| Next weeks forecast calls for temperatures in the forties. As of this morning there have been a few reports of anglers catching some panfish in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area. Ice conditions remain around the six to eight inches of good ice on most area lakes, as always use extreme caution. For more information contact your local area bait and tackle shop for further information. |
| There have been no reports on Big Woods Lake this past week. |
Big Woods Lake provides a good option for fishing in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo metro area. The lake has good shoreline and boat access and the fishery currently provides opportunities for bluegill, black/white crappie, channel catfish, largemouth bass and yellow bass.(2025)
In nearly all cases, Iowa fish are safe to eat. Cleaning and/or preparing the meal causes most of the problems regarding taste or color of fish. Like all living creatures, fish are susceptible to diseases, parasites, and other naturally occurring conditions in the water. If you suspect your fish is affected by any of these conditions, do not eat it. Consider eating smaller and younger fish which usually have lower levels of contaminants than larger ones. Most contaminants accumulate in larger, older fish. For additional information, check out our resources for eating and cooking Iowa caught fish.
To learn more about fish tissue monitoring, visit our Fish Tissue Monitoring page .