Late September Heats Up the Mississippi River Bite in Minneapolis

Artificial Lure here with your Mississippi River, Minneapolis fishing report for Sunday, September 21st, 2025. We rolled out under hazy late September skies, with temps peaking near 76°F this afternoon—warm for the season, but the morning started cool and crisp in the low 60s. Winds have been out of the south at 6–10 mph, bringing a slight chop that’s made boat positioning a little tricky. No real tidal effect on this stretch, but current flows have been steady with recent rains, bumping up the turbidity—great for triggering aggressive fish. Sunrise cracked at 6:57 AM and sunset is tagged for 7:09 PM, so there’s still plenty of daylight to sneak in another cast[Spreaker, Late September Heats Up the Mississippi River Bite in Minneapolis]. Fish activity is peaking mid-morning through mid-afternoon. According to local anglers and shop chatter, smallmouth bass have been fired up, hanging tight to rock piles and fast-water seams. Best action has been on moving baits: chartreuse squarebill crankbaits and 4" white or green paddle-tail swimbaits have produced multiples. If you’re targeting bigger bronzebacks, upsize to a black-blue jig worked along deep ledges. Bass in the 2–4 lb range are common, and one report yesterday mentioned a chunky 20-incher landed near the Plymouth Avenue Bridge[Outdoor News]. Walleye are starting to slide shallower as water temps drop, so hit inside bends with a firetiger jig tipped with half a nightcrawler or a fathead minnow. Best window for walleyes lately runs just before dusk—one group fishing below the Stone Arch Bridge boxed three keepers between 16–22" last night. Sheepshead and channel cats are still active near the deeper pools around Boom Island Park and under the University bridges. Cut bait—especially shad chunks—or stinkbait is pulling cats up to 8 pounds. Fresh clams and earthworms work for sheepshead if you just want some rod-bending fun. Crappie and bluegill are scattered but can be caught on small black or chartreuse tube jigs near docks and slackwater eddies. Folks fishing by canoe pulled out a mess of hand-sized bluegills just upstream from Nicollet Island yesterday. Not as thick as midsummer, but enough for a fry. As for muskie, the river’s sleepers are out there: one 42-incher was caught and released in early September close to the Camden Bridge, with the angler reporting the fish smashed a bucktail spinner on the edge of a flooded woodpile[Outdoor News]. Muskie pressure is still light, so if you put in the time, big results are possible. Baitwise, you can’t beat live fathead minnows or nightcrawlers for multispecies work right now. If going artificial, bring jerkbaits in shad or perch patterns and work them fast in the current for bass and walleye. **Local hot spots:** - **Below the Stone Arch Bridge:** Prime for evening walleye, reliable for larger smallmouth. - **Boom Island Park and Plymouth Avenue area:** Great for cats, smallies, and incidental muskie. - **Nicollet Island upstream sloughs:** This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.