Mississippi National River and Recreation Area - Having Fun with Mississippi River Fish (U.S. National Park Service)

The Mississippi River is a busy place. Barges and boats run up and down the river. Roads and railroads run along side it. Bridges cross it. Great cities and small villages dot its shores.

But it is also busy beneath the river's surface where the fish live. Learn more about these fascinating animals by downloading the pages below. Then color them and read the text to find out more!

Bluegill
These small fish often are aggressive when feeding, making them easy to catch. Many other fish eat them as well, even though they have spines in their fins. Download the Bluegill coloring page (PDF).

Largemouth Bass
This fish is a favorite of anglers, because they fight hard and often leap from the water. They can also grow quite large and are found in small ponds, large lakes, and rivers. Download the Largemouth Bass coloring page (PDF).

Channel Catfish
Channel catfish are one of the larger fish found in the Mississippi River and its tributaries. The largest channel catfish in Minnesota weighed 38 pounds, but they can get much larger! Download the Channel Catfish coloring page (PDF).

Mottled Sculpin
Mottled Sculpins may not be found in the Mississippi, but they are found in streams that flow into it. People don't eat this small fish, but many other fish, like trout and bass, do eat them making them an important part of a river's ecology. Download the Mottled Sculpin coloring page (PDF).

Walleye
Walleye are often caught below the dams on the Mississippi River. It is, perhaps, the angler's favorite fish in Minnesota, but can be difficult to catch. Download the Walleye coloring page (PDF).

Go Fishing!

Contact the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources MinnAqua Program, if you want to learn more about fish and how to catch them.

Images on this and subsequent pages are courtesy of Duane Raver/USFWS. Coloring pages on subsequent pages are courtesy of Utah Department of Wildlife Resources.