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The fishery in Orient Lake is good considering the shallow nature of the lake. The largemouth bass population last sampled in 2021 was improved over past samples in numbers and size. Expect to catch 12- to 17-inches. The bluegill is fair with 7- to 8-inch fish. There are good numbers of 9- to 10-inch black crappie that should provide good fishing in 2022 and '23. The Adair County Conservation Board stocks walleyes into Orient to provide diversity in the fishery and those fish were well represented in the '21 survey. At times the fishing can be surprisingly good. Better and more consistent fishing would come with better water quality.(2021)
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 .