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe for your daily fix of river intelligence. This has been a Quiet Please production — for more, check out quietplease dot ai. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.