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A fishery survey in 2020 showed a good bluegill population with most fish being 7.5- to 8-inches. Largemouth bass are abundant, but all bass surveyed were under 10 inches. Larger individuals are likely present. From stocking history and angler reports it is known that crappie and yellow perch exist, but none were collected during the survey.(2020)
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 .