Fish Iowa - Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs - Southwood Conservation Area Pond (west)

Fishing Forecast

The East and West Southwood Ponds are only separated by a narrow isthmus that serves as the boat ramp. The bluegill population in each pond is good, with many fish ranging from 8 to 9.5 inches. Crappie are present and the bigger ones reach 10 to 12 inches, but they are not as abundant as the bluegill. Largemouth bass are abundant, but the size structure is small. Anglers can expect to catch a lot of 10 to 14" bass. Channel catfish are stocked on a regular basis and average 2 pounds.(2020)

Consumption Guidelines

Iowa-Caught Fish Are Safe to Eat, In Almost All Cases

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 .