Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about fishing in south central Iowa. Skim ice is forming along the lake edges and coves. Ice is not thick enough to support anglers.

The lake is skimmed over in the bays while the main area of the lake remains open due to goose activity. Unsafe ice conditions.

• Black Crappie
• Bluegill
• Channel Catfish
• Largemouth Bass
• Walleye

• Brittle Naiad
• Curlyleaf Pondweed

The Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.

• Black Crappie
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: combined black and white crappie, 25 fish
• Possession Limit: unlimited
• Length Limit: none
• Other: No daily limit on private waters
• Bluegill
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
• Possession Limit: unlimited
• Length Limit: none
• Other: No daily limit on private waters
• Channel Catfish
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 8 fish
• Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
• Length Limit: none
• Other:
• Largemouth Bass
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 3 fish
• Possession Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
• Length Limit: All 12 to 18-inch fish must be immediately released
• Other:
• Walleye
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 5 fish
• Possession Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 10 fish
• Length Limit: none
• Other:

In the fall of 2019 a selective treatment of illegally introduced gizzard shad was conducted. This treatment was successful and all gizzard shad have been eliminated from the system. Gizzard shad are injurious in smaller lakes like Lake Sugema and impact growth and reproduction of game fish, as well as disrupting water quality, making the lake less clear. Prior to the treatment, the public was informed that some game fish would be lost as part of the process, but that the populations of these species would be minimally impacted. Angling in 2020 for crappies was excellent. Both black and white crappie are abundant and fish up to 12 inches are abundant. Larger crappies are available as well. Largemouth bass numbers have declined in recent years (as a result of the gizzard shad introduction) but a very large year class was produced in 2020 and these fish will grow quickly. Bluegill quality remains poor; however, these fish will increase in length and 8 plus inch fish will be available in 2021.(2020)

Tip: Click the arrow in the lower right corner to view the Fish Survey Data tool in full-screen mode.