Rathbun Lake
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Rathbun Lake Fishing Reports
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Reports from all past years within a 60-day time frame
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Spring (Spawn)
Technique
Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip)
Structure
Laydowns
Water Temperature
53°
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Topwater Walking
Structure
Rip Rap
Forage
Bluegill
Water Temperature
75°
First time at Rathbun with my dad and son and initially were going to chase crappie. We could only catch the 7-9” ones so I changed it up to largemouth. I started with a shower blow and instantly was catching fish. I tied on the choppo for the other 2 and they were having a blast with their top water blow ups! We just looked for rocky banks and covered water.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Bladed Jigs
Structure
Rip Rap
Forage
Crappie
Water Temperature
76°
Find Rip Rap near the dam and get to work with a chatterbait. They're eating smaller crappie and shad there. I found the green pumpkin original chatterbait with a silver blade really stood out and gave flash in the muddy stained water.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Drop Shot
Structure
Rock Pile
Water Temperature
84°
We find muddy points that where are around 10 to 6 feet and throw a drop shot since they were very lethargic
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Buzzbaits
Structure
Rip Rap
Forage
Bluegill
Water Temperature
78°
It was a challenging tournament but seemed to make the most out of the morning bite throwing a buzz-bait down as much bank as you could possibly go. Once the sun got up it was a good idea to go swinging and throw a big jig around.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Soft Jerkbaits
Structure
Rip Rap
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
77°
First time at Rathbun practicing for TBF qualifier today so didn’t get a lot of time with a rod in my hand but what time I did I was able to catch a few fish fishing a fluke very shallow over rip rap quickly to get a reaction bite but the most productive bit for better fish was dragging a swing head on step ledges. Every species seemed to like that approach as well caught many flatheads, walleyes, and even a few drum.
Species
CrappieSeason
Summer
Technique
Vertical Jigging 10-19'
Structure
Laydowns
Forage
Shad
8/14/22-8/16/2022. Fishing was tough because of the cold front and weather change. Locals said the fish were jaw locked because of the weather. Wipers were the targeted species but they were no where to be found even when tons of bait were around, usually you can catch a few or more with baitfish around. Small white bass were caught here and there but no real school of them. The Walleye and the crappie bite were better than the wipers. You can find tons of crappies and walleye sitting on underwater laydowns and stumps in 8-17FOW. Verticle jigging a small gulp worked well for crappies and a blade bait worked well for walleyes. Rock piles did not produce any fish but the baitfish were all over it.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip)
Structure
Docks
Forage
Crawfish
Water Temperature
82°
I caught some on a stingy Rathbun. Was able to get some decent quality bites flippin around a stick bait.
Walleye
