Please contact the local fisheries management biologist for current information.
Executive Summary: Virgin Lake is a heavily vegetated, 222-acre lake in Palo Alto County with a maximum depth of 6.7 feet. Yellow Perch were collected during an Iowa DNR survey, averaging 6.4 inches in length with data indicating a healthy weight relative to their size. Black Bullheads were moderately abundant, with an average length of 8.4 inches. Conversely, Largemouth Bass and Walleyes were present in low numbers and consisted of smaller fish, averaging 8.5 inches and 9.4 inches respectively. The survey also documented minimal counts of Bluegill, Fathead Minnows, and Northern Pike. Detailed Summary: Virgin Lake is a 222-acre lake located in Palo Alto County. Maximum depth measures 6.7 feet. An exploratory frame-netting survey was conducted on April 16 and 17, 2025 as part of the Iowa DNR general survey process. Yellow Perch were present in the survey and should offer fishing opportunities for anglers willing to battle the heavy vegetation on this lake. Yellow Perch length averaged 6.4 inches and ranged from 4.4 to 10.7 inches. Yellow Perch weight averaged 0.2 pounds and ranged from 0.04 to 0.6 pounds. Mean relative weight of Yellow Perch was 109, indicating that the average fish had a healthy weight relative to its length. Largemouth Bass and Walleyes were also observed in lower numbers in the frame-netting survey. Largemouth Bass were small, averaging 8.5 inches and ranging from 7.6 to 9.3 inches, so fishing opportunities are limited. Similarly, Walleyes were small, averaging 9.4 inches and ranging from 8.0 to 10.4 inches, again indicating limited fishing opportunities. Black Bullheads were moderately abundant in the survey. Black Bullhead length averaged 8.4 inches and ranged from 3.4 to 10.8 inches. Fish species observed in low abundance included Bluegill (N = 1), Fathead Minnow (N = 8), and Northern Pike (N = 9). If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Iowa’s fisheries, please contact fisheries biologist Andrew Carlson at [email protected] or (712) 330-3706. - Last updated on 06/10/2026.
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.