The big river is flooded right now. That means changes in the structure. It does not mean the big blue catfish will not be still there when the river goes down. Although catfish are at home the length of this river, the best variety and numbers seem to come from the section between Lock & Dam 22 to Cairo, according to former IDNR biologist Butch Atwood. There are three separate pools in the river behind dams 24, 25 and 26. From Alton down to Cairo it is an open river. This part of the river seems to attract all three species of catfish with good young of the year production. Continue reading – https://dongasaway.wordpress.com/2015/12/31/mississippi-river-blue-catfish/