- No recent updates found
Over the last year the water level at Ocheyedan Pit has been substantially lower than normal due to dry conditions. This has made fishing and recreational access much more limited. Anglers that are able to fish the pit will find that there are large numbers of 4.5-6 inch bluegill but very little if any quality to preferred sized fish. A few 9.5-10.5 inch black crappie have been observed. For anglers wanting to pursue bigger fish, channel catfish over 20 inches can be caught. This coming spring season may have very different catch due to the water levels and winter months, so results are expected to vary. (2022)
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 .