7-day U.S. Geological Survey chart
Recent flow
Discharge
10,600 cfs6,680 cfs
Nov 6Nov 13
Latest reading: 9,980 cfs. Stable over about 6 hours. Chart covers Nov 6 through Nov 13; readings are provisional and may be revised.
Should I go fishing?
Go with caution.
Best option: Floating. A float can fit better than wading only if launches, shuttle, boat skill, wind, and local rules all check out.
Fishing rating62
Rating updatedRiver local time:
Why this recommendation?
USGS shows 9,980 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1989-2026, 38 readings) show a median near 5,580 cfs and a high-water marker near 8,020 cfs; today's flow is above that high-water marker. Treat this as high-water fishing: wading, clarity, crossings, and boat control need a conservative check.
Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationHighCurrent flow, weather, alerts, and trip-critical signals support this decision.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes
If you go
- Check first
- Use the St. Cloud gauge for an upper-river trend. Metro pools need their own flow and safety checks.
- Try
- Pick one reach and one access plan. Do not treat the Mississippi as a single wadeable stream.
- Leave when
- Skip or move to protected water when the river is high, cold, full of debris, windy across open pools, or when dam, barge, or wake conditions exceed the plan.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 9,980 cfs
- Stable over about 6 hoursU.S. Geological Survey may revise this reading
- Air forecast
- 23°F
- Next 24h high
- 38.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 0%
This is an air forecast, not a river-temperature reading.
Latest stored weather check
Mostly Clear
- Wind
- 0 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Mostly Clear
National Weather Service
Mississippi River near St. Cloud
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
Current U.S. Geological Survey gauge: Mississippi River at St. Cloud
Stable over about 6 hoursU.S. Geological Survey may revise this readingObserved
Flies for this time of year
Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.
No pictured fly picks are available for this time of year. Open the seasonal guide below for this river’s recommendations and limits.
See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
April to May
What to look forWarming shallows, early caddis, minnows, crayfish, and pike movement
June to August
What to look forDamselflies, dragonflies, hoppers, cicadas, frogs, and baitfish
Flies to try
PoppersBass and Panfish Popper Patterns→foam hopperGrasshopper Patterns→baitfish streamerBaitfish and Minnow Patterns→
Also try sliders, damselfly nymph
September to October
What to look forCooling-water baitfish, crayfish, late terrestrials, and streamer windows
Cold months
What to look forLimited surface feeding; slower holes and warm afternoons matter most
Flies to try
Slow leechLeech Patterns→jig streamerTrout Streamer Patterns→small baitfishBaitfish and Minnow Patterns→
Also try nymph under indicator
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
More fishing tips
Methods, fish species and trip notes
How to fish Mississippi River today.
Stable, clear-to-stained summer and fall water is the best warmwater fly window. High water can make the river powerful, spread fish out, and turn safe wading into a bad decision.
Stable summer flow
Fish poppers and crayfish around rock, bank seams, islands, and shade.
High water
Use larger streamers near protected edges or choose backwaters. Avoid pushy wading.
Low water
Look for depth, current funnels, and fish that slide off exposed flats.
Cold spring water
Slow streamer retrieves and sunny bank edges can matter before topwater starts.
Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Best access methodFloating
These scores compare the risks of wading, bank fishing, and floating.
Wading27/100
Wading is the most sensitive plan today. Use protected edges only, avoid crossings, and downgrade quickly if clarity or current feels wrong.
Bank fishing44/100
Bank and edge fishing is the safer default when water is high, pushy, or not fully verified.
Floating · Best fit66/100
A float can fit better than wading only if launches, shuttle, boat skill, wind, and local rules all check out.
Full river report
Is Mississippi River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Minnesota before you go.
The Minnesota Mississippi is too big for one generic report. Use this page as a fly-fishing plan for upper and metro warmwater reaches, then confirm the exact pool, rule, flow, and access point.
Fishing words used on this page
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
- A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
- Cubic feet per second (cfs)
- Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
- Nymph
- A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
- Seam
- A seam is the line where fast and slow water meet.
- Caddis
- Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
- Indicator
- An indicator is a small floating marker that can show when a fish takes an underwater fly.
- River reach
- A reach is one named section of a river or stream.
- Soft hackle
- A soft-hackle fly has moving fibers that can look like an insect rising through the water.
- Stained water
- Stained water is darker or cloudier after rain, runoff, or a change in flow.
- Streamer
- A streamer is a fly that looks like a small fish, leech, or other swimming food.
Why this call
Why this score
FlowHurts
USGS shows 9,980 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1989-2026, 38 readings) show a median near 5,580 cfs and a high-water marker near 8,020 cfs; today's flow is above that high-water marker. Treat this as high-water fishing: wading, clarity, crossings, and boat control need a conservative check.
Best mode nowUse caution
Float: A float can fit better than wading only if launches, shuttle, boat skill, wind, and local rules all check out.
SeasonHelps
Fall: Baitfish movement and cooling water create streamer and smallmouth windows.
WeatherHelps
The current NWS air forecast is about 23F, and the next 24-hour high reaches about 38F. Mostly Clear.
Public alertsHelps
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use USGS St. Cloud for upper-river trend context, then check local pool and launch conditions for metro or downstream water. A safe upper-river flow does not automatically describe Pool 2.
Skip or move to protected water when the river is high, cold, full of debris, windy across open pools, or when dam, barge, or wake conditions exceed the plan.
Pick one reach first: upper-river smallmouth, metro warmwater, or Pool 2-style fishing. Then confirm the rule, flow, launch or park, and weather before rigging.
If the Mississippi is high, windy, or rule-complicated, compare the St. Croix for clearer smallmouth water or the Root and Whitewater systems for smaller Driftless trout plans.
Mississippi River access and rules.
Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter.
Before you go
Minnesota fishing rules apply, and Pool 2 has important catch-and-release context for some major sportfish. Check the current rule PDF and reach notes before fishing.
Where to access the river
St. Cloud area
Primary upper-river flow context and a smallmouth-oriented planning base.
Twin Cities and Pool 2
Important warmwater fly context with special-rule and boat-traffic planning.
NPS Mississippi area
Useful for public access, safety, and urban river orientation.
- Large-river access should be chosen from official parks, launches, and water-trail information.
- Some metro reaches have heavy boat, barge, and dam influence. Do not wade or paddle where current and traffic are beyond your plan.
- Pool-specific rules matter. Confirm rules before keeping fish or targeting species near protected seasons.
Sources and report details
Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
See all 6 checked sources
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: This report is maintained from current regulation, access, flow, weather, and public planning sources so anglers can make better trip decisions than a raw gauge or generic overview would allow.
Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.
First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.
Quick questions
What should I check first before fishing the Minnesota Mississippi River?
Check your exact reach, flow, Pool 2 or pool-specific rules, boat traffic, and weather before fishing.
Are there special fishing rules on the Minnesota Mississippi River?
Yes in some reaches. Pool 2 and other waters can have special sportfish rules, so read the current Minnesota rule PDF.
Is the Minnesota Mississippi River a good fly-fishing river?
Yes, if you match the reach, season, target species, water temperature, and current access rules. This report is built to help you choose that plan.
What flies should I bring for the Minnesota Mississippi River?
Bring the hatch-chart flies, confidence nymphs, and a backup streamer or warmwater box so you can adjust to flow, clarity, and temperature.
How should I plan access for the Minnesota Mississippi River?
Use official water trails, parks, and boat launches. Big-river current, dams, and traffic make informal access risky.