Winter Walleye Wonderland: Midwest Fishing Report for Minneapolis Anglers

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things rods and reels on the Mississippi around Minneapolis. It's Friday, January 16th, 2026, and we're lookin' at a prime winter fishin' day on the river—cold snap grippin' us with highs in the low 20s, light snow flurries possible, but that choppy water's callin' the big ones shallow. Sunrise hit at 7:52 AM, sunset's 4:41 PM—short days mean dawn and dusk bites are hot. Fishing Reminder clocks major solunar peaks from 6:52-8:52 AM and 7:03-9:03 PM, minors at 2:24-4:24 PM and 11:21 PM-1:21 AM. No tides up here, but current from Lock and Dam #1 is steady, pushin' baitfish into seams. Fish activity's pickin' up per Outdoor News' Jan 14 report—walleyes hittin' 23-28 feet on Pool 1 breaks, with jumbo perch, northerns, eelpout, and even a 32.5-incher last week. Crappies deep and suspended; smallmouth on midriver rubble. Recent catches: walleyes on fathead-tipped 1/8-1/4 oz jigs or Jigging Raps near inside turns, per Fishing Reminder. Northerns prowlin' weed edges in 8-12 feet on tip-ups. Saugers and pike steady too. Best lures? Jigging Rap or ned rigs for eyes and smallies; glide baits or bucktails for muskies if you're chasin' trophies. Live fatheads or minnows seal the deal in murky water. Tip-ups with shiners for pike. Hit these hot spots: Saint Anthony Falls Upper Lock and Dam for current-huggin' walleyes, or Nicollet Island for smallmouth ambushes. Boom Island's weedlines are northern gold. Bundle up, check ice if venturin' out, and respect regs. 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.