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Surveys in 2024 found Bluegills at all sizes with a good group of 7- to 8.5-inch fish. Bluegills just over 9-inches were surveyed. Black Crappies are present in fair number at sizes from 8-to 10.5-inches. Largemouth Bass numbers are abundant. There are two main size groups with one being 9- to 11-inch fish and the other being 12.5- to 14.5-inches. Larger fish up to 20-inches are present. Channel Catfish are mostly from 14- to 25-inches. Walleyes are present for an occasional catch. Walleye sizes range mostly from 11- to 20-inches.(2024)
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 .