Mississippi River Minneapolis Stretch: Spring Flow, Solid Walleye and Smallmouth Bite

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Mississippi River fishing report for the Minneapolis stretch. We don’t deal with ocean tides up here, but the river’s got its own “tide” in the form of flow and dam control. With recent spring and early‑summer rains upstream, expect a moderate to slightly higher flow, a bit of stain to the water, and some debris on the move. Focus on current breaks, seams, and eddies where fish can tuck out of the push. Weather around Minneapolis is in classic early‑June mode: cool mornings, warming into a comfortable afternoon, light to moderate wind, and a decent mix of clouds and sun. Sunrise is right around the mid‑5 a.m. hour, with sunset landing just after 9 p.m., giving you a long window of low‑light feeding at dawn and dusk. Those shoulder hours are when the river really wakes up. Fish activity has been solid. Walleyes are sliding off their spring patterns and holding on mid‑river current breaks, below wing dams, and along deeper bends. Smallmouth bass are very active along rocky shorelines, riprap, and the heads and tails of islands. Channel cats and flatheads are getting more aggressive with the warming water, stacking in deeper holes and along cutbanks with wood. Recent reports from local anglers and shops around town say the bite’s been mixed but steady: most boats are putting a handful of eater‑sized walleyes in the livewell on a good outing, with a few nicer fish in the 20–24 inch range. Smallmouth catches have been strong, especially for folks covering water with moving baits; plenty of 12–16 inch fish, with the occasional 18‑plus showing up. Cat guys running at night are seeing a mix of 3–10 pound channel cats and some heavier flatheads when they commit to soaking good bait on prime structure. Best lures right now: - For walleyes: Jig and plastic combos in 1/8 to 1/4 ounce, with chartreuse, orange, and white paddletails or ringworms. Slow‑rolled crankbaits in natural shad and firetiger patterns are producing on long upstream or cross‑current trolls. - For smallmouth: Ned rigs, 3–4 inch tube jigs in green pumpkin, and medium diving crankbaits banging into rock. Spinnerbaits and buzzbaits early and late in the day can trigger those aggressive river bronzebacks in the shallows. - For catfish: Slip rigs or simple bottom rigs with 2–4 ounce sinkers depending on flow. Big live bait or cut bait is the ticket: cut sucker, cut goldeye, or live bullheads for flatheads; cut bait, stink bait, or nightcrawlers for channels. Best bait: - Live fathead minnows or small shiners on jigs or live‑bait rigs for walleyes. - Nightcrawlers on a simple jig or live‑bait rig can take walleyes, sauger, and bonus smallmouth. - For cats, fresh cut bait is king; don’t bother with old, mushy stuff if you’re hunting bigger fish. A couple of hot spots to keep in mind: - The pool around the Upper St. Anthony and Lower St. Anthony areas: work the current seams, eddies, and downriver points where the flow slackens. Those transitions hold walleyes and smallmouth. - The stretch near the Ford Dam and downstream: classic river structure, deeper holes, and plenty of current breaks. Great mix of walleyes, smallmouth, and catfish if you move until you find active fish. Work the edges of current, fish low‑light windows, and don’t be afraid to downsize if the bite feels off. The river will tell you what it wants if you keep adjusting. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn