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Executive Summary: Recent Iowa DNR surveys of Lost Island Lake show a diverse fishery with promising opportunities for local anglers. Black Crappie, Yellow Bass, and Bluegill dominate the lake in high numbers, offering fast-paced action and healthy, well-fed fish across a variety of sizes. Anglers targeting sportfish can also look forward to quality catches of Largemouth Bass and Walleye—including bass up to 5 pounds and walleyes over 24 inches—alongside occasional trophy-sized channel catfish, northern pike, and bullheads. Overall, the lake supports a well-balanced aquatic community where popular panfish are flourishing and predator species have solid representation for both recreational fishing and harvest. Detailed Summary: Lost Island Lake is a large, 1,162-acre lake located near Ruthven in Palo Alto and Clay counties, Iowa. Maximum depth is 13.5 feet. An electrofishing survey was conducted over two days (May 27 and May 28) in 2026 as part of the Iowa DNR comprehensive survey protocol. 738 fish representing the following 14 species were observed in electrofishing samples: Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Freshwater Drum, Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Yellow Bass, Yellow Bullhead, and Yellow Perch. Yellow Bass were highly abundant in the electrofishing survey (N = 503 fish, 251.5 fish/hour) and should offer great quantity-based angling opportunities in Lost Island Lake. Yellow Bass length averaged 8.0 inches and ranged from 7.3 to 8.9 inches. Yellow Bass weight averaged 0.26 pounds and ranged from 0.20 to 0.34 pounds. Mean relative weight of Yellow Bass was 94, indicating that the average fish had a healthy weight relative to its length. Bluegill were abundant in the electrofishing survey (N = 139 fish, 69.5 fish/hour) and should offer good angling opportunities in Lost Island Lake. Bluegill length averaged 6.9 inches and ranged from 4.3 to a respectable 7.9 inches. Bluegill weight averaged 0.30 pounds, ranging from 0.20 to 0.46 pounds. Mean relative weight of Bluegills was 113, indicating that the average fish had a robust weight relative to its length. The following species were documented in moderate abundance in the electrofishing survey: Black Crappie (N = 22 fish, 11 fish/hour), Largemouth Bass (N = 29 fish, 14.5 fish/hour), and Walleye (N = 11 fish, 5.5 fish/hour). Black Crappie length averaged a respectable 8.8 inches and ranged from 7.5 to 10.1 inches. Black Crappie weight averaged 0.38 pounds, ranging from 0.28 to 0.54 pounds. Mean relative weight of Black Crappies was 101, meaning that the average fish weighed slightly more than the species’ standard weight (i.e., 75th percentile) across its geographic range and indicating a good forage base for Black Crappies. Largemouth Bass length averaged a respectable 14.1 inches and ranged from 6.3 to an impressive 19.4 inches. Largemouth Bass weight averaged 2.1 pounds and ranged from 0.6 to a notable 5.0 pounds. Mean relative weight of Largemouth Bass was 111, suggesting healthy, well-proportioned fish with a productive forage base. Walleye length averaged 15.5 inches, ranging from 9.2 to a respectable 24.6 inches. Walleye weight averaged 1.8 pounds (range: 0.2–5.56 pounds). Mean relative weight of Walleyes was 89, which is slightly below the normal, healthy range of 90–100 and suggests that the average fish may have some difficulty accessing appropriate forage. The following species were documented in low abundance in the electrofishing survey: Bigmouth Buffalo (N = 1 fish, 0.5 fish/hour, length: 27.2 inches, weight: 12.0 pounds), Black Bullhead (N = 4 fish, 2 fish/hour, length range: 12.3–14.5 inches, weight range: 1.3–1.8 pounds), Channel Catfish (N = 4 fish, 2 fish/hour, length range: 23.7–28.2 inches, weight range: 6.5–11.2 pounds), Common Carp (N = 8 fish, 4 fish/hour, length range: 25.2–37.8 inches, weight range: 9.0–33.9 pounds), Freshwater Drum (N = 2 fish, 1 fish/hour, length range: 22.1–22.3 inches, weight range: 5.1–5.5 pounds), Green Sunfish (N = 1 fish, 0.5 fish/hour, length: 6 inches, weight: 0.18 pounds), White Bass (N = 7 fish, 3.5 fish/hour, length range: 14.4–16.4 inches, weight range: 1.3–1.7 pounds), Yellow Bullhead (N = 2 fish, 1 fish/hour, length range: 6.9–9.9 inches, weight range: 0.3–0.5 pounds), and Yellow Perch (N = 5 fish, 2.5 fish/hour, length range: 3.6–8.8 inches, weight range: 0.30–0.34 pounds). A hoop-net survey was conducted over a three-day span (June 29–July 2) in 2026 according to the Iowa DNR comprehensive survey protocol. Only 17 fish were captured across five hoop-net series-nights, representing a low catch rate. The most abundant fish were Black Crappies (N = 15, 3 fish/series-night), followed by Black Bullheads (N = 1, 0.2 fish/series-night) and Yellow Bullheads (N = 1, 0.2 fish/series-night). Black Crappie length averaged 9.1 inches and ranged from 7.3 to an impressive 13.3 inches. Black Crappie weight averaged 0.5 pounds, ranging from 0.3 to 1.1 pounds. Mean relative weight of Black Crappies was 108, indicating that the average fish had a robust weight for its length. The single Black Bullhead captured in hoop nets measured a respectable 13.0 inches and 1.2 pounds. The relative weight for that fish was only 87, suggesting a low weight and suboptimal foraging conditions. The single Yellow Bullhead captured in hoop nets measured 8.3 inches (no weight or relative weight was measured). A fyke-net survey was conducted over a two-day span (October 22–23 and October 27–28) in 2026 as part of the Iowa DNR comprehensive survey protocol. 5,353 fish representing the following 16 species were observed in fyke-net samples: Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Brown Bullhead, Channel Catfish, Freshwater Drum, Golden Shiner, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Spottail Shiner, Walleye, White Bass, White Crappie, Yellow Bass, Yellow Bullhead, and Yellow Perch. Black Crappies were highly abundant in the fyke-net survey (N = 5,059 fish, 505.9 fish/net-night) and should offer productive angling opportunities in Lost Island Lake. Of the subadult and adult fish measured, Black Crappie length averaged 5.7 inches and ranged from 2.1 inches to an impressive 11.5 inches. Black Crappie weight averaged 0.6 pounds and ranged from 0.08 pounds to 1.0 pounds. Mean relative weight of Black Crappies was 100, indicating that the average fish had a healthy weight relative to its length and suggesting the presence of abundant forage in the lake. Bluegills were abundant in the fyke-net survey (N = 129 fish, 12.9 fish/net-night) and should offer good angling opportunities in Lost Island Lake. Of the fish measured, Bluegill length averaged 5.1 inches, ranging from 1.1 to a respectable 8.2 inches. Bluegill weight averaged 0.28 pounds, ranging from 0.08 to 0.46 pounds. Mean relative weight of Bluegills was 92, which is within the normal range of 90–100 and suggests that the average Bluegill had a healthy weight for its length and did not have difficulty locating adequate forage. The following species were documented in moderate abundance in the fyke-net survey: Black Bullhead (N = 33 fish, 3.3 fish/net-night), Yellow Bass (N = 38 fish, 3.8 fish/net-night), and Yellow Bullhead (N = 67 fish, 6.7 fish/net-night). Black Bullhead length averaged a respectable 12.8 inches, ranging from 9.2 inches to an impressive 14.2 inches. Black Bullhead weight averaged 1.2 pounds, ranging from 0.42 pounds to 1.6 pounds. Mean relative weight of Black Bullheads was 87, which is below the normal range of 90–100 and suggests that the average Black Bullhead was skinny for its length and had difficulty finding adequate forage. Perhaps Black Bullheads compete among themselves or with other species for preferred prey in Lost Island Lake. Yellow Bass length averaged 7.1 inches and ranged from 3.0 inches to an impressive 9.8 inches. Yellow Bass weight averaged 0.40 pounds and ranged from 0.30 pounds to 0.52 pounds. Some large Yellow Bass are present in Lost Island Lake and may be of interest to size-focused anglers. Mean relative weight of Yellow Bass was a healthy 96 indicative of relatively robust weight in relation to length. Yellow Bullhead length averaged a respectable 11.2 inches and ranged from 6.6 to an impressive 14.7 inches. Yellow Bullhead weight averaged 0.9 pounds, ranging from 0.14 to 1.64 pounds. Mean relative weight of Yellow Bullheads was 109, indicating healthy, well-proportioned fish, on average. The following species were documented in low abundance in the fyke-net survey: Brown Bullhead (N = 1 fish, 0.1 fish/net-night, length: 13.9 inches, weight: 1.2 pounds), Channel Catfish (N = 1 fish, 0.1 fish/net-night, length: 26.6 inches, weight: 7.8 pounds), Freshwater Drum (N = 4 fish, 0.4 fish/net-night, length range: 6.7–20.3 inches, weight range: 0.1–5.3 pounds), Golden Shiner (N = 2 fish, 0.2 fish/net-night, length range: 4.6–5.1 inches, weight range: not recorded), Largemouth Bass (N = 1 fish, 0.1 fish/net-night, length: 20 inches, weight: 5.2 pounds), Northern Pike (N = 1 fish, 0.1 fish/net-night, length: 29.3 inches, weight: 4.9 pounds), Spottail Shiner (N = 1 fish, 0.1 fish/net-night, length: 4.6 inches, weight: not recorded), Walleye (N = 11 fish, 1.1 fish/net-night, length range: 14.1–28.2 inches, weight range: 0.8–8.0 pounds), White Bass (N = 1 fish, 1 fish/net-night, length: 15.5 inches, weight: 1.9 pounds), White Crappie (N = 1 fish, 1 fish/net-night, length: 9.8 inches, weight: 0.5 pounds), and Yellow Perch (N = 3 fish, 0.3 fish/net-night, length range: 7.0–9.5 inches, weight range: 0.2–0.3 pounds). - Last updated on 11/04/2026.
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.
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The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit. Familiarize yourself with the complete Fishing Regulations here: Iowa DNR Fishing Regulations and Laws.