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Hooper Lake has been restocked since being drained with Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish and Black Crappie. Black Crappie fingerlings were the last species stocked during the summer of 2023. Largemouth bass in the spring of 2023 were surveyed at sizes from 4- to 15.5-inches. Most bass were 10- to 14-inches. Bluegill surveyed in the fall of 2023 were 4- to 7.5-inches, with most being around 6-inches. There will likely be more 7-inch and larger bluegill by the end of 2024. Redear Sunfish were not stocked, but returned from watershed ponds. They have reached good sizes already with fish surveyed in the fall of 2023 up to 9-inches.(2023)
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 .