Mississippi River Minneapolis Fishing Report: Early Ice, Late Open Water

Hey folks, Artificial Lure here with your Mississippi River Minneapolis fishing report. We’re in that early-ice / late-open-water limbo on the metro stretch of the Mississippi. Shorelines and back bays are skimming over, but the main channel is still pushing good current, so treat any ice with extreme caution and stick to known launches and riprap if you’re staying on foot. According to the National Weather Service for Minneapolis, we’re sitting near the freezing mark this morning with light northwest wind and highs creeping into the upper 20s to low 30s, mostly cloudy with a chance of flurries. Sunrise is right around 7:50 a.m. and sunset about 4:35 p.m., so it’s a short window – make those prime hours count. SolunarForecast’s Minneapolis data pegs the best fishing periods around mid‑day and again late afternoon, with a minor activity bump right at daybreak. That lines up nicely with what anglers reported yesterday on the Mississippi River Minneapolis Fishing Report podcast on Spreaker: slower early, then a definite midday push once the light gets up. No real tide to speak of on this stretch of river – water level is governed by the dams. Pool 1 flows below Ford Dam are near seasonal norm per the U.S. Geological Survey gauges, with slightly stained water after recent snow and melt. That stain is your friend: lets you upsize baits a bit and get away with heavier line. Recent catches: local Facebook river groups and bait shops are talking decent numbers of **walleyes and saugers** below the dams, plus a surprise mix of **smallmouth bass** still chewing in the slower wintering holes. Most reports mention “a handful per angler” in a couple hours, with the better crews putting 6–10 fish in the net, including legal eaters. A few folks are also grabbing **crappies and bluegills** out of backwater cuts where first ice is barely forming, but those are very hit‑or‑miss and safety is the big concern. Best baits and lures right now: - For walleyes and saugers from shore: - 1/4–3/8 oz **hair jigs** or jig-and-minnow combos, pitched slightly upstream and hopped back. Fatheads and small shiners from local bait shops are producing. - Subtle **paddle‑tail plastics** in natural colors on a light jig head for when they won’t commit to meat. - From a boat in the main channel edges: - Vertically jigged **blade baits** and 3/8–1/2 oz jigs tipped with minnows, worked slow right on the break. - A small **river rig** with a floating jig head and live minnow dragged upstream of wintering holes. - For panfish in the backwaters (only if ice is truly safe): - Tiny tungsten jigs tipped with waxies or spikes, and small glow spoons for crappies. Several YouTube ice channels showing Mississippi River backwater trips this month are all leaning on those same combos for big ‘gills and slabs. Couple of local hot spots to try: - **Below the Ford Dam (Lock and Dam 1)** – Classic winter walleye stretch. Fish the current seams, eddies, and the first deep This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.