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Spring electrofishing show low numbers of largemouth bass up to 18 inches long. Moderate numbers of bluegills were sampled. Most bluegills sampled were less than 7 inches long. Low numbers of channel catfish were sampled. Most channel catfish sampled were 20- to 25-inches long. Good numbers of wipers were sampled in 2018. The biggest wiper sampled was 18.9 inches long and weighed 3.38 pounds.(2018)
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 .