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Nelson Park is home to monster bluegill. Target bluegill from the dam early in the spring, fish the spawning beds in the shallows towards the end of May and early June, and drift fish later in the summer. Largemouth bass numbers are good and anglers can expect to find decent sized bass. Channel catfish are stocked on a regular basis in Nelson Park.(2020)
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 .