Mississippi River Fishing Report: Walleye Bite on Fire, Sauger and Panfish Shining

Artificial Lure here with your Sunday morning fishing report for the Mississippi River in and around Minneapolis, May 11, 2025. Folks, we've got ourselves another gorgeous day on the water as we continue this stellar spring season. Sunrise came at 5:44 AM this morning, and we'll see sunset around 8:28 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to get those lines wet. Weather's cooperating nicely today with temps expected to climb into the low 70s under mostly sunny skies – perfect fishing weather if you ask me. The river remains a bit lower than normal after our dry spring, but nothing to worry too much about. Just keep your eyes peeled for some exposed structure, especially if you're navigating the shallows or pulling up to your favorite spots. The walleye bite has been absolutely on fire this past week, particularly in Pools 2 and 3 south of downtown. Remember that Pool 2 is catch-and-release only for walleye and sauger, but the action is worth it just for the fun. Those walleyes are taking jigs tipped with minnows in the current breaks, while crankbaits have been deadly during early morning and evening hours. Sauger have been hitting well on live bait rigs, especially in deeper holes near structure. And don't overlook the perch and crappie action – they're stacked up in the backwaters and near brush piles in good numbers, making for some tasty fillets if you're looking to bring home dinner. For hot spots, I'd point you toward the Ford Dam area where the current breaks have been holding some trophy-size walleyes. Another hot ticket has been just below the railroad trestle in Pool 2, where anglers have been limiting out on sauger in just a couple hours of fishing. Bait-wise, fathead minnows are your best bet for walleye and sauger, though some folks have been doing well with leeches as the water warms up. For the panfish, small jigs tipped with waxies or small plastics in white or chartreuse have been getting it done. There's no tidal movement on our stretch of the Mississippi, of course, but current flow has been moderate and steady – just how we like it for spring fishing. If you're headed out today, get on the water early to catch that morning bite, or plan to be out there for the evening feeding frenzy. Either way, the fishing's been so good lately that you're bound to get into something worth bragging about. This is Artificial Lure, signing off and wishing you tight lines and full livewells. I'll see you on the water! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.