Prairie Rose Lake is a 210-acre lake in the rolling hills of southwest Iowa, the heart of Prairie Rose State Park near Harlan. A pleasant family-and-fishing lake with a beach, campground and good bass-and-walleye action, it’s a well-used recreation spot in Shelby County.
This guide covers Prairie Rose Lake: the fishing, the state park, and access. It’s part of our growing Iowa Lakes Database.
Prairie Rose Lake at a glance
- Surface area: ~210 acres at Prairie Rose State Park
- Location: Shelby County, southwest Iowa (near Harlan)
- Top fish: largemouth bass, walleye, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, wiper
Fishing Prairie Rose Lake
Prairie Rose is a solid warmwater fishery: largemouth bass, walleye, crappie, bluegill and channel catfish, with wiper (hybrid striped bass) also stocked. An Iowa fishing license is required. The lake’s coves and structure make it a good bass-and-panfish water, and it fishes well from the bank, jetties and boats, with winter ice fishing popular.
The state park
Prairie Rose State Park offers a swimming beach, a campground, cabins, picnic shelters, boat ramps and trails through the wooded, rolling terrain. Boating, paddling, swimming and fishing all thrive here, making it a popular getaway for the Harlan area and southwest Iowa. The park’s namesake wild prairie roses bloom in early summer.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Prairie Rose Lake is east of Harlan in Shelby County, southwest Iowa, off IA-44, about 1 hour northeast of Council Bluffs. The southwest-Iowa countryside and the Danish-heritage towns of Elk Horn and Kimballton are nearby.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: an Iowa license is required.
- Family park: a beach, campground and cabins make for an easy weekend.
- Best seasons: spring through fall for bass, walleye and panfish; winter for ice fishing.
Frequently asked questions
What fish are in Prairie Rose Lake?
Largemouth bass, walleye, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish and wiper (hybrid striped bass).
Where is Prairie Rose Lake?
East of Harlan in Shelby County, southwest Iowa, off IA-44, about an hour northeast of Council Bluffs.
Related: explore the small lakes of Iowa, or head back to the Iowa Lakes Database.
