i was taught not to eat anything from the river reguardless...there are some older guys that do and as far as i know they are alive and kicken..but all the pcbs and such in the water i wouldnt risk it...the river is a pretty dirty place but i lived here all my life and thats 16 yrs soon and its actually cleaning up slowly...before there was garbage everywhere but it slowly dissappeared and is staying away...i always clean up my fishing holes and usually take out more than i brought down...doesnt bother me im doing good all the way around and making my hole a nice one..most holes that hold fish on the river seem to have it all within a casts reach...you through a worm or minnow our you duno whats going to bite your bait..like i said before im not one to fish lures very often...and lately day or night ive been chasing cats because im in it for the fight and nothing compares to sitting on the river bank with your lantern waiting for that strike...then its on!...i wouldnt advise anyone to eat anything out of the river though....