Despite runoff and frequent rains, Mississippi River water temps are still hovering in the mid-50s signaling actively spawning walleyes and tough bite best suited to fishing with jigs, stinger hooks, and fatheads on the Mississippi – from the head of Pool 2 at Friday down through Pool 3 between Hastings and Prescott, and then Pool 4 below Red Wing and onto Lake Pepin. Night anglers are getting some bigger fish at night casting stickbaits around wingdams and shallow sand/gravel, but fish have been spawning in waves, the females slinking off to deeper areas with no current to recuperate and the males feeding when tempted enough right in the face.
Saturday, May 4th, marks the Wisconsin Opener so we’ll report more about the St. Croix bite next week – where the water is running cool, clean, but still somewhat cool. If Stillwater through Prescott is your destination, pack jigs and minnows, but don’t discount slow trolling crankbaits at various depths to find pods active fish.
As usual, with the rivers, expect to catch numerous species in one day, with willing white bass, drum (sheepshead), channel and flathead catfish — and all kinds of “rough” fish like redhorse suckers and carp, which makes fishing with kids a hoot. In the river you never know what you’re going to catch.
There are lots of areas where shore fishing is not only possible, but productive, too – from Coon Rapids Dam, to Hidden Falls (Minnehaha Park) that divides Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as the chain of Minneapolis Lakes (Nokomis, Harriet, Lake of the Isles, Calhoun, etc.). Fish weekdays, early mornings, evenings, and night to get away from busy public docks and easements this time of year.
Crappie fishing is still going on Lake Minnetonka – and lakes to the northeast along the Snake River watershed and points in between – with fish moving in and out from shallow bays to slightly deeper water depending on the weather. They’re around and catchable. Lakes just south of the Twin Cities are producing crappies, too.
And with Opener next weekend, the metro will come alive with bass fishing where there are some good opportunities. A rod with a spinnerbait or ChatterBait and a second rod with a wacky worm is a good way to cover water, locate fish, and dial in bites.
Check out Vados Bait on Central Avenue between Hwy 10 and 394 (away from traffic and downtown) for everything you need for fishing the Twin Cities metro, even on your way headed north to ensure you arrive with good, fresh bait.