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Spring electrofishing indicated good numbers of largemouth bass up to 17 inches. Moderate numbers of crappie were sampled in 2021 with most crappie in the 8-10 inch length range, but some larger crappie are available to anglers. Bluegill were also sampled in moderate abundance. Most bluegill were less than 8 inches in length, but some larger bluegill are available to anglers.(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 .