Winter Walleye and Perch Bonanza on the Mighty Mississippi

As of December 6, 2024, the fishing scene on the Mississippi River, particularly around the Minneapolis area, is quite promising despite the chilly winter conditions. ### Weather and Water Conditions The weather in Minneapolis is cold, with temperatures ranging from around 0°C to -13°C, and there is light snow with partly sunny conditions. The wind is moderate, around 39-59 km/h[3]. The water temperature in Pool 4 of the Mississippi River is around 38-40 degrees Fahrenheit, which is typical for this time of year. The water clarity is about 2-3 feet, and the flow is relatively low due to the current pool levels[1][4]. ### Fish Activity The Walleye and Sauger bite is in full swing. These fish are scattered throughout the channel but can be found in higher concentrations in the upper part of Lake Pepin and the northern areas of Pool 4. Vertical jigging, dragging jigs, and using Dubuque rigs have been highly effective. For Panfishing, areas like the dam in Pool 5 are producing good numbers of Perch and some scattered Walleyes[1]. ### Best Lures and Bait For Walleye and Sauger, plastics are the go-to choice, especially Berkley plastics such as curly bones, bonefish, ribworms, and ripple shads. Colors like white ice, greens, and purples have been working well, depending on the cloud cover. For Perch, small jigs and drop shot rigs tipped with a piece of crawler or minnow are recommended[1]. ### Hot Spots - The upper part of Lake Pepin and the northern areas of Pool 4 are hot spots for Walleye and Sauger. - The dam area in Pool 5 is excellent for Perch and some Walleyes. - Areas with current seams and small flats towards the dam are also productive[1]. ### Sunrise and Sunset Sunrise today is around 7:30 AM, and sunset is approximately 4:30 PM, giving you a good window to get out on the water. Overall, the conditions are stable, and the fish are hungry, making it a great time to hit the Mississippi River for some winter fishing. Just make sure to bundle up against the cold. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.