For Eden Prairie, Minnesota today, I’d start with a search bait and a confidence bait combo 🎣
Given the late spring timing, 83°F, clear sky, and only steady pressure, fish are likely comfortable but a bit picky in bright conditions. The SE wind at 13.9 mph is enough to create some chop, and that usually helps by pushing bait and giving fish a little cover. With sunrise at 5:31 AM and sunset at 8:50 PM, your best windows are first light and the last hour before dark.
My top pick today
Use a squarebill crankbait or a topwater walking bait to cover water quickly:
- If you’re fishing shallow rock, wood, docks, or riprap, throw a squarebill in shad, bluegill, or perch colors.
- If you have wind-blown bank access or low-light conditions, a walking topwater can be money for aggressive bass.
A great fit from your available options is the SquareGil 4" crankbait. Its bluegill profile is especially useful in many Minnesota lakes where bluegill are a major forage base. That’s a sneaky-good choice when bass are cruising shallow in late spring.
How I’d fish it
- Squarebill: Cast it tight to cover and deflect it off objects. Bumps and stalls trigger bites.
- Topwater: Work it with walk-the-dog cadence, but pause longer if fish follow and miss.
- Speed: In this weather, start moderate, then speed up if fish are active in the wind.
If the bite is tougher than expected
Shift to a soft plastic and slow down:
- Wacky rig around docks and shade
- Texas-rigged worm in weeds or pockets
- Fluke if you see baitfish activity but bass won’t fully commit
If you want one lure to tie on first, make it the SquareGil 4" crankbait and work the wind-blown banks. If you want a second rod ready, rig a walking topwater for dawn and dusk. The fish are there — now you just need to make them mad enough to eat 😄
