Winter Walleye and Perch on the Mississippi

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things fishin' on the Mississippi River right here in Minneapolis. It's a crisp winter mornin' on January 23rd, 2026, and we're talkin' ice fishin' season in full swing. Weather's holdin' steady with highs around 25°F, light snow flurries possible, winds calm at 5-10 mph from the northwest—perfect for bundlin' up and drillin' holes without freezin' your toes off. Sunrise kicked off at 7:48 AM, sunset's at 5:12 PM, givin' ya about 9 hours of daylight to chase bites. No tides on this river stretch, but the Farmers' Almanac marks today as a worst day for fishin' durin' the quarter moon phase—fish are sluggish, so work slow and deep. Fish activity's been spotty with the cold snap, but recent reports show solid walleye and perch hauls through the ice, plus some sauger and crappies mixin' in. Anglers pulled limits of 12-15 inch perch last week near the locks, and a few 20+ inch walleyes on tip-ups. PFAS advisories are out from the Minnesota Department of Health—eat 'em sparin'ly, especially if you're pregnant or a kid. Best lures right now? Jiggin' with glow spoons like the Northland Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon in 1/8 oz for perch, tipped with a minnow head. For walleye, try a heavy Lindy rig with a #3-5 glow jig below a slip bobber, deadstickin' it. Live bait's king: medium fathead minnows or wax worms on a quickstrike rig. Go deep, 15-25 feet off the bottom in 20-30 foot holes. Hot spots? Hit the area below Lock and Dam No. 1—current breaks hold walleye. Or try the deeper flats near Harriet Island for perch schools. Stay safe on the ice, at least 8-10 inches thick now. Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more reports! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.