A day of sampling fish on the Mississippi River is an eye-opening experience

Fish smells gone wild and the baking August sun suddenly vanished when the unmistakable bill of a paddlefish surprisingly and seductively began bobbing up and down along the surface of Mississippi River Pool 20.
The fish’s body was unseen, but one thing was clear to fans of fish: the star of the show had taken the stage. By pure instinct, and with efficient zeal that had apparently rubbed off from the small team of professionals working at my side, I flung a dip net in the general direction, aware I had two seconds – maybe three – to capture the paddlefish before it swam off.