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The Winnebago River from the Minnesota state line to Fertile has mostly a silty sand bottom. From the Fertile Dam to the confluence with the Shellrock River near Rockford, exposed bedrock is more prevalent. Anglers target mainly Northern Pike and sucker species in Winnebago and Hancock counties. In Worth, Cerro Gordo and Floyd counties anglers also target Walleye, Channel Catfish, and Smallmouth Bass.(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 .