It has been quite a few years since I fished the Mississippi. But up near the Winfield dam my Dad had really good luck in the fall catching whites and saugers on the Illinois side. He would get up there just after day break and catch the heck out of them until the sun came up and hit the water then they would shut off. I'm trying to remember what lure he was using, I think is was just some sort of silver spinner but not sure. I bet a guy could do ok on the sauger using some sort of bottom rig with a night crawler just below the dam. Another guy I know would catch some nice blues fishing the deeper holes below the dam. Probably not much help, but there is some good fishing to be had once you learn how to fish it - good luck!