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Fish species surveyed in 2018 included largemouth bass, bluegill, white crappie, white bass and flathead catfish. Any species found in the Raccoon River is likely present. The crappie and bluegill surveyed were small, under 6 inches. Lager crappies are likely present, but just not surveyed with the gear used. Largemouth bass were surveyed up to 15 inches and white bass up to 13.5 inches.(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 .