Mississippi River Fishing Report: Late Fall Bass & Walleye Tactics for Minneapolis Area

# Artificial Lure's Mississippi River Fishing Report

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure coming to you live on this Saturday morning, November 29th, 2025, with your fishing report for the Minneapolis area and the Mississippi River.

Let me start with what Mother Nature's got in store for us today. We're looking at partly sunny skies with a high near 73 degrees. There's a slight chance of showers between noon and one, then showers and thunderstorms developing after 1 PM. Winds will be calm this morning, then pick up from the south at 5 to 7 miles per hour this afternoon. Overall, a 30 percent chance of precipitation, so bring a rain jacket just to be safe.

Now, here's the real story—the Mississippi River at Winona is flowing at 39,400 cubic feet per second with a gauge height of 6.14 feet. That's about 62 percent of normal, and we're running about 3.67 percent lower than yesterday. For context, flood stage at this location sits between 13 and 18 feet, so we're well below any concerns. The streamflow average over the past ten days has been holding steady around 46,310 cfs.

As for fish activity, the water temps are still running cool, which means the bass and walleye are going to be a bit sluggish but definitely feedable. According to Major League Fishing experts, when water temperatures dip into the low 50s like we're seeing this time of year, you'll want to focus on slower presentations near the bottom.

Here's what's been working: A half-ounce Strike King Red Eye Shad in shades of red or crawfish colors is a solid choice for these conditions. Fish it near the bottom with short hops or drags rather than burning it through the water column. If you've got clear water—and the Mississippi near Minneapolis tends to be reasonably clear—a suspending jerkbait like the Strike King KVD Deep 300 will get you strikes. Use Crystal Shad colors for maximum visibility. Don't overlook a good structure jig either, especially if you find muddy patches. Green pumpkin works great in clearer sections.

I'd recommend focusing on two hot spots: First, the area around Lock and Dam Number 5, where the current breaks and structure concentrate both baitfish and predators. Second, check out the deeper holes and channel ledges along the main river navigation channel—walleye especially hold tight to these transition zones in late fall.

Thanks for tuning in to the report, folks. Don't forget to subscribe for daily updates on river conditions and fish activity. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.

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