Iowa · United States

Rathbun Lake IA fishing forecast

58 Good of 100

Rathbun Lake IA is a freshwater fishing spot in Iowa, United States. Anglers here target Walleye, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass. The most productive months are typically April, May, June, July, August, September, October.

Quick answer

Best monthsApril, May, June, July

Top speciesWalleye, Crappie, Channel Catfish

Score now58/100

Local rulesUnited States — Federal Waters

Today’s verdict

Ranks #336 of 408 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today

Trending down — 11 points below this spot’s 7-day average

Score confidence ±12 points, from 6 live signals

The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.

Helping the score most

Water temperature+15.0Wind+5.4Barometric pressure+4.4

Pressure trend

Pressure data unavailable

Best window today

05:00 · Light wind (0 km/h) and calm seas

Next solunar peak

dawn 12:19

Current conditions

Sea surface temp	19.0 °C
Wind	21 km/h from SSE, gusting 34 km/h
Pressure	1013 hPa
Cloud cover	0%
Chlorophyll	0.23 mg/m³
Salinity	0.0 PSU
UV index	0
Wind sea	0.0 m
Ground swell	0.0 m at 0 s

The water is running true to season — within a few tenths of the October average of 19.0 °C for this location. The water is mixed to about 45.0 m, so surface temperature carries well down the water column.

Updated 1 h ago.

What the score means at Rathbun Lake IA

Rathbun Lake IA currently scores 58 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 19.0 °C. 6 forecast signals are active in this score.

Water temperature +15.0: how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
Wind +5.4: surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
Barometric pressure +4.4: falling pressure often triggers feeding
Moon phase +3.0: lunar feeding rhythm
Pre-storm bite +2.4: the classic feed before heavy weather
Gust factor +1.6: gustiness versus steady wind

What’s biting now

The model expects today: crappie, largemouth-bass, walleye, white-perch, golden-trout, rock-bass, brown-bullhead, pumpkinseed

Bite windows

Moon

New Moon · 0% lit

Solunar day rating

70 / 100

Best months for Rathbun Lake IA:

Score history at this spot

30 days tracked at this exact location

Best recent day: 2026-09-17, 80/100

20 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period

11 points below the same day last week

About this spot

Water type

Lake · Freshwater

Lakes have no tide, so target structure, drop-offs, and seasonal thermoclines where fish concentrate by depth and temperature.

Access & shore

Fishable from shore · beach

What you can catch

Walleye

Sander vitreus
Crappie

Pomoxis spp.
Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus
Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Best months by species at Rathbun Lake IA

WalleyeSander vitreus
CrappiePomoxis spp.
Channel CatfishIctalurus punctatus
Largemouth BassMicropterus salmoides

Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.

Local regulations

U.S. federal fisheries authority

United States — Federal Waters

Licensing:

saltwater-recreational — residents Federal Recreational Fishing License may be required in addition to state license when fishing federal (EEZ) waters., non-residents Same as residents. Many states require their own license even in federal waters.

Some rules may have changed since our last verification — always confirm with the authority before you fish.

FishRadar regulations are summaries only. Federal and state waters rules overlap — always verify current federal and state agency rules before fishing.