Promising Fishing on the Mississippi River Near Minneapolis as Fall Season Arrives

As of October 20, 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 58 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 45 degrees. Sunrise is at 7:34 AM, and sunset will be at 6:02 PM. The Mississippi River's water levels are stable, which is typical for this time of year. The water temperature is around 55 degrees, ideal for fall fishing. ### Fish Activity Yesterday saw a good mix of fish activity. Walleye and Sauger fishing has been steady, with these species starting to move up to the tailwaters of the dams as the water temperature cools down. Anglers reported catching Walleyes and Saugers using crankbaits on three-way rigs along deep side channel borders and wing-dams. Panfishing remains strong, with Bluegills, Crappies, and Perch being caught in good numbers. Rock shorelines, wing dams, wood, and weed areas continue to produce good catches. Small jigs with plastics or tipped with a chunk of crawler have been effective for panfish. ### Best Lures and Bait For Walleyes and Saugers, trolling crankbaits or using lead head jigs tipped with a nightcrawler are recommended. Vertical jigging with Berkley bonefish, curlybones, ripple shads, and rib worms in colors like white ice, purples, and chartreuse have also been successful. For panfish, small jigs with plastics or tipped with a chunk of crawler under a bobber or pitched depending on the conditions are working well. Light tackle with a small piece of worm is also effective for Bluegills. ### Hot Spots One of the hot spots is around the wing dams and rock shorelines, particularly in areas with less bait where the fish tend to be more aggressive. The backwater areas and weedlines are also good places to find concentrated schools of Bluegills and Crappies. Another good spot is near the tailwaters of the dams, where Walleyes and Saugers are starting to congregate as the water temperature drops. Be cautious of low water levels, especially when launching boats, to avoid backing off the end of the ramp. Overall, it's shaping up to be a great fall day on the Mississippi River, with plenty of opportunities to catch a variety of fish species. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.