Fishing gets a whole lot bigger on the Mighty Mississippi 

In October 2024, the Quad Cities hosted the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Tournament. The three-day regional tournament featured the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from all four regions.   

The Tournament  

The participants battled it out on the mighty Mississippi River for the grand prize package, with the winners being determined by the heaviest third day catch. The tournament took place in Davenport, Iowa using the boat ramp at Veteran’s Memorial Park. Some of the fishing areas, like pool 13, offer lots of grass and lily pads. While a majority of the river is going to fish relatively shallow due to the location of the Mississippi within the Quad Cities.   

The Champion  

Boater Mike Brueggen of La Crosse Wisconsin won the Phoenix Bass Fishing League and took home the grand prize package of a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200hp Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000. This win also gave Brueggen his 10th qualification into Bass Fishing League All American.   

The Quad Cities will look to host the same tournament this coming October 2025. This time around, the tournament is set to take place in the Isle Marina in Bettendorf, Iowa.