Mississippi River Fishing Report: Walleye, Cats, and More Biting in Minneapolis

Artificial Lure here with your fresh Mississippi River fishing report for Minneapolis, Friday, June 20, 2025. Sunrise lit up the water at 5:26 AM this morning and sunset is coming up at 8:51 PM, with a mellow mid-70s temp and a gentle breeze—ideal for all-day action. The river’s levels are moderate right now after last year’s wild fluctuations. Still, look out for submerged snags, especially in shallow runs and backwaters—those low water spots can creep up on you. Fish are definitely active! According to recent Outdoor News and week-of reports, walleye and sauger have been hot all June, especially during those low-light morning and evening hours. Pool 2—from the Ford Dam down to Hastings—is producing consistent catch-and-release numbers, especially along those 14-foot mid-channel drops and close to shoreline breaks. If you want a shot at the bigger ‘eyes, hit the drop-offs with a jig and minnow setup or troll crankbaits along the edges; both have been yielding good numbers. White bass are schooling up hard and smashing just about anything shiny you run through the faster water. Meanwhile, channel catfish are thick in the deeper holes with softer current and especially in side channels. For the whiskered monsters—flatheads—anchor up near sunken timber and run live baits like sucker minnows or bullheads. Channel cats are slamming cut bait, chicken liver, and stink baits, while blues are chowing nightcrawlers right in the main flow, according to Mississippi River fishing guides on FishingBooker. If you’re a bass chaser, largemouth and smallmouth are both feeding tight along rocky points and current seams. Plastics, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits are working, especially if you match the forage—minnow- and craw-patterns are local favorites. Crappie and sunfish are steady in the backwaters and sloughs. Try small jigs or crappie minnows around brush piles and shaded wood. Pike and the occasional muskie are being reported in the shallows, so if you’ve got heavy gear, throw some big flashy spoons or buzzbaits. Hot spots right now: - Hidden Falls Park stretch—spring-fed, rocky sections and deep holes just off the channel are holding good numbers of mixed species. - The confluence of Minnehaha Creek and the Mississippi is always worth a few casts, especially for smallmouth, walleye, and the odd gar. No tidal swings in our stretch, just river flow, but fish are sure feeding strong in the early and late hours. For bait, bring nightcrawlers, live minnows, and some trusty soft plastics in natural colors. Don’t rule out a classic jig-and-twister—simple still takes the prize more often than not. That’s your boots-on-the-bank report for Minneapolis and the mighty ’Sippi. Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe for daily updates. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.