Rathbun Lake
lake in Iowa
Rathbun in south-central Iowa is one of the state's premier warmwater lake destinations for bass-focused fly anglers, with marinas and state-park access points.
Conditions right now
No USGS gauge is linked to this water yet, so we can't chart flows.
Cool fall conditions (49°F
- 01Cool fall conditions (49°F, fog, light winds) on Rathbun Lake.
- 02Subsurface bite is key due to cooler water temperatures.
- 03Midges, damselfly nymphs, crayfish, and leeches are primary food sources.
- 04Top flies include Woolly Bugger (Olive), Clouser Minnow (Bass) (Chartreuse/White), Mysis Shrimp (Nymph), Crayfish (Fly) (Olive/Rust), Perch Pattern, Chironomid Pupa, Flashback Hare's Ear Nymph, and Damsel Nymph (Olive).
- 05Focus on lake structure like points, humps, drop-offs, and weed beds.
Past reports week by week
8 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Damsel Nymph (Olive)
Damsel nymphs are present in weed beds year-round, making this olive pattern effective when stripped slowly along the bottom near vegetation for Crappie, Bluegill, and Walleye.
Woolly Bugger (Olive)
A versatile year-round streamer effective for imitating leeches and baitfish, which are active food sources for predatory species like Walleye, Crappie, and Bluegill in colder fall waters.
Clouser Minnow (Bass) (Chartreuse/White)
A universal baitfish imitation, effective year-round for predatory species like Walleye, Crappie, and Bluegill in clear to stained lake waters, especially as baitfish school up in fall.
Mysis Shrimp (Nymph)
Mysis shrimp are a consistent food source in large lakes like Rathbun, and fishing this pattern dead drift near the bottom can be highly effective for subsurface feeding Walleye, Crappie, and Bluegill in fall.
Crayfish (Fly) (Olive/Rust)
Crayfish are a primary food source for Walleye and Largemouth Bass in rocky areas of Rathbun Lake, making this a crucial subsurface pattern for aggressive fish in the fall.
Perch Pattern
Perch fry are a significant baitfish in lakes, and fall is prime time for larger predatory fish like Walleye to key in on these imitations. Crappie and Bluegill will also opportunistically strike.
Chironomid Pupa
Chironomids (midges) are a consistent food source in lakes from spring through fall, and this pupa pattern is highly effective for Walleye, Crappie, and Bluegill feeding subsurface.
Buy at AmazonFlashback Hare's Ear Nymph
An excellent general searching nymph, mimicking various aquatic insects that are active year-round in lakes, effective for Walleye, Crappie, and Bluegill, especially in deeper or off-color water.
Where to fish and who to ask
Honey Creek State Park / Rathbun
A primary park access and marina area used by fly anglers to reach flats, points and weedlines.
Rathbun Marina
Marina access point for boat-based fly fishing to flats and creek channel edges.
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Iowa season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Read before you go
Quick answers
Common questions about Rathbun Lake.
What flies work best on Rathbun Lake?
Our top scored fly patterns for Rathbun Lake right now are Damsel Nymph (Olive) (80% confidence), Perch Pattern (80% confidence), Scud (Pink/Orange) (80% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Rathbun Lake?
Rathbun Lake holds Crappie, Bluegill, Walleye. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
Is Rathbun Lake fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Rathbun Lake each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.