Late Fall Bite on the Minneapolis Mississippi

Artificial Lure here with your Saturday fishing report for the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, November 15, 2025. The **sun rises at 7:10 AM and sets at 4:44 PM** today—those short days mark the transition into late fall bite patterns. A cold front rolled through overnight, and local CBS Minnesota says temps this morning are dipping into the mid-30s, with a high pushing to about 46°F. Expect cloud cover and some lingering light rain, plus brisk northwest winds that’ll keep it chilly, so layer up and bring the thermos. There’s no tidal influence up here, but solunar forecasts point to **minor fish activity between 6:51 and 7:51 AM**, with a major activity spike from **2:12 to 4:12 PM**. If you’re debating when to be on the water, afternoon looks best. River levels are steady, but flow is up a bit after recent showers, so the current’s moving good, and clarity is moderate. Fish adjust to these changes—expect them to tuck behind structure to stay out of the push. **Recent catches** have included a healthy mix of late-season *smallmouth bass*, *walleye*, and *northern pike*. A handful of reports on the BBC Boards rave about the continued bite for **smallies below warm water outflows, like at the nuclear plant downstream**, using jerkbaits, especially the Megabass Vision 110SR. Several locals working the riprap below the Plymouth Avenue and Franklin Avenue bridges have been sticking chunky bass, some pushing 4 pounds, along with decent eater walleyes around 15-18 inches. Walleye anglers are switching to vertical presentations in deeper holes and seam lines. The top lures this week: **1/4 to 3/8 oz jig heads tipped with fathead minnows**. Chartreuse and orange remain winning colors in lower light. Jigging Rapalas and blade baits also turn heads when fished slow and tight to bottom. For smallmouth bass, jerkbaits like the Vision 110SR and classic Rapala X-Rap in ghost or shad color have been hottest. Anglers are casting to slackwater pools near bridge pilings and rocky shorelines. If it’s slow, bounce a **Ned rig or tube jig** in green pumpkin along the gravel. Northern pike are still prowling—the best action is coming on **white spinnerbaits and suspending swimbaits** fished near deadfalls and weed edges. Pike are aggressive with the water cooling, and they’ll chase, especially on overcast days. **Bait shops** confirm high demand for fatheads and sucker minnows, ideal if you’re after walleye or targeting big pike with a bobber rig. **Hot spots:** - The stretch between **Boom Island and the Plymouth Avenue Bridge** is holding piles of bass and decent eater-sized walleye—focus on transition areas where rocks meet sand. - The **mouth of Minnehaha Creek** at the confluence is reliably productive after rainfall, with mixed bags of walleye, pike, and the occasional slab crappie. - That **Franklin Avenue Bridge undercurrent** routinely produces after a cold front, especially mid-afternoon. Fish are feeding heavy before winter and rewards go to t This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.