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Bluegill density is fairly high, but size quality is poor. Very few fish above 6 inches are available to anglers. Largemouth bass density is moderately high and size structure is very good. Good numbers of 14- to 21-inch fish. Crappie density is high, but size quality is poor with few fish greater than 8 inches. Yellow bass density is very high and is having a negative impact on other panfish populations such as bluegill and crappie.(2017)
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 .