November Bite on the Mississippi - Walleye, Bass, and More

Season’s Greetings, fellow anglers—it’s Artificial Lure here, bringing you the straight dope on what’s biting in and around the Mississippi River up here in Minneapolis as we roll into November. Let’s get right to it—no fluff, just the fish. Right now, we’re deep into late fall, and the river’s a whole different beast after the turnover. The metro lakes are cooling off, with temps sitting in the low-to-mid 50s, and the Mississippi’s still got some life—especially in Pool 1, just downstream of the Ford Dam. The bite’s best at dawn and dusk, with overcast days offering a steady drumbeat of action. Don’t bother sleeping in—early risers always hit the honey holes first. The river’s running a little different this week—water levels are up, highest in a decade, according to CBS Minnesota—so expect some flooding along the banks and maybe a tricky launch here and there. Safety first, folks. Those of you chasing walleye, you’re in luck: they’re stacked up on 10–18 foot breaks right now, especially on inside turns and near channel edges. Fatheads on a 1/8–1/4 oz jig are money, and don’t overlook a well-timed Jigging Rap for those deeper pockets. Smallmouth bass aren’t slowing down either—they’re pushing into current seams and rocky mid-river rubble. Swing a Ned rig just off bottom, or try a 3–4” swimbait for bigger fish. If you’re after crappies, they’ve slid out to the mid-depth basins—find ‘em with your side imaging and hover a small hair jig or plastic under a float. Over on the lakes—Harriet, Nokomis—walleye are still showing, and the pike are prowling what’s left of the green weeds. Burn a spinnerbait right over the tops, and watch for muskies lurking on deeper structure, especially those bait clouds holding at 12–20 feet. Glide baits, rubber, and slow-rolled bucktails are turning heads right now. Now, let’s talk lures and bait. For walleye, jigs tipped with fatheads are the go-to, and plastics in natural colors will get the job done when the minnows run low. Bass anglers, throw Ned rigs, drop shots, and jerkbaits—this time of year, they’re not picky. Pike and muskie? Big flashy stuff—spinnerbaits, bucktails, and anything that makes a commotion. For hot spots, Pool 1 on the Mississippi is always a safe bet, especially right now with walleye stacked on the breaks. Lake Nokomis and Harriet are holding fish too, especially on windward edges and first breaks near any lingering coontail. Wind is your friend—look for a light chop to bring fish up shallow and prime those inside weedlines. Weather’s looking cool and a bit cloudy today, with temps in the upper 30s overnight and maybe hitting 50s this afternoon. Sunrise was around 6:50 AM and sunset’s set for 4:40 PM. No real tidal influence here, but the water’s high and rising—keep an eye on those forecasts if you’re heading out this week. Fish reports from the local scene have been steady, with good catches of walleye, smallmouth, and crappie. Northern pike and muskie action’s picking up, and the occ This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.