Wintertime Walleye and Sauger on the Mississippi River near Minneapolis

As of December 14, 2024, the fishing scene on the Mississippi River near Minneapolis is looking promising despite the chilly winter conditions. Here’s what you need to know for a successful day on the water. ### Weather and Sunrise/Sunset Today, expect partly cloudy skies with temperatures ranging from the mid-20s to low 30s Fahrenheit. Sunrise was at around 7:30 AM, and sunset will be at approximately 4:30 PM. The weather is stable, with no significant precipitation forecasted, which should keep the water conditions clear. ### Tidal Report Since the Mississippi River does not experience significant tidal changes this far upstream, tidal reports are not a factor in your fishing plans. The river's flow and levels are more influenced by dam operations and runoff. ### Fish Activity The Walleye and Sauger bite has been strong in the recent weeks. Yesterday saw a good number of quality fish up to 21 inches being caught. The fish are scattered throughout the river but tend to congregate around structural elements like wing dams, rock shorelines, and wood. ### Best Lures and Bait For Walleye and Sauger, vertical jigging, dragging jigs, and using Dubuque rigs have been highly effective. Berkley plastics, particularly curly bones, bonefish, and ribworms, are top choices. Colors such as white ice, greens, and purples have been performing well, depending on the cloud cover. No live bait is recommended this time of year; plastics have been working exceptionally well. ### Hot Spots Focus your efforts on the northern part of Pool 4, especially from the upper part of Lake Pepin and northwards. Wabasha is also a strong spot for Walleye. For Panfish, including Perch, the area up towards the dam in Pool 5 has been producing good numbers. Use small jigs and drop shots for the Perch, fished vertically. ### Additional Tips Water temperatures are around 38-40 degrees Fahrenheit, with 2-3 feet of clarity. The pool level is low, resulting in reduced flow, so the fish can be found scattered throughout the channel. Use your electronics, such as Lowrance side imaging, to locate schools of fish. Overall, it's a great time to be out on the Mississippi River near Minneapolis, with plenty of active fish and clear water conditions. Dress warm and enjoy the day This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.