Fish Iowa - Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs - Walker-Johnston Pond

Fishing Forecast

This fishery has declined in quality since the 2015 survey. The 2018 survey found the largemouth bass and bluegill sizes to be smaller than expected. Bluegills are now mostly around 5 inches with a few up to 7 inches. All bass surveyed were from 8- to 9.5-inches. More surveys will be done in the near future to see if these small size structures are permanent or fluctuating.(2019)

Consumption Guidelines

Iowa-Caught Fish Are Safe to Eat, In Almost All Cases

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 .