Mississippi River Fishing Report: Hot Bite from Walleye to Panfish

Artificial Lure here with your boots-on-the-bank fishing report for the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Monday, May 5, 2025. Sunrise came at 5:54 AM and sunset will be just after 8:27 PM. We’re sitting pretty in that magic spring window, and the weather’s shaping up mild and stable, with partly cloudy skies and temps ranging from mid-40s at dawn to the upper 60s by afternoon. Light breezes are predicted, which should help keep the bugs in check and surface disturbance to a minimum for those topwater moments. There’s been little rain lately, so water levels are a bit low, especially in side channels—watch out for new sandbars and shallow snags if you’re running a boat. Fishing action is simply hot right now. Pools 2 through 6 on the Mississippi have been consistent producers, and Pool 2, from the Ford Dam down to Hastings Dam, is on fire. Walleye and sauger are hitting well below the locks and dams, especially in tailwater areas. Remember, in Pool 2, it’s catch-and-release for walleye, sauger, and bass, but the numbers make it worthwhile. Jigging with plastics or a jig-and-minnow combo is getting plenty of hits. Bright chartreuse and white have outperformed plain colors the last few days. Catfish anglers are reporting a lot of channel and flathead cats. They’re really waking up with the warmer water. Cut bait like sucker or even a chunk of shad works well, and don’t overlook nightcrawlers if you want to keep it simple. Best bite is in deeper holes near current seams. White bass are getting more active, especially at creek mouths and where there’s some fresh inflow. Small spinners, twister tails, or even a minnow under a bobber are producing fish. For pike, the low water is your friend—they’re stacked in backwaters and connecting lakes. Toss flashy spoons or larger swimbaits along weedy edges. You might even get surprised by a muskie. Panfish are going strong, with bluegill and crappie up shallow and feeding heavily after an easy winter. Small jigs tipped with waxies or tiny plastics are a sure bet. Top hot spots today to check out: the tailwaters below the Ford Dam for walleye and sauger, and the backwaters near Boom Island and North Mississippi Regional Park for panfish and pike. The mouth of Minnehaha Creek is also producing white bass and the occasional surprise catch. That’s the word today from Artificial Lure—get out there, stay safe, and keep your drag set just right. The bite’s on and the river’s ready. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.