What was once a pollution-fouled, left-for-dead stretch of the river now holds an astonishing array of species. You'll find most of the usual game fish—walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, even an occasional muskie—as well as a lot of underappreciated "rough fish." The latter group includes a good number of channel cats, common carp, suckers, bighead buffalo, mooneye, white bass, and freshwater drum. If you're really lucky, you might even hook the mightiest creature in the Mississippi, a big flathead. The fishing tactics here can be as complex or simple as you like. The basic nightcrawler-on-a-hook-with-splitshot rig can be pretty deadly. Just toss it in the current and wait for something to happen. This low-energy approach also affords you the luxury of kicking back around a campfire and watching the river flow, possibly the single most relaxing activity known to man.