More than 119 species of fish call the waters of the Mississippi River home.
Whether fishing for sport, fun or food, there's something for everyone, but there are some things to know before readying your poles. Here are some highlights of what you might find on the end of your line:
There are 10 species of catfish in the Mississippi that fall into three families: blue, channel and flathead.
Blue and flathead catfish can grow to more than 100 pounds, but channel catfish rarely exceed 30 pounds.
Colors vary with age and environmental factors, but they can best be identified by their mouths. Blue catfish, which are less commonly found in the Mississippi, have an overbite, while flatheads have an underbite, with the lower jaw extending past the upper jaw, and channel catfish have even jaw lines.
Flatheads are the preferred catch for Burlington resident and longtime fisherman Jake Steffensmeier.
“You never know how big it’s going to be. It could be 2 pounds, it could be 50,” Steffensmeier said.
The largest he's caught weighed about 20 pounds.
The fish don't have scales and, like cats of the feline sort, have whiskers.
Catfish usually prefer to spend their youth along the bottom or near habitats provided by wing dams, log jams and anything else that could snag your line, waiting for unsuspecting prey and dead things to come close enough they can suck them in. As they grow older, they require a more varied diet and occasionally they can be seen rolling just beneath the water's surface.
They're most active during rising water levels.
The worse bait smells, the more catfish like it, which is why people often purchase stink bait or make their own using things like chicken liver, old cheese and peanut butter with which to fish. Though not nearly as smelly, worms and lures also can be used.
Carp are giant minnows.
There are several species that live in the waters of the Mississippi River.
Grass carp can grow to more than 85 pounds, silver carp can grow up to 60 pounds and bighead carp can grow up to 100 pounds. Brought to the U.S. to control invasive plant species and zooplankton, these fish became a nuisance themselves, out-competing other filter feeders for food.
Because they feed on zooplankton, they're best caught by snagging, though they occasionally will bite on bait meant for other fish.
Common carp, which can grow up to 90 pounds, have naturalized into nearly all waters since they were brought to the U.S. from Europe more than 100 years ago. Like their Asian carp cousins, they're considered a nuisance fish because their feeding habits make life more difficult for native species, but, according to the National Park Service, they don't do as much damage as Asian carp.
“It can take a long time to reel them in. They can get quite big,” Steffensmeier said.
Common carp love mucky, muddy waters and are best caught when the river is rising using worms or dough balls for bait, though they sometimes bite on other baits.
Hoping the chicken liver on his hook would attract a good-sized flathead, Steffensmeier hooked a common carp.
It was a struggle to reel in the fish. He's not sure how long it took to bring in, but it did break his pole.
As their name implies, largemouth bass are equipped with a large mouth, which allows them to feast on an array of food including fish, frogs, crayfish, insects and small animals and birds that fall into the water.
Because of their tendency to lunge at anything that moves, they make for an exciting catch.
“It’s the action. They fight back more,” Steffensmeier said.
Live bait, such as night crawlers, are ideal, but lures also can be used. Those hoping to catch a largemouth bass will have the best luck by slowly jerking their line once the bait reaches the bottom.
Largemouth bass prefer quiet waters, such as those in lakes, ponds and calm rivers and streams as well as the sloughs and backwaters of the Mississippi River. They also hang out in the main channel near stabilization structures and revetments.
The best time to catch these fish is during the fall, after water temperature has cooled but before it falls below 50 degrees.
Once the fish is hooked, you'll have to work to reel them in.
A popular fish among anglers, especially wading anglers, crappie are small and scrappy.
They rarely exceed 2 pounds and have delicate mouths that can tear easily when settling the hook.
They hang out in groups in shallow waters near plants and structures such as docks in spring, when spawning takes place, and fall, when cooler temperatures cause them to feed more aggressively. During the summer, crappie favor deeper waters to escape the heat.
“You can catch them in mass quantities if you find the right spot,” Steffensmeier said.
Because of their light weight and catchability, crappie can make for a good catch for children.
Worms, jigs and lures are ideal for catching these fish, though they'll investigate most anything small that falls on the water's surface.
Three species of sturgeon live in the Mississippi, but only the shovelnose sturgeon can legally be taken from the river. The shovelnose's larger relatives, the lake and pallid sturgeons, are endangered due to habitat loss and migratory disruption caused by dams.
The shovelnose sturgeon is olive green with a light underbelly. Its body is covered in heavy plates rather than scales. As its name implies, its mouth is shaped like a shovel. The fish can weigh from 4 to 8 pounds and can grow to more than 27 inches long.
They are most active in May and June, when they spawn. Like catfish, they prefer deep waters where currents are present. They also prefer live bait, such as worms.