Winter Walleyes, Smallies, and Pike on the Minneapolis Mississippi

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for anglin' on the Mississippi River right here in Minneapolis. It's a crisp winter mornin' on January 18, 2026, 'round 8:24 AM—expect highs in the low 20s°F with light northwest winds at 5-10 mph, mostly sunny skies, perfect for bundlin' up and hittin' the water without too much chill factor. Sunrise was at 7:52 AM, sunset at 4:52 PM, givin' ya solid daylight windows. No tides on this stretch, but FishingReminder clocks today's major bite times from 6:52-8:52 AM, 7:03-9:03 PM, and minors at 2:24-4:24 PM plus 11:21 PM-1:21 AM under a First Quarter Moon at 61% visibility—fish are feedin' steady 'specially at dawn and dusk. River's runnin' clear with some ice edges meltin' off, water temps hoverin' low 30s°F. Recent reports from FishingReminder show hot action in Pool 1: walleye stackin' on 10-18 ft breaks and inside turns, smallmouth bass hittin' current seams and midriver rubble, northern pike prowin' green weeds, crappies in mid-depth basins, even muskies improvin' on deeper spots. Anglers been pullin' limits—dozens of eater walleyes up to 20 inches, smallies 2-4 lbs, pike to 8 lbs, slabs of crappie, and a few muskies followin' bait clouds. Best lures? For walleye, 1/8-1/4 oz jigs tipped with fatheads or Jigging Raps. Smallmouth love ned rigs and 3-4" swimbaits bounced off bottom. Pike tear up spinnerbaits burned over weeds; crappies slam small hair jigs or plastics under a float. Live bait shines—fatheads, minnows, or shiners for commitment bites. Add scent post-turnover for short strikes. Hot spots: Saint Anthony Falls Upper Lock and Dam for current-huggin' smallies and walleyes, and Boom Island or Nicollet Island for easy access pike and crappie hangs—watch regs, ice is iffy. Bundle up, fish safe, and get after 'em! 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.