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Spring electrofishing showed a moderate abundance of largemouth bass up to 18-inches. Bluegills were sampled in moderate abundance. Most bluegills sampled were less than 7-inches long. Low numbers of yellow perch were sampled in 2018. Most yellow perch were 8- to 9-inches long.(2018)
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 .