Twin Cities Autumn Fishing Report - Smallmouth, Walleye, & Cats Biting on the Mississippi

Fishing is off to a lively start on the Mississippi River in Minneapolis this Friday, September 26th, 2025. Early autumn is settling in, and that means fish are on the move and feeding, with the river scenery starting to glow as the leaves turn golden. It’s Artificial Lure here with your morning river report. Weatherwise, you’re stepping out into a classic Twin Cities fall morning. Expect temperatures climbing from the low 40s to highs near 67°F as the day goes on. Bundle up in the morning, but be ready to shed a layer as the sun settles in. Winds are predicted light out of the west—nice and manageable for both bank and boat anglers. Sunrise hit us at 7:03 a.m., and sunset’s coming at about 7:01 p.m., so we’ve still got a hearty slab of daylight to fish. According to solunar forecasts, the prime major feeding window is right around 3:01 p.m. to 5:01 p.m., but minor action is already popping between 7:22 and 8:22 a.m. You won’t have to worry about tides—this far upriver, Mississippi flows are all about rainfall and dam releases, not the ocean. Levels are stable and clarity is fair. After some recent rain, the river's murky but manageable, which usually means the bite’s better close to shore and structure. Let’s talk fish. This week on the river, locals and visiting anglers alike have been reporting solid catches of smallmouth bass, walleye, channel catfish, and the occasional northern pike, according to guides working the metro pools. Some 30-bass outings have been reported just upstream on comparable waters, and in the river here, numbers are steady with great size on the smallmouth, and a nice push of eating-size walleye as they start to stage around current breaks and rock piles. Channel cats up to ten pounds have been caught after sundown. Northern pike are not always common but this season’s cooling has brought a few surprising, toothy hits. The hot lure choice right now is anything that mimics a baitfish, with white or chartreuse paddle tail swimbaits and tube jigs shining brightest for smallies and walleye. If you’re targeting cats, fresh cut sucker or chicken liver are hard to beat, while pike can’t resist a flashy spinnerbait slow-rolled near a weedline or slackwater. Don’t forget the tried-and-true live bait rigs: a jig and fathead minnow is still money for walleyes in these parts. If the bite gets tough, downsizing to a finesse worm or Ned rig can save your morning. Favorite hot spots today: - Boom Island Park: Fish the edges around the riprap for smallmouth and toss even into surprisingly shallow water—big smallies are moving up to feed. - The Ford Dam/Lock & Dam No. 1 stretch: Wade or boat near the tailwaters for a great mix of walleye and catfish, especially towards late afternoon. - Above the Stone Arch Bridge: Any rocky stretch here is classic for multi-species action. Early risers had luck today right at legal light. Community buzz has been strong this week with all sorts of anglers getting in on the action, from shore fishe This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.