September 5th Mississippi River Fishing Report: Late Summer Bite Heating Up in Minneapolis

It’s Artificial Lure here with your September 5th Mississippi River fishing report for Minneapolis. Sunrise came in at 6:39 a.m. this morning and expect sunset to slip behind the bluff at 7:42 p.m. This early fall day is starting crisp, with temps climbing from the low 50s this morning up to a pleasant 73°F by afternoon. Light winds out of the northwest and the air feels clean after yesterday’s rain, though expect some residual current and a little haze on the water as humidity tapers off. The river itself is still running low—according to CBS Minnesota, we’re seeing some of the lowest water levels in years—but clarity is good and flow is moderate for this time of year. No tidal influence on this stretch, so our bite windows are more about light and weather than any moon-drawn movement. According to SolunarForecast.com, today’s best fishing periods are from 12:43 p.m. to 2:43 p.m., with minor spikes right around dawn and at dusk. I always tell folks: linger near the water just after sunrise for bonus action, and don't pack up too quick before twilight. Fishing has picked up this week with the water cooling off. Late-summer patterns are still holding, but we’re right at that turn to early fall feeding, especially for walleye, sauger, and some chunky smallmouth. OutdoorNews.com says fall walleye patterns are already developing, and anglers in the metro have reported consistent action. Out in Pool 20 further south, biological sampling turned up paddlefish and hefty bowfin—evidence that fish are still moving far and wide across the system. While those paddlefish sightings are rare this far north, Minneapolis stretches are yielding good numbers of walleye, sauger, bass, and channel cats. For tackle, it's prime time to punch through that late-summer vegetation for bass. Focus on thick weedlines, rock piles, and around rip-rap near the locks. Local bassheads are cleaning up on smaller soft plastics like Missile Baits Baby D-Bomb, Baby Destroyer, or the classic Smallie Beaver in green pumpkin or shades of natural brown—simple is better right now. Rig those on a 3/0 Jungle Hook Texas-style with a punch skirt behind a 1- to 1¼-ounce tungsten slip sinker. Heavy braid (at least 50 lb) on a stout rod is a must when you’re yarding lunkers out of that slop. The key is to hit the mat fast and let the bait drop naturally—many big bites are coming as the lure rockets to the bottom, so keep that drag tight and your senses alert. If you’re looking for walleye or sauger, early mornings and late afternoons are your windows. Jigging with half-ounce jigs tipped with fathead minnows or plastic paddletails in the current breaks is working. Crankbaits in crawfish and shad patterns are also scoring strikes along gravel and rocky stretches—just slow your retrieve down as we move toward fall. For those targeting channel catfish, cut bait or nightcrawlers fished near deep holes and eddy seams are solid bets. Recent catches from the river above and below the cities include This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.