Catfish gorge themselves on the almost limitless food supply available around hardscape structures—areas successful anglers are wise to exploit. (Photo by Keith Sutton)
It might be nice if our big rivers had remained all-natural like they were 150 years ago, but such is not the case. Agencies like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Tennessee Valley Authority have tamed the waterways where barges now transport commodities such as grain and coal. In the process, they created thousands of structures from rock, concrete and steel to help reduce flooding and erosion while making it safer and easier for these massive boats to travel.