| For more information contact the Lake MacBride Fish Station at (319) 624-3615 |
| Final stage of dredging at the Pinicon Ridge Park has begun. Some areas will be closed to fishing. Closures are expected to last for about one month. |
The Wapsipinicon River is one of the best interior rivers for fishing in the state. The walleye, northern pike, and smallmouth bass populations that inhabit this stretch of river are impressive. Also impressive is the size that these species can achieve. Walleye of 30", northern pike of 40", and smallmouth bass of 20" are all possible. There are also good populations of bluegill, crappie, and largemouth bass in the backwaters and other areas of slower moving water. Channel catfish are also plentiful in this stretch.(2016)
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 .