Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Mississippi River fishing report for March 16, 2025.

The weather's looking decent today in Minneapolis, with partly cloudy skies and highs around 45°F. Sunrise was at 7:23 AM and sunset will be at 7:18 PM. No tides to worry about on our mighty river, but water levels are running a bit high after some recent rains.

Fish activity has been picking up as we transition into spring. Walleye and sauger are still the main targets, with some nice catches reported below the dams. A few early season crappies are starting to show up in the backwaters too.

Last week, anglers were having good luck with walleye in the 15-20 inch range, along with some bonus sauger. Most folks are using jigs tipped with minnows or soft plastics. For crappies, small jigs under a bobber have been the ticket.

As for lures, I'd recommend having some jigs in the 1/8 to 3/8 oz range, along with some crankbaits like Rapala Shad Raps or Flicker Shads. Don't forget some live bait - fathead minnows and nightcrawlers are always good options this time of year.

For hot spots, I'd suggest trying below the Ford Dam or around the pilings of the Stone Arch Bridge. The mouth of Minnehaha Creek has been producing some nice walleye too.

Remember to bundle up and be safe out there. The water's still mighty cold if you take an unexpected swim. Tight lines, everyone!