THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
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If there ever was a "fishin' hole" crying
for more anglers, it would be the mighty Mississippi
River which forms the western border of Illinois and
glides along the entire length of the state.
You name it and the "Father of Waters" has
it. Walleyes, northern pike and sauger swim in the northern
stretches. Crappies, plump bluegills, largemouth bass
and bullheads are caught in the myriad of backwater
lakes and sloughs. Channel catfish are found virtually
everywhere, and white bass fisheries explode at times. |
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An unsuspecting fisherman might even hook into a huge sturgeon
or snag a giant paddlefish that would most likely swim off with
hook, line and sinker. In thumbing through the list of state record
fish, one will notice the Mississippi has yielded five of those
fish, including a 157-pound alligator gar in 1944. This species
is exceedingly rare in the state. Other record fish from this great
stream are a five-pound, 12-ounce sauger, a 48-pound buffalo, a
57-pound, two-ounce large sturgeon and a 52-pound paddlefish which
was landed in 1977.
There are two sections to the Mississippi as its flows through
Illinois. The upper portion between Alton and East Dubuque near
the Wisconsin border consists of a series of reservoirs formed by
14 navigation dams. These pools range from 10 to 47 miles in length
and from 3,725 to 33,500 acres in size. In all, some 200,000 acres
of water are available for sport fishing in this stretch.
The portion of the river from Alton to Cairo
provides 61,266 acres of water. There are no locks and dams
on this stretch of the river which is better characterized
as open river with wing dams, side channels, main channel,
main channel border and extensive rip rap along the channel
banks for protection.
Tailwater areas below each of the roller dams provide fast,
turbulent water which stirs up food and attracts game fish.
The best walleye and sauger fishing occurs behind these dams
in spring and fall. White bass fishing also can be excellent
there at times. |
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The upper pools are loaded with beautiful island-studded lakes
and sloughs. Many of these areas have little current and exhibit
aquatic vegetation. In this type of habitat, which includes stump
fields and flooded brush, anglers make fine catches of bluegills,
crappies, largemouth bass and bullheads. When winter comes, ice
fisher-men also dig holes in these spots. Fishing success depends
on conditions of the river.
Side channels also are good fishing spots. They may be as wide
and as deep as the main channel or may be shallow enough to resemble
slough habitat. During normal water stages, these side channels
do have currents in them. Fish commonly caught there are channel
catfish, white bass, panfish and drum.
Dropoffs from the flats and shallow water to the main channel are
good spots for channel cat. Wing dams along the main channel area
in this border habitat are excellent fishing areas for white bass,
channel catfish, drum, sauger and walleyes. Wing dams are relics
of an early attempt to control the Mississippi. Many were constructed
in the late 1800's to control erosion and divert the current. Consisting
of rock anf filler, they mostly run at right angles from the shore,
and their visibility to the boater depends on the stage of the river.
The dams usually extend for some distance and have various shapes.
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Emergent dams provide fast flowing waters at their riverward
end. When submerged or partially submerged at higher river
stages, they appear to cause a riffle effect in the water.
At the riverward ends and immediately downstream of the dikes,
deep scour holes often can be found.
In the upper pools, anglers troll above these wing dams and
pick up walleyes in late fall, winter and spring. It takes
some boat-handling skills to control the speed and proper
depth of the lure along these dams.
Other fishermen may wade out on these dams during low water
periods and score consistently on channel catfish and white
bass.
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Essentially, the river changes from a walleye fishery in the north
to a catfish hotspot in the south. The river widens and becomes
more turbid the farther south it goes, especially below St. Louis,
Mo., where the Missouri River joins it.
Launching ramps are found in virtually every town located along
the river in the 14 navigation pools and at state and federal public
use areas. Access is very limited in the stretch below Alton. Motels
also are located in larger towns along the stream.
The walleye and sauger fishery extends about as far south as Lock
21 at Quincy, but pools north of that are considered hotspots. Wing
dams in Pool 12 in Jo Daviess County are excellent spots as is the
tailwater below Lock and Dam 12 at Bellevue, Iowa. Lock and Dam
17 at New Boston also is heavily fished for these species.
Southern reaches of the river produce excellent catches
of channel catfish. The side channels and rip rap areas
from Monroe to Alexander County, about a 160-mile stretch,
is good as is the tailwaters and shoreline areas below
Lock and Dam 26 at Alton. Good catches also have been
made recently in the Thomson Slough area on Pool 19
near Dallas City and the O'Dell Chute in Adams County.
Let's look more closely at some of the sloughs and
lakes on each pool that traditionally have been good
fish producers, keeping in mind that the wing dams and
tailwaters will produce almost anytime. |
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Excellent panfishing, bass and bullhead action can be found on
Switzer, Frentress, Fishtrap, Sunfish and Perchangs lake of Pool
12. Kehough and Crooked Sloughs also are good areas.
On the long Pool 12 panfishing hotspots should be Hickory and Miller's
Lakes across from Mississippi Palisades State Park where there is
excellent camping facilities and at Pin Oak Lake. Other good fishing
can be found at Spring Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Potter's Slough
south of Thomson and the borrow pit and lake above the dam.
Sunfish, Marais D'Osier, Schricker and Steamboat Sloughs are good
spots on Pool 14 around the Fulton, Albany and Cordova areas, and
on the short Pool 15 the lateral dike and tailwaters are good.
On Pool 16, Sylvan Slough north of Rock Island and Lock and Dam
15 is a good crappie and white bass spot. Farther downstream, Andalusia
and Sunfish Sloughs, Goose Pond and Velie Chute can be hotspots.
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On Pool 17 below Muscatine, Iowa, Blanchard
and Bogus Islands provide good bass, bluegill and crappie
habitat, and on Pool 18 some fine fishing can be enjoyed
at Bell's Pocket and Boston Bay above New Boston, the Keithsburg
Refuge and Spring Slough and the Benton Chute a bit north
of Oquawka. Good camping opportunities also are available
on this pool at New Boston, Putney's Landing, Delabar State
Park and the Big River State Forest.
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Pool 19 may be the best largemouth bass pool on the Mississippi,
because of its size and diverse structure and habitats. The sloughs
around Shokokin and Burlington Island and Thomson Slough above Dallas
City would be worth probing as would creek mouths below Nauvoo and
above Lock and Dam 19.
There are a number of islands on Pool 20 between Hamilton and Meyer,
but better opportunities lie on Pool 21 between Meyer and Quincy.
If you listed good fish producing areas, you would have to include
Bear Creek, Corner Slough, Long Island, Quincy Bay and Willow Slough.
There are seven launch sites and four camping areas on Pool 21.
Pools 22 and 24 (there is no Pool 23) are virtually void of towns
on the Illinois side. Texas and the Beebe Island Chutes and Sny
Slough are good spots near the Illinois shore. Access is available
at Lock and Dam 21 and at the John Hay area across from Hannibal,
Mo. Pleasant Hill near Lock and Dam 24 is about the only ramp located
on Pool 24. The water above the dam is a good fishing spot.
On Pool 25, the Clarksville, Carrol and Dog Island Chutes between
Pleasant Hill and the Rip Rap Landing public use area north of Mozier
produce as does Gilead Slough a bit south and Prairie and Dixon
pond areas north of Batchtown. Seven ramps are located along this
pool.
On Pool 26, Pohlman's Slough, just above Grafton where the Illinois
River flows into the Mississippi, is a good fishing spot, as are
other backwaters in the area. The Piasa Island Chute above Alton
also is a good fishing spot.
One couldn't discuss the Mississippi River without mentioning safety.
Barges are constantly moving up and down the stream and should be
avoided. Wing dams also can be dangerous at certain times, so caution
should be used in moving about. Locks and dams are popular fishing
spots, but they also can be very dangerous. Per-sons should stay
at least 200 yards downstream or 200 yards up-stream of these areas.
A heavy, solid anchor on a strong rope at least 50 yards in length
should be used to hold your craft near the navigation dams.
Play it safe when fishing the Mississippi.
Wear a life jacket at all times!
