All waters · Iowa · Rathbun Lake
Rathbun Lake, IA
Reservoir in Appanoose County, Iowa. An 11,000-acre USACE flood-control reservoir on the Chariton River in south-central Iowa, nicknamed Iowa's Ocean. A premier multi-species fishery for crappie, walleye, white bass, channel and flathead catfish, plus largemouth bass in the timber and coves. Spring crappie in the brush and summer walleye on the flats are the marquee bites.
Overall bite score
Scored 4 min ago · recomputed every 30 minutes
Each instrument reads 0 to 100. The score is their weighted blend, tuned for lakes and reservoirs. No black box: every reading names its source.
What swims here
8 tracked species in Rathbun Lake, with the months each fishes best.
Water facts
USGS 06903900 (Chariton River near Rathbun, the dam tailwater) provides a live flow feed; reservoir water temp uses the seasonal baseline. Ramps: Honey Creek State Park, Bridgeview, Buck Creek, Island View, Rolling Cove. Crappie 10 in minimum on Rathbun, verify on the Iowa DNR special-regs page.
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