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Fishery surveys in 2024 found Bluegills becoming stunted at sizes from 3- to 6-inches. Bluegills over 6 inches are uncommon. The Largemouth Bass fishery is looking very good. Bass were found at sizes from 8.5- to 19-inches, with most in the 11- to 15-inch range and fair numbers of 15- to 18-inches. Black Crappies are growing to good sizes with fish observed from 8.5- to 11.7-inches. Walleye are not yet abundant, but were surveyed at sizes from 14- to 20-inches. Channel catfish are growing well and have reached sizes between 15- and 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 .