Good Question: Is it safe to swim in the Mississippi River? 

Try that down in Baton Rouge where it runs 200ft deep. The river is literally like a washing machine. I know people that have fallen in or have committed suicide by jumping in. Their bodies are rarely recovered.

Not a chance! It might be clean enough to swim in but there is Alligators, Bull sharks, strong currents, and leeches and probably more.

I want to weigh in, " NO! "

i occasionally eat a catfish out the river downtown. they taste better than any restaurants chargin 20 bucks for 5 oz of catfish lol

NO!

If Americans are not swimming or sporting in a particular water body, then there gotta be a good reason for it

Anywhere north of Elk River or so is safe imo. Not anywhere near the metro area

Nope.

I'm from Tennessee. We get Buffalo fish and catfish from the Mississippi River along with Sun perch. Yes, the fish is even better there than your lake Michigan

no thx