Please contact the local fisheries management biologist for current information.
Trumbull Lake is a 1,183-acre shallow lake located in Clay County, Iowa. Maximum depth is 5 feet. An exploratory electrofishing survey was conducted on June 10, 2025 as part of the Iowa DNR general survey protocol. Black Bullheads were abundant in the electrofishing survey (42.9 fish/hour) and should offer favorable angling opportunities in Trumbull Lake. Black Bullhead length averaged 7.1 inches and ranged from 5.8 to 9.2 inches. Black Bullhead weight averaged 0.25 pounds and ranged from 0.1 to 0.8 pounds. Mean relative weight of Black Bullheads was 93, indicating that the average fish had a fairly healthy weight relative to its length. Golden Shiners were moderately abundant in the electrofishing survey (24.0 fish/hour) and represent an important forage fish for larger predators in the lake (e.g., Northern Pike). Golden Shiner length averaged 3.5 inches and ranged from 2.6 to 4.2 inches. Fish species observed in low abundance included Common Carp (N = 1, length = 17.7 inches, weight = 3.3 pounds), Fathead Minnow (N = 5, length range = 2.2–2.6 inches), Northern Hog Sucker (N = 2, length range = 5.9–10.5 inches), Northern Pike (N = 1, length = 22.5 inches, weight = 2.5 pounds), White Sucker (N = 1, length = 10.1 inches), and Yellow Perch (N = 3, length range = 5.4–8.5 inches, weight range = 0.2–0.8 pounds). The electrofishing survey was conducted with one goal being to evaluate the success of Northern Pike and Yellow Perch stockings. The electrofishing sample suggests low abundance for both species, although sampling across a larger section of the lake would be necessary to fully evaluate the stockings. Northern Pike and Yellow Perch that are present in the lake are of catchable size for anglers. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Iowa’s fisheries, please contact Andrew Carlson, Fisheries Biologist, at andrew.carlson@dnr.iowa.gov or (712) 330-3706. - Last updated on 06/30/2025.
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 .
The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit. Familiarize yourself with the complete Fishing Regulations here: Iowa DNR Fishing Regulations and Laws.