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Minneapolis calls itself the City of Lakes, and it is not exaggerating. More than 20 fishable lakes sit inside city limits, glacial lakes ringed by parks, bike paths, and neighborhoods, holding species that most cities would kill for. Muskie. Northern pike. Walleye. Largemouth bass. Crappie. Bluegill. All within biking distance of downtown, all with walk-on shore access, all in a city that treats its lakes like the public treasures they are.
The Chain of Lakes, Bde Maka Ska (the largest), Lake Harriet, Lake of the Isles, Cedar Lake, and Lake Nokomis, forms the spine of the urban fishery. The Mississippi River runs through the east side of the city, holding walleye, sauger, smallmouth bass, and channel catfish below the Ford Dam. And the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board manages it all with stocking programs, fishing piers, and free fishing clinics.
This is the Land of 10,000 Lakes. The fishing starts inside the city limits.
The Chain of Lakes: Muskie, Pike, and Bass
The Chain of Lakes is a series of interconnected glacial lakes in southwest Minneapolis, all surrounded by parkland with paved trails, fishing piers, and walk-on bank access. No private shoreline. No gated communities. Just public water in public parks.
Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun)
The largest lake in Minneapolis at 401 acres. Holds tiger muskie (DNR-stocked hybrid muskellunge), northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, crappie, and bluegill. The lake's clear water and diverse structure, weed beds, drop-offs, and rocky points, create habitat for everything from panfish to apex predators.
Muskie: Tiger muskie up to 50 inches have been caught in Bde Maka Ska. Cast large bucktails, bulldawgs, or jerkbaits along the weed edges and drop-offs. Muskie fishing is a patience game, they are called the fish of 10,000 casts for a reason. But when one hits, it is the catch of a lifetime.
Northern pike: Active and aggressive in the weed beds. Cast spinnerbaits, spoons, or large soft plastics along the lily pads and submerged vegetation. Pike in the city lakes run 24 to 36 inches.
Largemouth bass: Senko worms, topwater frogs, and spinnerbaits along the shoreline structure. Bass average 1 to 3 pounds.
Access: Multiple fishing piers around the lake. Walk-on from the Bde Maka Ska trail. Bike-accessible from the Midtown Greenway. Canoe and kayak launch available.
Lake Harriet
A 335-acre lake south of Bde Maka Ska. Known for consistent panfish (bluegill, crappie) and walleye in the deeper holes. Northern pike in the weed beds. Quieter and less crowded than Bde Maka Ska.
Walleye: Jig-and-minnow or Lindy rigs fished near the deeper structure at dawn and dusk.
Panfish: Small jigs, wax worms, or Beetle Spins near the fishing piers and weed edges. Excellent for kids and beginners.
Lake Nokomis
A 204-acre lake in south Minneapolis. Largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish, and northern pike. The lake has good shoreline access and a fishing pier. Less muskie pressure than Bde Maka Ska.
Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles
Smaller lakes connected to the chain by channels. Cedar Lake is managed for largemouth bass and muskie with carry-in access for canoes and kayaks. Lake of the Isles holds northern pike, panfish, and muskie.
Fishing Muskie and Bass in the Heart of the Twin Cities Twin Cities Man Catches Near-Record Muskie on Bde Maka SkaThe Mississippi River: Walleye and Smallmouth
The Mississippi River flows through the eastern side of Minneapolis, passing through a gorge below St. Anthony Falls and through a series of lock and dam pools. The river below the Ford Dam (Pool 1 to Pool 2) holds walleye, sauger, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and flathead catfish. Pool 2, from the Ford Dam south to the Hastings Dam, is considered the best walleye and sauger water in the Twin Cities metro.
Where on the Mississippi
Below Ford Dam (Pool 2): The tailwater below the dam concentrates walleye and sauger, especially in spring and fall. Walk-on access from Hidden Falls Regional Park and Crosby Farm Regional Park on the south bank.
Boom Island (Northeast Minneapolis): Riprap banks and park shoreline provide easy access to the river. Smallmouth bass, walleye, and channel catfish hold along the rocky structure. Walk-on from Boom Island Park.
St. Anthony Falls area: The falls themselves are a barrier, fishing is best below them in the gorge section. Walk-on access is limited but available from riverside parks.
Mississippi River Techniques
Walleye (below dams): Jig-and-minnow (1/4 to 3/8 ounce) bounced along the rocky bottom in the current seams below the dam. Fish at dawn and dusk for best results. Blade baits jigged vertically in the deeper pools.
Smallmouth bass: Tubes, Ned rigs, and small crankbaits worked along the rocky banks and current breaks. The Mississippi smallmouth are strong fish, the current makes them fight harder than lake fish.
Channel catfish: Cut shad or chicken liver on a bottom rig in the deeper pools. Every section of the river holds catfish.
Shore Fishing for Minneapolis Metro Muskie Epic 2024 MN Muskie Fishing Opener, 2 Muskies Caught in Minneapolis MetroFishing Licence and Regulations
Minnesota fishing licence: Required for anyone 16+. Resident annual $25. Nonresident annual $51. 24-hour licence: $12 resident, $14 nonresident.
Walleye: Daily limit 6. Minimum 15 inches on most waters. Season opens early May (check MN DNR for exact date).
Muskie/tiger muskie: Daily limit 1. Minimum 54 inches on most metro waters. Catch-and-release strongly encouraged.
Northern pike: Daily limit 3 on most metro lakes. Check MN DNR for specific lake regulations.
Largemouth/smallmouth bass: Year-round catch-and-release season. Possession season typically opens late May. Daily limit 6.
Important: Minneapolis city lakes each have specific regulations. Check the MN DNR LakeFinder tool for the exact rules on each lake before fishing.
When to Fish
May-June (Late Spring): Walleye opener in early May, the first big event of the season. Bass catch-and-release all spring. Northern pike active in the weed beds. Crappie spawn in the shallows.
July-August (Summer): Muskie become most active in warm water, summer is prime muskie season. Topwater bass early and late. Panfish peak. Fish early morning before the lakes fill with swimmers and paddleboarders.
September-October (Fall): The best all-around season. Muskie feed heavily before winter. Walleye push below the Ford Dam. Bass and pike aggressive. Comfortable temperatures.
November-March (Winter): Ice fishing is a Minnesota tradition. The city lakes freeze and anglers set up on the ice for panfish, walleye, and pike. Check ice conditions and local regulations. The Mississippi River typically does not freeze.
Practical Details
Getting there: Bike. Minneapolis has one of the best urban bike trail systems in America, and the Chain of Lakes trail connects every lake in the system. Metro Transit buses reach most lakes. Free parking at all parks. The Midtown Greenway connects downtown to Bde Maka Ska.
Gear that travels: A two-piece 7-foot medium spinning rod covers bass, walleye, pike, and panfish across all the city lakes. For muskie, you need heavy gear, a 7'6" to 8' heavy rod with 50- to 80-pound braid and a steel leader. Muskie fishing is specialized, you will not catch one on a bass rod.
Tackle shops: Thorne Bros Custom Rods & Tackle (Fridley, muskie specialist, the Twin Cities' go-to), Cabela's (Rogers, north metro), Bass Pro Shops (Shakopee, south metro).
For more Midwest urban fishing, see urban fishing in Milwaukee (Lake Michigan salmon from shore), urban fishing in Chicago (salmon and perch on the lakefront), or urban fishing in Indianapolis (Eagle Creek crappie). For Minnesota's North Shore, read our Duluth fishing guide.
Sharing the water: Minneapolis city lakes are heavily used in summer, swimmers, paddleboarders, kayakers, and sailboats. Fish early morning (before 8 AM) or evening (after 6 PM) to avoid conflicts and catch fish during the low-light feeding windows.
