| Most ice in the district is anywhere from 5 to 9 inches thick and covered with several inches of snow. Even with the recent cold weather, ice conditions have not improved and many lakes have open water pockets. Use caution if venturing out. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638. |
| Ice thickness near the boat ramp is 6 inches. Conditions are variable. |
Panfishing for bluegill and crappie can be good in the spring. Anglers also do okay through the ice. Some nice yellow perch are caught, but this is not a destination perch fishery. Channel catfish are stocked on a regular basis.(2020)
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 .