Reservoir · Appanoose, Iowa
Rathbun Lake
Rathbun Lake
Reservoir · Iowa
Information Only
StrikeTracks does not currently provide a live condition rating for this destination. Destination and fishery information is still available.
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Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Rathbun Lake.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
Rathbun Lake is southern Iowa's flagship federal reservoir for walleye, crappie, and catfish, and an Iowa DNR walleye broodstock water. StrikeTracks publishes complete static Fishery with catalog-visible Unavailable conditions because no same-lake live USGS 00010 exists. USGS 06903880 stage is not pool thermal. This is not Lake Red Rock and not Saylorville.
Target species
Walleye
Sander vitreus
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Iowa DNR Rathbun: 15-inch minimum, bag 5, possession 10. Broodstock collection water. Not Spirit/Clear Lake slots.
Black Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Iowa DNR Rathbun lists black crappie among popular species, 25/day combined crappie. Not Red Rock crappie as a copy.
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Iowa DNR: stream catfish bag rules apply at Rathbun, Red Rock, Saylorville, and Coralville. Not Storm Lake catfish.
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus nigricans
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Iowa DNR Rathbun: inland black bass 15-inch minimum, bag 3. Not West Okoboji bass.
White Crappie
Pomoxis annularis
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Iowa DNR Rathbun combined crappie 25/day. Not Coralville crappie.
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
Large USACE flood-control reservoir on the Chariton River with Honey Creek Resort, flooded timber, and a rock dam face. Catalog coordinates are the Iowa DNR Fish Iowa point, not USGS 06903880 elevation.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Boat fishing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
- Trolling
Access and Public Fishing Rights
Iowa DNR and USACE document public ramps, Honey Creek Resort, and shoreline. Confirm current pool and ramp status. Catalog coordinates are not a verified launch pin.
Stocking information
Iowa DNR manages Rathbun as a walleye broodstock reservoir and stocks walleye. Confirm current official Fish Iowa stocking records.
- Stocked
Walleye
Stocked · Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Official sources
Lake Rathbun walleye: 15-inch minimum, daily bag 5, possession 10. Inland black bass 15-inch minimum, bag 3. Stream catfish bag rules apply at this federal flood-control impoundment. Distinct from Iowa Great Lakes and Clear Lake walleye slots. Confirm current Iowa DNR regulations.
conditionPublicationPolicy=static-value-structural-unavailable. Rathbun Lake is Iowa's second-largest flood-control reservoir, a Honey Creek Resort destination, and an Iowa DNR walleye broodstock water with destination-specific Fish Iowa RAT04 fishery, access, and a 15-inch / 5-fish walleye special distinct from Great Lakes slots. inlandHasCompleteStaticFisheryValue passes on official Iowa DNR fishery, access, and regulations. USGS 06903880 is reservoir elevation/stage only and is not same-lake live 00010. No new Estimated science is introduced. HIGH plus PATH B does not auto-approve; public catalog-visible Unavailable is approved because Rathbun is the southern Iowa federal-reservoir class, not Red Rock and not Saylorville. This justification is Rathbun-specific and does not copy Red Rock or Storm Lake prose.
Location and Access
Cataloged lake location
Appanoose, Iowa
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
Lake Details
County
Appanoose
Management Category
USACE flood-control reservoir
Regulation Scope
Rathbun Lake
Regulation Summary
Rathbun Lake: Iowa DNR special walleye length/bag on the USACE Rathbun project. Confirm current official regulations.
Target Species
Walleye, Black Crappie, White Crappie, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass
Public Access
Public
Boat Launch
Available
Shore Fishing
Available
Description
Rathbun Lake, Appanoose County, Iowa. About 11,000-acre USACE Chariton River flood-control reservoir, Iowa's second-largest. Catalog-visible Unavailable: USGS 06903880 Rathbun Lake near Rathbun is reservoir elevation/stage (00065) only. Elevation is not lake temperature. Not Red Rock, not Saylorville, and not a Chariton tailwater pin.
