Please contact the local fisheries management biologist for current information.
Virgin Lake is a 222-acre lake located in Palo Alto County. Maximum depth measures 6.7 feet. An exploratory frame-netting survey was conducted on April 16 and 17, 2025 as part of the Iowa DNR general survey process. Yellow Perch were highly abundant in the survey (112 fish/net night) and should offer favorable angling opportunities. Yellow Perch length averaged 6.4 inches and ranged from 4.4 to 10.7 inches. Yellow Perch weight averaged 0.2 pounds and ranged from 0.04 to 0.6 pounds. Mean relative weight of Yellow Perch was 109, indicating that the average fish had a healthy weight relative to its length. Walleye (29 fish/net night) and Largemouth Bass (26 fish/net night) were abundant in the frame-netting survey. Walleye length averaged 9.4 inches and ranged from 8.0 to 10.4 inches. Similarly, Largemouth Bass length averaged 8.5 inches and ranged from 7.6 to 9.3 inches. Black Bullheads were moderately abundant in the survey (13 fish/net night). Black Bullhead length averaged 8.4 inches and ranged from 3.4 to 10.8 inches. Fish species observed in low abundance included Bluegill (N = 1, length = 6.5 inches), Fathead Minnow (N = 8), and Northern Pike (N = 9, length range = 15.9–20.3 inches). Virgin Lake is a good Yellow Perch fishery and may offer opportunities for anglers to catch Walleye, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike as fish continue to grow. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Iowa’s fisheries, please contact fisheries biologist Andrew Carlson at andrew.carlson@dnr.iowa.gov or (712) 330-3706. - Last updated on 07/28/2025.
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.