Weekend Walleye, Sauger Slammin' on Minneapolis Mississippi

Hey folks, Artificial Lure coming to you with your Saturday, May 31st report for the Mississippi River right here in Minneapolis. Sunrise hit at 5:54 AM and you’ve got till 8:24 PM to chase bites under sunny, mild skies. The weather today is just about perfect—cool in the morning, warming up nicely by midday, and winds staying low. River levels remain a bit low after our dry winter and spring, so if you’re boating, keep an eye out for those sneaky rocks and sandbars. We don’t get ocean tides here, just current, but it’s been strong enough to keep the fish fired up. Let’s talk fish activity: It’s been dynamite all week. Walleyes are thick in Pool 2, from Ford Dam on down toward Hastings, especially below the dams and along current breaks. They’re in post-spawn mode, hungry and aggressive, and the bites have been steady. Catch-and-release is the rule in Pool 2 for walleye, sauger, and bass—but don’t let that fool you. Numbers and size have stayed impressive, and local reports say evening bites have been especially hot just below the Ford Dam and around the confluence with Minnehaha Creek. Besides walleye, sauger are mixed in heavily, hitting the same baits in the same spots. Catfish—channel, flathead, and the odd blue—are getting downright feisty in the evening. They’re holding to deeper holes and around sunken wood, particularly just below the dams and downstream of main channel bends. According to FishingBooker’s 2025 guide, nightcrawlers and cut bait are the ticket for catfish, while live suckers are drawing out those flatheads. As for lures and bait, jigs tipped with minnows or soft plastics in chartreuse or white have been top producers for walleye and sauger. Crankbaits and blade baits are also getting hit, especially on the drop-offs. For catfish, stick with chicken liver, nightcrawlers, or cut bait. And don’t overlook live bait for flatheads—if you can get a small sucker, toss it near structure. Hot spots today include the stretch just downstream of the Ford Dam, with shore fishing picking up right off Hidden Falls Regional Park. Another favorite is the mouth of Minnehaha Creek; the current seams here have been stacked with feeding fish in the early morning and late evening. Recent catches have been impressive—multiple reports of walleyes in the 20- to 25-inch range, saugers well into the teens, and channel cats pushing 10 pounds or more. Anglers working the evening bite have even picked up the occasional smallmouth bass along riprap banks. That’s your local scoop for Minneapolis’ Mississippi River fishing this weekend. Thanks for tuning in to this report from Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe for your daily bite, and as always, tight lines! This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.