Mississippi River Fishing Report - Minneapolis October 2025

Fishing Report: Mississippi River, Minneapolis – Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Hey, anglers and river rats, it's Artificial Lure, your local fishing pulse, here with the real deal from the banks, backwaters, and bridges of the Mighty Miss in the Cities. Let’s get right to it.

## Weather and Conditions
We’re coming off a stretch of rain and wind that rolled through over the weekend, courtesy of a system that dropped moderate to heavy rain across the Midwest, including the metro area. This week, things are set to dry out—Tuesday morning saw lingering showers, but by this afternoon, skies should start clearing, and this warmer trend should hold through midweek. After these storms, the river’s up from last week’s historically low marks, but don't expect a dramatic boost—the recent rainfall, according to DTN Ag Weather, is just a bump, and water levels are still on the shy side by fall standards. That said, the extra flow has greened up the flats and added some current to the holes, which always gets the bite going.

## Sunrise and Sunset
Sunrise today is right around 7:45 AM, and sunset comes at about 6:30 PM. That means plenty of daylight for exploring your favorite stretches, with prime light at both ends of the day.

## Tidal Report
There are no real tides here on the Upper Mississippi, but we do watch the river flow—right now, that extra runoff is stirring up the channels and giving fish something new to chase. In other words, it’s “turning on” the buffet, and you should be there.

## Fish Activity and Recent Catches
The bite’s been a mixed bag, but if you’re hunting for walleye, smallmouth, and channel cats, you’re in luck. Local folks out after the rain have been pulling in decent numbers of ‘eyes and smallies, especially around structure—laydowns, riprap, and deeper holes where the current breaks. Catfish action has picked up too, thanks to the freshened water and stirred-up bottom. If you’re in the know, you’ve heard about a few pike and even a surprise muskie or two hitting crankbaits in the early morning. No monster reports yet, but plenty of eaters and some solid catches for the stories.

Over on the city side, word on the docks is that panfish—crappie and sunfish—are up shallow in the slackwater eddies, especially near the willows and old pilings. Bring a light jig and a sensitive rod, and you’ll fill a bucket before lunch.

## Best Lures and Bait
If you’re after walleye, stick with classic minnows (shiners have been hot), leeches, or a slow-dragged jig tipped with a fathead. For smallmouth, nothing beats a white or green tube jig, especially with a little current. Topwater plugs have also been getting smacked at first light—buzzbaits and poppers are your best bet if you want to wake up the big guys.

Crappie and panfish? Small jigs under a slip bobber or a tiny grub on a 1/32-ounce jig head. The bait shop regulars swear by waxies and spikes this time of year, but a chunk of worm never hurts.

## Hot Spots
If you’re looking for action, try the downstream side of the Ford Dam—current breaks and eddies here always hold walleye and cats after a rise. Another legendary spot is the stretch from Boom Island north to Camden Bridge—smallmouths stack up along the rocky points and deep cutbanks. For panfish, sneak into the backwaters off Hidden Falls and Crosby—quiet, weedy, and full of crappie right now.

For the adventurous, hit the river mouth at Minnehaha Creek—the extra flow has pushed baitfish in, and the predators are following.

## Etiquette and Safety
Remember, it’s October. Water’s cold, and conditions can change fast. Wear your life jacket, keep an eye on the weather, and let someone know where you’re fishing. Oh, and if you see another angler, give ‘em a nod or a wave—Minnesota nice extends to the river, too.

## Wrap-Up
The river’s waking up after the rain, and the fish are on the feed. Don’t let the calendar fool you—there’s still plenty of good water to fish before the hard freeze. Get out there, try those white tubes, drift a jig, or soak a minnow, and see what the Miss has to offer.

Thanks for tuning in, folks. If you like what

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Fishing Report Mississippi River, Minneapolis, Tuesday, October twenty first, twenty
twenty five. Hey, anglers and river rats, it's artificial war.
Your local fishing pulse here with the real deal from
the banks, backwaters and bridges of the Mighty miss and
the cities. Let's get right to it. Number two Weather

(00:22):
and conditions. We're coming off a stretch of rain and
wind that rolled through over the weekend courtesy of a
system that dropped moderate to heavy rain across the Midwest,
including the metro area. This week, things are set to
dry out. Tuesday mornings saw lingering showers, but by this
afternoon skies should start clearing and this warmer trend should

(00:45):
hold through midweek. After these storms, the river's up from
last week's historically low marks, but don't expect a dramatic boost.
The recent rainfall, according to dtn agwather is just a
bump and water levels are still on the shy side
by fall standards. That said, the extra flow has greened
up the flats and added some current to the holes,

(01:07):
which always gets the bite going. Number five Sunrise and sunset.
Sunrise today is right around seven forty five am, and
sunset comes at about six thirty PM. That means plenty
of daylight for exploring your favorite stretches with prime light
at both ends of the day. Number five tidal report.

(01:28):
There are no real tides here on the Upper Mississippi,
but we do watch the river flow right now. That
extra one off is stirring up the channels and giving
fish something new to chase. In other words, it's turning
on the buffet and you should be there. Tash fish activity.
In recent catches, the bite's been a mixed bag, but
if you're hunting for walleye, small mouth and channel cats

(01:51):
you're in luck. Local folks out after the rain have
been pulling in decent numbers of eyes and smallies, especially
around structure lay downs, rip wrap and deeper holes where
the current breaks. Catfish action is picked up two thanks
to the freshened water and stirred up bottom. If you're
in the know, you've heard about a few pike and
even a surprise musky or two hitting crank baits in

(02:12):
the early morning. No monster reports yet, but plenty of
eaters and some solid catches for the stories over on
the city side. Word on the docks is that panfish
crappy and sunfish are upshallow in the slapwater eddies, especially
near the willows and old pilings. Bring a light jig
in a sensitive rod and you'll fill a bucket before lunch.
For small mouth nothing beats a white or green tube jig,

(02:34):
especially with a little current. Top water plugs have also
been getting smacked at first light. Buzz baits and poppers
are your best bet if you want to wake up
the big guys, crappy and panfish. Small jigs under a
slip bobber or a tiny grub on a one thirty
two ounce jig head. The bait shop regulars swear by
waxies and spikes this time of year, but chunk of
warm never hurts Hot spots. If you're looking for action,

(02:57):
try the downstream side of the four Dam. Current breaks
and eddies here always hold walleye and cats after a rise.
Another legendary spot is the stretch from Boom Island north
to Camden Bridge. Small mouths stack up along the rocky
points and deep cut banks. For panfish, sneak into the
backwaters off hidden falls and crosby, quiet, weedy and full

(03:18):
of crappy. Right now for the adventuress, hit the river
mouth at miny Haha Creek. The extra flow has pushed
bait fish in and the predators are following today etiquette
and safety. Remember it's October, water's cold, and conditions can
change fast. Wear your life jacket, keep an eye on
the weather, and let someone know where you're fishing. Oh

(03:38):
and if you see another angler, give him a nod
or wave. Minnesota nice extends to the river to today.
We shot the river's waking up after the rain and
the fissure on the feet. Don't let the calendar fool you.
There's still plenty of good water to fish before the
hard freeze. Get out there, try those white tubes, drift
the jig or soak amno and see what the mist

(03:59):
has to offer. Thanks for tuning in, folks. If you
like what