Mississippi Fishing Report: Walleyes, Bass, and Catfish Thrive Amid Rising River Levels

April 9, 2025, brought a solid day for anglers on and around the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. Here’s your daily fishing report from a local perspective. The weather cooperated with milder temperatures reaching the low 60s. Morning and overnight brought light showers, but the afternoon brightened with intermittent sunshine and gentle southern winds at around 5-10 mph. The river level is on the rise, with water temperatures hovering near 44°F in most areas, though some backwaters with darker bottoms are touching 60°F. This temperature shift contributes to increasing fish activity as species like walleyes, perch, and pike enter their prime pre-spawning and spawning phases. Sunrise today was at 6:36 a.m., and sunset will be at 7:51 p.m., offering an extended window for anglers to hit prime bite times around dawn and dusk. Early morning and evening proved especially productive. Walleye and sauger are the stars of the show right now. Anglers are reporting good catches of these species in depths of 8 to 16 feet, particularly near rocky or gravelly areas. Female walleyes are beginning to soften, signaling that the spawn is imminent. Jigging with hair jigs, blade baits, or soft plastics like B-Fish-N Tackle Pulse-R paired with 3/16 or 5/16 jigheads has been effective. Purple color patterns are top performers. Smallmouth bass are becoming active as well, with many moving to areas with consistent current and rocky structure, such as wing dams. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and soft plastics are working well, particularly in areas with moderate flows. Focus on eddies and calmer waters where bass can conserve energy between feeding frenzies. Catfish enthusiasts found success too, particularly with channel cats congregating in deeper holes of side channels. Fresh cut bait and nightcrawlers have been the go-to options. Flathead catfish were found near submerged logs and structures. Live bait, like bluegills or bullheads, worked well for those targeting these brutes. Crappie activity is on the rise, though it’s not yet in full swing. Anglers targeting oxbow lakes and offshoots of the main channel had the most luck, especially in clearer waters for black crappie. Two hot spots emerged today. First, Pool 2 near the Ford Dam saw solid action for walleyes and sauger. The structure near the dam provides ideal conditions for these species. Second, the backwaters near Hidden Falls Regional Park are heating up for both panfish and predator species like pike. For bait and lures, consider using: - **Walleyes**: Purple plastic swimbaits, blade baits, or live minnows. - **Smallmouth bass**: Spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, and soft plastics fished near rocky structures. - **Catfish**: Fresh cut bait, nightcrawlers, or live bait. - **Crappie**: Small jigs tipped with minnows or soft plastics in vibrant colors for murkier water. With the river rising and fish activity increasing, now is a prime time to head out. Tight lines and good luck! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.