Promising Fall Fishing on the Mississippi River Near Minneapolis

As of October 9, 2024, the fishing scene on the Mississippi River near Minneapolis is looking promising, especially with the fall season in full swing. ### Weather and Tidal Report The weather today is expected to be partly cloudy with a high of around 62 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 45 degrees. Sunrise was at 7:17 AM, and sunset will be at 6:24 PM. The Mississippi River, being a non-tidal river, does not have tides, but water levels are currently lower than usual due to the lack of significant rainfall and snowmelt this year. ### Fish Activity The fish activity on the Mississippi River, particularly in Pool 4 and Lake Pepin, has been quite active. Walleye and Sauger fishing continues to be strong as the water temperatures drop. Yesterday, anglers reported catching Walleyes and Saugers, with some Saugers reaching up to 23 inches. The fish are putting on their fall weight, making them quite girthy. ### Types and Amounts of Fish Walleyes, Saugers, and panfish such as Bluegills, Crappies, and Perch are the main catches. The river sections and Lake Pepin are loaded with baitfish, which is attracting the larger species. Anglers are also catching Freshwater Drum and White Bass, which are good to eat and becoming more popular. ### Best Lures and Bait For Walleyes and Saugers, crankbaits on leadcore or longline trolling have been effective. Casting hair jigs and cranks near wing dams is also producing results. For panfish, small jigs with plastics or tipped with a chunk of crawler are working well. When targeting Walleyes, using Berkley bonefish, curlybones, ripple shads, and rib worms in colors like white ice, purples, and chartreuse have been successful. ### Hot Spots One of the hot spots is the area around the wing dams and rock shorelines in Pool 4. Another good location is the backwater areas and weedlines near Lake Pepin. The main river sections, especially around Wabasha and Red Wing, are also producing good catches. Overall, it's a great time to be out on the Mississippi River, with the cooler temperatures and changing leaves making for a beautiful and productive fishing experience. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.