Lake and slough habitats are the most picturesque and favored by many fishermen who do not care to venture out onto the main river. These areas are the best for crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass and bullhead from spring through fall. Ice fishing produces good catches of bluegill and crappie in many of these spots. Side channels are departures from the main channel and may be as wide and deep as the main channel, or so shallow that they are close to slough habitat. All side channels have current during normal water stages.
Fish commonly taken here are channel catfish, white bass, crappie and drum.
Main channel border habitat is the area between the edge of the navigation channel and the closest land, or shallow water over submerged land. The emergent or submergent wing dams along the main channel are in this habitat, and these often provide excellent fishing for white bass, catfish, drum, sauger and walleye. Main channel is the remaining type of habitat. A poor place to fish for safety reasons. Fishing on the Rock Never improved for navigation, the Rock is one of the freest-flowing rivers in the region, running broad and flat between open fields for much of its course.