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Spring electrofishing indicated a moderate abundance of Largemouth Bass up to 16 inches. Channel catfish were sampled in low abundance, but catfish up to 27 inches are available to anglers. Bluegill and Crappie species were sampled in moderate abundance. Bluegill are mostly in the 7-8 inch length range and Crappie were mostly 8-9 inches, but some larger Crappie are available to anglers.(2022)
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 .