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Rathbun Reservoir

General Information

County: Appanoose
Location: 8 miles northwest of Centerville
Acres: 11000.00
Maximum Depth: 48 ft. (2016)
Motoring Restrictions: None

Amenities

Amenities at Rathbun Reservoir include:

Boat Access
Fishing Jetty
Accessible Pier
Boat Rental
Picnic Area
Beach
Trails
Accessible Facilities
Playground
Restrooms
Camping
Concessions
Hard Surface Boat Ramp
Carry Down Boat Launch
Fish Cleaning Station

Fishing Report

Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about fishing in south central Iowa.

The current lake level is 903.45 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels so properly drain, clean and dry equipment before transporting to another waterbody.

Black Crappie - Slow: Try jigs around submerged cedar tree piles. Target brush piles in 15-20 feet of water.

Walleye - Slow: Try trolling crankbaits around rock piles and the old river channel. All walleye less than 15-inches must be immediately released unharmed.

Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Slow: Try jigging spoons or crankbaits over rock piles and submerged islands.

Popular Fish Species at this Lake

Lake Maps

Download Printable Lake Map

You can zoom in on the map for bathymetric information for some lakes

Fish Stocking

October 2022 - 97,941 Walleye (9)
May 2022 - 44,600,000 Walleye (Fry)
June 2022 - 2,722 Walleye (2.7)
June 2022 - 115,822 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.3)
6/24/22 - 30 Bluegill (Adult)
4/15/22 - 22 Walleye (Adult)
11/21/22 - 167 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (8)
Spring 2021 - 45,425,851 Walleye (Fry)
June 2021 - 124,759 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.42)
Fall 2021 - 68,904 Walleye (9.6)
10/27/2021 - 3,790 Walleye (9.3)
05/19/2021 - 14,066 Walleye (9.3)
05/07/2021 - 5,370,582 Walleye (Fry)
04/19/2021 - 34 Walleye (18)
03/03/2021 - 12,548 Walleye (9.17)
Spring 2020 - 128 Walleye (18)
spring 2020 - 32,212,721 Walleye (Fry)
July 2020 - 41,279 Walleye (4.1)
fall 2020 - 68,878 Walleye (8.8)
12/09/2020 - 3,593 Walleye (8.9)
spring 2019 - 38,538,369 Walleye (Fry)
November 2019 - 78,376 Walleye (9.5)
June 2019 - 4,575 Channel Catfish (2.4)
June 2019 - 1,580 Walleye (3.5)
09/27/2019 - 828 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (7.5)
07/01/2019 - 1,669 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (2)
06/19/2019 - 92,733 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.6)
06/13/2019 - 98 Walleye (14)
fall 2018 - 45,611 Walleye (9.5)
fall 2018 - 3,431 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (9.4)
11/02/2018 - 116 Channel Catfish (8.5)
07/03/2018 - 29,343 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.81)
06/29/2018 - 107,616 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.68)
06/18/2018 - 181 Walleye (3.5)
06/15/2018 - 25,350 Channel Catfish (1.4)
05/08/2018 - 38,300,000 Walleye (Fry)
6/30/2017 - 26,852 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (2")
6/28/2017 - 14,573 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (2")
6/20/2017 - 48,288 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.7")
6/15/2017 - 874 Walleye (3")
5/1/2017 - 2,600,000 Walleye (fry)
4/30/2017 - 3,000,000 Walleye (fry)
4/27/2017 - 7,258,777 Walleye (fry)
4/26/2017 - 5,400,000 Walleye (fry)
4/23/2017 - 2,100,000 Walleye (fry)
4/23/2017 - 2,200,000 Walleye (fry)
4/23/2017 - 3,000,000 Walleye (fry)
4/23/2017 - 4,400,000 Walleye (fry)
4/23/2017 - 6,400,000 Walleye (fry)
4/23/2017 - 7,900,000 Walleye (fry)
4/22/2017 - 5,200,000 Walleye (fry)
11/2/2017 - 2,796 Walleye (9")
11/15/2017 - 1,045 Walleye (9.3")
11/15/2017 - 3,545 Walleye (9.3")
10/9/2017 - 180 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (6.13")
10/31/2017 - 504 Walleye (9.9")
10/20/2017 - 2,456 Walleye (9.3")
10/20/2017 - 3,582 Walleye (9.3")
10/20/2017 - 3,951 Walleye (9.3")
10/20/2017 - 4,224 Walleye (9.3")
10/18/2017 - 972 Walleye (9.4")
10/18/2017 - 2,020 Walleye (9.4")
10/18/2017 - 2,096 Walleye (9.4")
10/18/2017 - 2,151 Walleye (9.4")
10/18/2017 - 3,533 Walleye (9.4")
10/18/2017 - 3,555 Walleye (9.4")
10/18/2017 - 3,621 Walleye (9.4")
10/18/2017 - 3,717 Walleye (9.4")
10/17/2017 - 811 Walleye (9.6")
10/17/2017 - 1,028 Walleye (9.6")
10/17/2017 - 3,384 Walleye (9.6")
10/17/2017 - 3,420 Walleye (9.6")
10/17/2017 - 3,433 Walleye (9.6")
10/17/2017 - 3,437 Walleye (9.6")
10/17/2017 - 3,446 Walleye (9.6")
10/17/2017 - 3,570 Walleye (9.6")
10/16/2017 - 487 Walleye (9.1")
10/16/2017 - 2,470 Walleye (9.1")
10/16/2017 - 3,605 Walleye (9.1")
10/16/2017 - 3,763 Walleye (9.1")
10/11/2017 - 11,551 Walleye (9.1")
spring 2016 - 52,400,000 Walleye (Fry)
fall 2016 - 87,899 Walleye (9.6")
6/29/16 - 43,866 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (Fingerling)
6/22/2016 - 79,663 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.5")
6/20/16 - 76,043 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (Fingerling)
5/11/16 - 2,427 Walleye (Adult)
10/13/16 - 1,347 Walleye (9.4")
annual 2015 - 80,500 Walleye (8")
10/13/2015 - 14,192 Walleye (8.8")
06/29/2015 - 20,911 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (2")
06/23/2015 - 185,495 Largemouth Bass (1,050/lb)
06/18/2015 - 102,747 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.6")
05/01/2015 - 9,863,955 Walleye (Fry)
04/22/2015 - 319 Walleye (18.5")
04/20/2015 - 18,097 Walleye (8")
04/01/2015 - 36,221,084 Walleye (Fry)
annual 2014 - 74,551 Walleye (8")
annual 2014 - 38,815,441 Walleye (Fry)
annual 2014 - 245,528 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (2")
10/24/2014 - 650 Largemouth Bass (5")
05/14/2014 - 4,525,454 Walleye (Fry)

Regulations

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:

Channel Catfish

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 15 fish
Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
Length Limit: none
Other:

Flathead Catfish

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 15 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: 15-inch minimum
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: 15-inch minimum length limit
Other:

White Bass

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: none
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other:

White Crappie

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined black and white crappie, 25 fish
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other:

Hybrid striped bass abundance continues to increase and fish approaching 9 lbs were sampled in 2020. Walleye abundance is increasing and fry survival in 2020 was good. These fish will be approximately 14 inches in spring 2022. Crappie growth was good and abundance is relatively high. Crappie angling in 2020 was excellent, especially in the spring. Fish up to 14 inches were abundant, most fish are 9 to 11 inches.(2020)

Fish Survey Data

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

Contacts

Adam Arnold, Conservation Officer; 641-777-2164; Adam.Arnold@dnr.iowa.gov
Dallas Davis, Conservation Officer; 641-777-2163; Dallas.Davis@dnr.iowa.gov
Mark Flammang, Fisheries Biologist; 641-647-2406; mark.flammang@dnr.iowa.gov

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

The vast majority of Iowa’s streams, rivers and lakes offer safe and high-quality fish that pose little or no threat to human health if consumed. Some limitations may apply for young children and pregnant women. Here’s a Fish Consumption Fact Sheet from the Iowa DNR and the Iowa Dept. of Public Health for more information.

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