Fishing the Mississippi River is like stepping into a whole new world where every cast could yield a story, and every bend of the current holds something unexpected. For those used to chasing the spring walleye run on Wisconsin’s Wolf River, the Mississippi offers a familiar rhythm, but with its wild, untamed twist.
Just like their Wolf River cousins, Mississippi walleyes begin to spawn when the water temperature reaches the right point—but here’s the kicker: while you’re chasing walleyes, you also get the rare opportunity to fill your cooler with jumbo perch measuring between 11 and 15 inches. These perch spawn just before and during the walleye run, adding another action layer to an already thrilling season.
The stretch of river between the two major dams—just nine miles apart—is a maze of backwaters, sandbars, and wing dams. The Mississippi is lined with hundreds of wing dams, those large rock structures built long ago to funnel water into the main channel. While their original purpose was to reduce dredging and maintain boat traffic, for anglers, they’re gold.
Perch tuck into the calm water behind these rock piles, using them as shelter to rest and feed. Walleyes, on the other hand, lie low among the rocks, waiting to ambush prey swept by the current. To target them, anglers cast their jigs just beyond the dam, letting them sink before slowly dragging them across the rocks, tickling them over each bump, waiting for that classic walleye snap. It’s a technique that takes time to master and costs more than a few jigs along the way.
For perch, a simple setup does the trick: a three-way rig or a hook with split shot paired with a piece of nightcrawler. The trick? Keep the crawler short—just an inch or two—to avoid those maddening misses where the fish steals the bait and leaves the hook untouched. The sandbars that frame the wing dams are prime real estate for big perch, especially where the current slows just enough to allow a bait to hold.
Beyond the fishing, the Mississippi River itself is a spectacle. Tugboats and barges ease into the locks with the kind of grace only time and repetition can teach. Overhead, bald eagles perch in tall trees, and hawks circle as seagulls dive for minnows, all part of the ecosystem’s daily choreography. The river’s constant movement creates shifting current breaks, where three fishing lines from the same boat might point in three different directions—one straight out, one drifting left, and another sweeping right. Those tricky spots? They’re often where the perch gather.
Fishing the Mississippi is an adventure that rewards curiosity and patience. It’s a place where every ripple tells a story, and every trip feels just a little different. If you’ve never fished it before, do yourself a favor: hire a local guide. They’ll not only save you a few jigs—they’ll introduce you to a river that knows how to keep secrets… but sometimes shares them with those who ask just right.
