Rathbun Lake – nicknamed “Iowa’s Ocean” – is one of the largest reservoirs in the state, an 11,000-acre lake on the Chariton River in south-central Iowa renowned for its crappie and walleye fishing and anchored by a full-service resort state park. Big, open and welcoming, it’s a destination for anglers, boaters and families looking for a lakeside getaway in southern Iowa.
This guide covers Rathbun Lake: the fishing and hatchery, Honey Creek Resort, the recreation, and access. It’s part of our growing Iowa Lakes Database.
Rathbun Lake at a glance
- Surface area: ~11,000 acres on the Chariton River – “Iowa’s Ocean”
- Location: Appanoose County, south-central Iowa (near Centerville)
- Built: Rathbun Dam, completed 1969 (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
- Top fish: crappie, walleye, white bass, channel catfish, bluegill, largemouth bass
Fishing Rathbun Lake
Rathbun is one of Iowa’s premier fishing lakes, especially for crappie, which draw anglers from across the Midwest, and walleye, supported by the adjacent Rathbun Fish Hatchery – the state’s largest, a major source of walleye for waters all over Iowa. White bass, channel catfish, bluegill and largemouth bass round out the catch. An Iowa fishing license is required. The lake’s many timbered coves and creek arms make it a structure-rich fishery, productive spring through fall and through the ice.
Honey Creek Resort State Park
Rathbun is home to Honey Creek Resort State Park, Iowa’s only full-service resort state park, with a lakeside lodge, cabins, an indoor water park, a marina and an 18-hole golf course. It makes Rathbun a genuine four-season vacation destination – fish and boat in summer, then retreat to the lodge – and a popular spot for families and conferences alike.
Recreation and access
Beyond the resort, the Corps and state provide campgrounds, beaches, marinas and boat ramps around the big lake, supporting boating, water sports, swimming and camping. With this much open water, there’s room for everyone, and the southern-Iowa setting of rolling farmland and woods is quiet and scenic.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Rathbun Lake is northwest of Centerville in south-central Iowa, about 1.5 hours southeast of Des Moines off US-5/IA-2. The historic town squares of Centerville and the southern Iowa countryside surround it.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: an Iowa license is required.
- Resort booking: Honey Creek Resort fills up – reserve the lodge, cabins and water park ahead.
- Best seasons: spring and fall for crappie and walleye; summer for the resort and water sports.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Rathbun Lake called “Iowa’s Ocean”?
For its size – at around 11,000 acres it’s one of the largest reservoirs in Iowa, big enough to feel like an inland sea.
What fish are in Rathbun Lake?
Crappie (a specialty), walleye, white bass, channel catfish, bluegill and largemouth bass. The Rathbun Fish Hatchery is Iowa’s largest.
What is Honey Creek Resort?
Iowa’s only full-service resort state park, on Rathbun Lake, with a lodge, cabins, an indoor water park, a marina and a golf course.
Where is Rathbun Lake?
In Appanoose County, south-central Iowa, near Centerville, about 1.5 hours southeast of Des Moines.
Related: explore more of the largest lakes in Iowa, or head back to the Iowa Lakes Database.
