Late-Fall Fishing the Metro Mississippi

Artificial Lure here with your Mississippi River Minneapolis area fishing report for Monday, November 3rd, 2025. We’re waking up to chilly, late-fall conditions. Temps are in the mid 50s, with sunshine breaking through and gusty winds pushing across the water—classic early November Delta weather in the Twin Cities, says Lisa Meadows at NEXT Weather. Local lakes and river sections are running low, close to historical lows in spots according to CBS Minnesota, but fish are responding to the autumn turnover. Sunrise hit at 7:50 am, and sunset will be at 5:58 pm. The best bite windows are at dawn and dusk, with an extra bump during overcast stretches, so plan your outings early or in the late afternoon. This is the cloudiest stretch of the year up here, and those winds have been whipping courtesy of notorious “Witch” storms that sweep the Midwest every November. The river isn’t tidal, but water levels are dropping and clarity can be spotty—so target any slightly clearer water, especially near channel swings and windward points. Fish activity is excellent, and the double punch of cooling water (around 55°F) and shortened days have Metro walleyes and bass firing. Pool 1 of the Mississippi, just above downtown, is producing steady walleye action—focus on 10–18 ft breaks with 1/8–1/4 oz jigs tipped with fatheads or try a vertical Jigging Rap near inside turns. Gold and chartreuse jig heads have been hot. Crappie schools are sliding into the mid-depth basins, and side imaging can help you locate those pods for a drift with small hair jigs tipped with minnows. Smallmouth bass are pushing onto current seams and midriver boulder stretches. Ned rigs and compact 3–4" swimbaits bounced just off the bottom have boated some chunky bronzebacks the last two days. Muskie activity is up on the deeper metro lakes just off the river; deeper breaks in the 12–20 ft zone around bait clouds are where you’ll want to run glide baits, rubber shads, or slow-rolled bucktails. Northern pike are still prowling the last green weededges—burn oversized spinnerbaits across those sections in early afternoon, especially if the wind kicks up a light chop. Recent catches show most boats mixing limits of walleye—plenty in the 16–22 inch range, with a few pushing past 25. Crappie numbers are solid, with fish up to 12 inches showing on electronics. Bass are in the 16–19 inch class, with the odd muskie in the low 40s being photo’d and released this week. Pike and jumbo perch are holding close to rocky points and river mouths. Best baits and lures right now: - **Walleye**: 1/8-1/4 oz jigs with fathead minnows, vertical Jigging Raps, gold and chartreuse colors. - **Smallmouth Bass**: Ned rigs, 3–4" paddletail swimbaits, green pumpkin or purple hues. - **Muskie**: Large glide baits, rubber shads, slow-rolled bucktails. - **Crappie**: Small hair jigs or plastic tubes, tip with a minnow under a slip float. - **Northern Pike**: Oversized spinnerbaits, large jerkbaits. Local tip: With the r This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.