Mississippi River - Pools 4, 5, 5a and 6
Whether it’s a spring walleye run, a summer topwater bite for largemouth bass, or early ice bluegill, 2009 will be a great year to fish the Mississippi River. Without a boat, the best places to fish are the fishing floats/barges. With a boat, the entire Mississippi River along Wisconsin ranks very high among the best places to fish in the state. Memory-making adventures can be found whether you’re targeting your favorite species or fishing for “whatever’s biting.” To help ensure success when fishing the river, adapt to the changing conditions such as water level, water temperature, flow and forage location. And please use the fishery resource wisely, follow advice about the number of fish meals you can safely enjoy, support conservation efforts and introduce fishing to someone you’d like to see enjoy fishing as much as you do.
Walleye are one of the most sought after fish on the Mississippi River.
Although the Mississippi River can be intimidating to fish, its mix of backwater lakes, running sloughs, tailwaters and main channel habitats offer spectacular angling opportunities. Varying depth, cover, substrate and flow have anglers anxiously wondering where to start, what to throw, and what they may catch.
Over the years, we’ve sampled the fisheries within the habitat mix. As fish populations and their size structures vary, our sampling techniques allow predictions of fishing success today and into the future. The following highlights a few fish species and provides fishing tips that may help anglers become more successful.
Walleye and Sauger: These species continue to be the most sought after recreational fish on the Mississippi River. There are good numbers of walleye ranging from 15 to 22 inches as well as good numbers of fish below the 15-inch size limit. Sauger can be just as plentiful, ranging from 12 to 18 inches. Predictable locales for sauger occur near the dams in fall, winter and early spring. Walleye tend to concentrate near the dams in the spring, the sloughs in early summer, and wingdams during late summer and fall.
Bluegill: Recent surveys indicate bluegill populations are healthy. Seven-inch and larger bluegill are available to anglers, while surveys also show great numbers of smaller fish waiting to become part of the fishery. Anglers should have no problem finding bluegill in seasonally productive spots. In most cases, bluegill will be found in slack water habitats during the winter, migrating to flowing channel cover during the summer, and returning to backwater habitat in the late fall. Fishing wingdams during summer and fall can also be productive.
Crappie and Yellow Perch: Although crappie and yellow perch populations in the river have been quite stable at lower levels for many years, exceptional fishing can occur. Our netting surveys have shown fair numbers of both species in the 9- to 12-inch range. Both species tend to prefer slightly deeper water with crappie concentrating on wood, while yellow perch prefer vegetation. Slip-bobber/fathead minnow combinations can be deadly for both species during the summer and fall.
Largemouth Bass: Our surveys have shown the largemouth bass population to have dramatically increased over the last few years. The current population of largemouth bass, above and below the 14-inch size limit, is exceptional. There’s no doubt there will be good numbers of legal fish for years to come. Casting to wood and vegetation is almost a no-fail proposition.
Smallmouth Bass: Smallmouth bass are a favorite of many Mississippi River anglers. Good numbers of fish, both above and below the 14-inch size limit, are available. Larger smallmouth bass in the 3- to 5-pound range are not uncommon. Fishing near rock is always a good bet.
White Bass: Many anglers feel the benefits of schooling, hard-hitting white bass. And when white bass work the surface, ferocious strikes can happen time and again in short order. White bass populations are generally good in the Mississippi River, with fish in the 14- to 18-inch range common. Because of their schooling nature and their piscivorous diet, areas that produce white bass may do so for weeks on end during the summer months.
Northern Pike: The northern pike population is currently considered fair. But with fast growth rates and low fishing pressure, decent fishing is still expected. While some inland water bodies produce countless 16 to 20 inch hammer handles, pike on the river are generally larger. Recent surveys have produced pike averaging 27 inches, with 40 inch fish present. Working shoreline cover with spinnerbaits and swim jigs is an effective technique in summer. Pike can also be enticed to the surface with buzzbaits and frogs in open water vegetation. Tip-up fishing in backwaters is effective throughout the winter.
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