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2024 fishery surveys found Bluegills in good numbers in the 6.5- to 8.5-inch range. The Crappie fishery looks good. The larger Black Crappies were 9.5- to 11-inches. White Crappie were 8- to 13-inches, with most around 10-inches. Largemouth Bass surveyed were mostly 10- to 12-inches, with fish up to 14-inches. Larger bass likely exist in the population. Channel Catfish were surveyed in low numbers at sizes from 10- to 18-inches.(2024)
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 .