The best house-boating, in our opinion, is located between the cities of Prairie Du Chien, WI to the south, and Red Wing, MN to the north. This part of the river valley has many cities and towns located along it that offer access to tourism, entertainment, and restaurants. Some of them only have docks that are large enough to tie up to so you can venture into town. All of the cities and towns have their own festivals and fairs throughout the house-boating season.

The Mississippi River valley has an abundance of sandbars for everyone to have such pleasures as campfires, swimming, camping with tents, fishing, or just anchoring to it and relax.

House-boating the Mississippi River valley is easy to navigate with red and green markers, called buoys, that show where the main channel is so there is little risk of hitting any obstructions under water. Houseboating on the river offers an unique experience of being able to go through a Mississippi Lock and Dam which was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers starting in 1930. You can even watch a large commercial barge go through the locks and get an understanding of how the navigation system works on the Mississippi River.

House-boating the Mississippi River valley is an unique and enjoyable experience for the whole family and friends.

The lakes are known for producing excellent largemouth bass fishing, as well as large catfish and bluegill. They generally have slow current, which makes boating simpler than the rest of the Mississippi River. Almost every tail race of these lakes is known for world class walleye and white bass angling. Boating a safe distance from the dam, and dropping jigs or night crawlers works well for both species. The tail races of these dams are also well known for being good places to snag paddle fish.

The locks and dams end sometime above the city of St. Louis. Walleye and White Bass begin to thin out, and catfish become the main quarry of anglers. At the mouth of the Missouri River at Columbia Bottoms Conservation Areas, the Mississippi’s best catfish water begins. Channel Catfish are the most common, but the river is most famous for record catches of Blue Catfish and Flathead Catfish. As a matter of fact, the Mississippi river several miles downstream of St. Louis recently produced an all-tackle world record blue catfish to an Illinois angler. Fish in the thirty to fifty pound range are not abnormal at all.

The lower Mississippi (generally the term given to the Mississippi River downstream of St. Louis), holds the best catfish populations in the nation. They are not the only species to target, however. The river provides excellent fishing opportunities for carp, gar, freshwater drum, bowfin (also known as grinnel) and bluegill. Although these species are not usually held in high regard, they can all be great fun to catch. Largemouth bass can be found in the main channel. Heavy current and silty water limits bass populations in the main river, but a patient angler can find enough to make it worthwhile. The extremely muddy water effectively limits fisherman to live bait presentations. Night crawlers, crayfish, and minnows are good options. The slow water upstream of wing dams tends to be a good bet. Better largemouth bass fishing will be found in the slough-like backwaters of the river.

Clarkco State Park is located in Quitman, Mississippi and is home to plenty of outdoor camping fun. These 815 acres of woodlands feature 15 camping sites, all located near water. Numerous picnic areas with grills and playgrounds are great for family recreation. A five mile nature trail is available for the avid hikers, along with 65 acres of fresh water for fishing and boating.

In Walnut Grove, Golden Memorial State Park offers a more historic aspect of camping. This camp site was once home to a post Civil War one-room school house, and historians have worked hard to preserve this natural piece of beauty in Mississippi. Golden Memorial State Park offers 6 tent decks, all with running water. Nature trails and picnic areas are available, along with a 15 acre lake for fishing.

There are 61 primitive camp sites available at Great River Road State Park in Rosedale, Mississippi. There are 28 picnic sites with grills and tables that overlook the beautiful Mississippi River. Fishing in this famous river is also an option to campers. There is a 1 1/2 mile hiking trail and several sports facilities like softball fields and an 18 hole disc golf course. Great River Road holds annual events like disc golf tournaments from March through October.