There is an abundance of 4- to 6-inch bluegills, but they rarely reach 8 inches. Crappies are moderate in numbers and most are 8- to 10-inches, but some larger ones are available. There is a decent year class of 6 inch fish coming on as well. Largemouth bass are moderate with most fish 11- to 15-inches with larger ones available. Spotted bass make up about 30 percent of the black bass population and most are 10- to 14-inches. Walleye numbers are moderate in the 12- to 18-inch range with a large number of 8- to 10-inch walleyes coming on from fish fry stocked this spring and large fingerlings stocked this fall. There are some larger walleyes, up to 28 inches possible as well. Hybrid striped bass numbers are good with most fish 14- to 20-inches and fish up to 28 inches possible. White bass numbers are fair with most 10- to 14-inches. Channel catfish numbers are good with the largest catches in the 2-8 pound class, but larger ones are available. There is also a healthy musky population with many 30- to 36-inch fish, with much larger ones available. - Last updated on 01/07/2019.
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 .
The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit. Familiarize yourself with the complete Fishing Regulations here: Iowa DNR Fishing Regulations and Laws.