Mississippi Spring Walleye Wake-Up: 45 Degree Water, Prime Action

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things rod and reel on the Mississippi River right here in Minneapolis. It's early Monday, April 13, 2026, and the river's callin'—water's runnin' clear at about 45 degrees, perfect for spring action. Weather's lookin' cooperative today: mostly cloudy with highs in the low 50s, light winds from the north at 5-10 mph, keepin' things steady for bank or boat fishin'. Sunrise hits at 6:15 AM, sunset around 8:00 PM—prime daylight for 14 hours of chasin' bites. No tides on this big river, but current's moderate, and solunar charts from FishingReminder show average activity with minor peaks 9-10 AM and major windows 3:15-5:15 PM—get out there then. Fish are wakin' up! Recent reports from local anglers on the upper Mississippi note solid walleye pushes, with 15-20 inchers hittin' limits near structure. Channel cats are active too, up to 10 pounds, plus crappies stackin' in 8-12 feet off points—folks pulled strings of 20+ last weekend. Smallmouth bass are aggressive pre-spawn, and sauger round out the mix. Per Minnesota DNR updates, walleye season's open, and catches are up 20% from last week. Best lures? Jerkbaits like Rapala Husky Jerks in perch or firetiger for walleye and bass—troll 'em slow at 1.2 mph. For crappies, go tube jigs or 1/16th oz hair jigs under a slip bobber. Cats love live shiners or cut bait on a three-way rig; stinkbait if you're bank-bound. Match the hatch with minnows for versatility. Hot spots: Boom Island Park for easy access and current breaks—walleye heaven. Or hit the Fremont Bridge pilings from a kayak; smallies own it. Stay safe, check regs, and wear PFDs. Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more reports! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.