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The gizzard shad removal of 2015 was successful. Crappie abundance in 2016 was excellent and size quality is very good. Large numbers of 10- to 13-inch crappies are available to anglers. Bluegill abundance is good and size quality is moderate. We collected good numbers of 6- to 8-inch bluegills in the 2016 sampling. Channel catfish abundance is low at this time, but stocking efforts in 2016 and 2017 should help improve that issue.(2016)
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 .