Artificial Lure here with your Saturday, November 8th fishing report for the Mississippi River in and around Minneapolis.

Sunrise came at 6:56 AM this morning and we'll see sunset at 4:52 PM, giving us a solid eight hours to wet a line. The early November chill is in full swing—overnight lows dipped to the mid-30s, and today's high will hover near 54°F. Last night’s NEXT Weather forecast from CBS Minnesota warned about a clipper system brushing the region with scattered clouds, but snow is more likely to miss us and land northward[10]. So expect cool, gray skies and light winds—near perfect for river fishing. Water temps are dropping steadily, sitting in the mid-40s, and falling leaves mean clarity improves but also give us floating debris to watch out for.

There’s no true tidal activity on this inland stretch of the Mississippi, but water levels remain steady and clear after recent dry spells. The river is running normal for early November, ideal for targeting late fall transitions.

Best fishing times today per SolunarForecast.com are the minor window at dawn from 6:26 to 7:26 AM, and the major bite from 1:26 to 3:26 PM this afternoon. Fish are showing a typical late fall feeding pattern: less topwater commotion, more hugging structure, and moving deeper. If you’re chasing numbers, expect the action to peak at midday. The day rating for angling is “Better”—not red hot, but enough activity to keep your rod bent[7].

Recent catches in our stretch have been textbook autumn: excellent walleye and smallmouth action, along with channel and flathead catfish, northern pike, and the occasional muskie. Local reports this week note walleye in the 15 to 24-inch range—best numbers from the Ford Dam area to Minnehaha Falls. Smallies continue biting well on rocky edges and bridge pilings, most fish averaging 12 to 16 inches. Catfish remain consistent, especially on deeper holes below dams.

Top Lures and Baits:
- Jigging is king right now. Blade baits, Rippin Raps, jigging spoons, and classic hair jigs are all putting up numbers—BBC Boards folks are loading their boats with these and Huddleston-style soft swimbaits[2].
- For bass, Shad Raps, jerkbaits, and drop-shot plastics stand out. Rippin Raps and Shad Raps in natural shad or perch colors can’t be beat. Go slow on the retrieve and tip with minnow or crawler bits if the bite’s tough.
- Catfish are hitting best on cut bait—sucker and chub chunks have been most productive—or on stinkbait for the channel cats.
- Pike and muskie anglers should stick to flashy spinnerbaits or jointed crankbaits, working slack water near creek mouths or dying weedlines.

Hot Spots:
- **Ford Dam tailwaters:** classic November walleye and catfish zone, especially midday, work deeper jigging presentations near seams and eddies.
- **Below Minnehaha Creek mouth:** smallmouth bass and the odd northern pike are cruising rocky drop-offs and submerged timber.
- **Boom Island Park shoreline and pylons:** reliable for mixed bag action—try here for everything from panfish to predatory species, especially if you want room to cast and easy shore access.

With deer season in swing, keep in mind many river-access trails may have closures for the rifle hunt. According to Minnesota DNR, several nearby OHV trails lock up starting today, so double-check access if you’re hauling in by ATV or walking in from state land[4]. Bank anglers have plenty of public park options, just bring layers and watch those frosty riverbanks!

All in all, today’s shaping up to be a solid late-fall outing. Focus on deeper holes, fish slow, and swap out baits for the morning or midday bite windows. The river’s serving up steady fish for those willing to put in their time—so bundle up, grab your best jigs, and work those drop-offs.

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