However, northern pike catches may depend upon food availability. If a northern pike s preferred forage is in low numbers, they may be extremely hungry and easily fooled with live-bait or artificial presentations. On the other hand, high numbers of baitfish may reduce your northern pike catch, even though the numbers of pike present may be high. Historically, bluegill fishing on the Mississippi River has varied greatly. There have been years when fishing is phenomenal and years when bluegills are hard to come by.
Young bluegills are greatly dependent upon vegetated habitat for their survival.
With a current upswing in vegetation, several sampling efforts have shown bluegill numbers increasing. With the number of young bluegills increasing, so to has the belief that these small fish are stunted. Stunting does not occur for Mississippi River bluegill. In fact, river bluegills have extremely fast growth rates. Given three to four years of growth, they are often large enough for the frying pan.