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A comprehensive survey was conducted at Meadow in 2024. Largemouth bass up to 20 inches were collected in a 2024 electrofishing sample with 10% of them being over 15 inches. Panfish anglers will find quality bluegill fishing as 25% of the bluegills netted were 8+ inches. Few black crappies were sampled in 2024 though people were catching quality fish off of brush piles while we were fall fyke netting. Look for spawning crappies and bluegills in May and June on top of the two rock reefs. The bulk of the channel catfish population is between 16 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 .