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Spring electrofishing indicated good numbers of Largemouth Bass up to 18 inches. Bluegill and Crappie species were also sampled in high abundance. Most of the Bluegill were 6-8 inches in length and crappies were 6-10 inches in length, but some larger crappie are available to anglers. Channel Catfish were sampled in low abundance, but some large (27 inch) catfish are available to anglers.(2022)
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 .