Late Summer on the Mississippi: Walleyes, Bass, and More in Minneapolis

Artificial Lure here with your Mississippi River fishing report for Minneapolis on Saturday, September 13th, 2025. Sunrise hit at 6:47 AM, and we’re looking at sunset at 7:23 PM, giving us a sprawling late-summer day. Now, locals will tell you the River hasn’t got tides, but fluctuates with rain and dam activity, so no proper tidal chart—but levels remain steady with drought easing up a bit thanks to earlier showers. We're stuck in a September heat wave. Temps in Minneapolis are pushing 90 degrees, about 10-15 degrees above normal. Plan for lots of sunshine and minimal breeze, so bring the sunscreen and extra water. The muggy conditions might slow midday action—early morning and evening are your best bets. Fishing pressure is light this week, as reported by Outdoor News, with water temperatures dipping after last week’s cold front but bouncing high again with the recent heat. The cooler temps had started moving fall patterns forward, but now fish are hanging a bit deeper until the heat breaks. Walleyes are holding steady in deep mud basins, with schools pushing toward the shorelines as these swings continue. Anglers are seeing reliable catches, just not the raucous bite that cool, cloudy days can trigger. **Recent Catches and Fish Activity** - **Walleyes:** Good numbers caught in 20-30 feet, especially near channel edges, submerged islands, and outside bends. Metros anglers are reporting limits, with most fish measured between 15” and 22”. Jig and minnow combos—especially fathead—are hot right now, outperforming spinners or crankbaits in the morning and evening. On sunny afternoons, bite slows but trolling crawler harnesses (gold, pink, firetiger blades) gets some action. Local guides recommend jigging if you want to put more fish in the boat. - **Smallmouth Bass:** The bite is best during low light. Topwater lures near riprap and bridge pilings early, then switching to chatterbaits and wacky worms once the sun’s up. Ned rigs and tubes along rocky shorelines and deeper eddies are producing fish 2-4 lbs. Smallies are more sluggish midday, so target shaded stretches. - **Northern Pike:** Caught mainly upstream of Minnehaha Falls and near Boom Island Park. Most are “eater size,” as the bigger toothy critters are running deeper. Flashy spoons, white spinnerbaits, and big minnows work along weedy backwaters. - **Jumbo Perch & Panfish:** Perch are mixing in with walleyes, especially on submerged flats. Try small jigs tipped with waxworms or chunks of crawler. Bluegill and crappies are spotty, holding under docks and shaded shorelines. Small leeches, plastics, or tube jigs get bites, though you’ll need to keep moving. **Best Lures and Bait** - **Walleye:** Jigs and fathead minnows, gold or pink spinner rigs tipped with crawler. - **Bass:** Early—popper or whopper plopper. Late—Ned rig, tubes, wacky worms. - **Pike:** Dardevle spoons, white or chartreuse spinnerbaits, large shiners. - **Perch:** Small jigs with waxworms or bits of worm. - **Crappie:* This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.