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Crappie density at Lake Fisher is high and size quality is good. Fish up to 12 inches are fairly common. Bluegill size quality is poor with very few fish over 6 inches. This is largely due to the high abundance of gizzard shad which have a negative impact on the food web and reduce prey availability for bluegill and larval fish of all species. Largemouth bass density is relatively low and size quality is moderate. Most fish are 13- to 18-inches. Poor recruitment has resulted in very few largemouth less than 12 inches in the population. Gizzard shad and yellow bass abundance is very high which also negatively impact bluegill numbers and largemouth bass size.(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 .