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Following renovation in 2020, the fishery in Mariposa Lake has had a slow return to good fishing. The lake was restocked in 2020 with Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Black Crappie and Channel Catfish. Bluegills surveyed in 2024 were still 4.5- to 6-inches. A few young 6-inch Black Crappies were surveyed. Largemouth Bass were 6- to 15.5-inches. Channel Catfish have done well and were 8- to 22.5-inches in 2024.(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 .