| Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about fishing in south central Iowa. Ice conditions vary at each lake with open water at some areas. Use caution if going out. |
| Ice conditions vary so use caution. |
Largemouth bass are abundant and growth rates are good. Most fish are less than 15 inches long. Crappie, bluegill and redear sunfish growth remains slow. Few fish 8 inches and greater are present. We continue to monitor these populations and as these early year classes age growth for all species will improve overall, as will the size of fish available to anglers.(2009)
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 .