If you want to explore ice fishing opportunities on the Mississippi River, then the beginning of the year is the best time to head out. The Upper Mississippi has a healthy population of Walleye, Bluegill, and Yellow Perch.

It’s still quite cold on the northern section of the river, which means you can catch sizeable Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Sauger, and Walleye, as long as you know where to go to find them.

As the weather improves, the fish are becoming more active all along the river. Anglers are hitting the water to chase different species of Catfish, which lurk in deep holes and channels.

Come mid-April, Walleye are starting to spawn and you can find them around areas with a rocky bottom. Northern Pike prefer warm waters for spawning, and you’ll find Smallmouth Bass in current breaks.

July is one of the best months to go to Tennessee and hunt your biggest Catfish yet. Smallmouth Bass usually congregate in spots where food is abundant, and Pike are still avoiding the heat.

If you’re in the mood to hook a massive Blue Catfish, head to Arkansas and cast your line around deep holes, bends, and submerged trees. There are plenty of White Bass, Crappie, and Catfish in the middle section of Mississippi.

As the weather is turning, Walleye and Northern Pike are coming back to shallower waters in the upper Mississippi, and Catfish are still biting left and right. This is the golden month of fishing!

The Catfish bite is still more than solid anywhere from Arkansas to Louisiana, and depending on where you fish, up to five species of Cats are in the game. Up north, the ice fishing season is fast approaching.

While Catfishing will be coming to a lull in December, the upper Mississippi River is teeming with both anglers and fish. Think Yellow Perch, Walleye, Bluegill, and Sauger and be sure to dust off your ice fishing gear!