Share your catch

Red Rock Lake Fishing Report

Updated Fri, Sep 4, 2026 from live gauge and weather data

Iowa’s biggest lake: Red Rock spreads across the Des Moines River, full of white bass, crappie and catfish.

3/5
Fair. Fish the windows.A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day.
Flow
1,350 cfs
Air / High
94 / 95 F
Wind
SSW 13 mph

Sources: USGS gauge 05488110, Open-Meteo, solunar calculated for these coordinates.

Satellite view
Friday
4
September 2026

Today's Fishing Report

Generated this morning from live readings: gauge, weather model, sun and moon. A fresh report is published here every morning.

3/5Fair. Fish the windows.A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day.

Red Rock Lake offers the kind of conditions this water was made for. The river is running 1,350 cfs, dropping and clearing. Today brings clear skies, wind SSW around 13 mph, steady pressure near 1010 hPa and a high of 95. Water sits around 66 F for the season (estimated). With the last quarter, the solunar majors run 5:39 AM-7:39 AM and 5:39 PM-7:39 PM: the windows to build the day around.

The plan, species by species

WalleyeGood

Jig and minnow on rock reefs and points; the evening bite on wind-blown shores is the one to plan around.

Northern pikeGood

Weedline spinnerbaits, spoons and jerkbaits; bays with fresh green weed hold the active fish.

White bassFair

The spring river run: small crankbaits and roadrunners up the tributaries.

CrappieSlow

Spawning shallow around cover in spring; jigs under a float near buck brush and laydowns.

Tomorrow: Similar at 95 F. The solunar majors shift about 50 minutes later.Next report: Sat, Sep 5, 6:30 AMHow this report is made →

Water and weather

Live readings from Des Moines River near Pella (below dam).

Flow, last 30 days

USGS gauge 05488110.

5,05111,92518,7991,350 cfs08/0508/1508/2509/04

Right now

Latest readings

Air temp94 F
High / Low95 / 72 F
WindSSW 13-17 mph
Pressure1009.9 hPa, steady
Sky / Rain4% cloud, 5%
Sunrise / Sunset06:41 / 19:40
MoonLast Quarter, 50%
Water temp (seasonal)~66 F est.

Bite planner

Hour-by-hour bite forecast for today. Tap a bar to see why.

5 AM8 AM11 AM2 PM5 PM8 PMsunrisesunsetPRIMEPRIME

Next 7 days

Tap a day for the detailed outlook.

Fri Sep 4 · Overcast, 95/72 F, wind 13 mph, rain 5%

Fair or better. A 13 mph breeze puts a working chop on the banks it hits: fish the wind-blown side.

Species guide

The species that matter on Red Rock Lake: seasons, structure and how to fish each one. Today's ratings live in the report above.

Walleye illustration

Walleye

Best: May-Jun, Oct

The glass-eyed prize of northern lakes. Low light, wind-blown structure and live bait. Jig and minnow on rock reefs and points; the evening bite on wind-blown shores is the one to plan around.

White bass illustration

White bass

Best: Mar-May run

River-run spawners and open-water schoolers. Fast limits when you find them. The spring river run: small crankbaits and roadrunners up the tributaries.

Northern pike illustration

Northern pike

Best: spring, early winter

The ambush predator of weedbeds and cabbage edges. Aggressive, big and always worth a wire leader. Weedline spinnerbaits, spoons and jerkbaits; bays with fresh green weed hold the active fish.

Crappie illustration

Crappie

Best: Nov-Mar

Brush piles, bridge pilings and standing timber. The fish fry favorite. Spawning shallow around cover in spring; jigs under a float near buck brush and laydowns.

When to come: the Red Rock Lake calendar

Activity by species and month, and how the water warms through the year. Tap any cell.

Species activity by month

1 = slow, 5 = peak. Current month highlighted.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Walleye
White bass
Northern pike
Crappie
SlowPeak

Water temperature through the year

Typical surface temperature for this water type; today is around 66 F (estimated, not a reading).

304050607080JanMarMayJulSepNovSep, ~66 F now

Angler reports

Real reports from real anglers, reviewed before publishing. The water log below tracks each day automatically.

No angler reports yet this weekBe the first: your report helps every angler who checks Red Rock Lake today, and we feature the best catch of the week.

Water log, last days

Auto-logged from live data
Thu, Sep 3

5/5 Excellent. Go now. Everything lines up: pressure, wind and light are in your favor. Walleye led the card at excellent. High of 95 F, wind to 11 mph.

Wed, Sep 2

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Walleye led the card at excellent. High of 95 F, wind to 10 mph.

Tue, Sep 1

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Walleye led the card at excellent. High of 95 F, wind to 10 mph.

Where roughly, what depth, what bait. Skip anything you want to keep secret.
Only used to send you this water's report each week. No spam, ever.

Before you go

License

Iowa requires a valid fishing license for adults. Buy online from the state agency; one-day options exist for visitors.

Regulations

Iowa license. White bass, crappie and catfish limits per current Iowa DNR regulations.

Access

Corps ramps, campgrounds and Cordova Park; tailwater access below the dam.

About this water

A 15,000-acre Corps flood-control reservoir on the Des Moines River, Marion County, Iowa: the state’s largest lake.

Fishing Red Rock Lake: the full guide

The state’s largest body of water

Lake Red Rock covers about 15,000 acres at conservation pool on the Des Moines River southeast of Des Moines, the largest lake in Iowa. It is a flood-control reservoir with dramatic level swings, shallow and often turbid, and the fishery matches: white bass in enormous numbers, crappie, channel and flathead catfish, walleye and largemouth bass.

White bass and crappie

White bass are the signature fishery: they school over the open water and run the river arms in spring, providing some of the fastest fishing in Iowa when located. Small jigs, spoons and spinners work: find the birds or the surface activity and cast into it. Crappie stack around timber, brush and the riprap, with spring and fall the peaks.

Catfish and walleye

Channel and flathead catfish grow large in the fertile, turbid water, taking cut and live bait on the flats and channel edges. Walleye hold the riprap, points and the tailwater below the dam, with the tailrace concentrating fish in the current. The turbidity favors vibration and contrast in bait selection over natural presentations.

Marion County logistics

Corps ramps, campgrounds and the Cordova Park area serve the lake, with the Volksweg Trail providing shoreline access. Water levels swing enormously with flood control: after heavy rain the lake can rise many feet, flooding access roads. Check current elevation before traveling. Pella and Knoxville are the nearby towns.

Common questions

What is the main fishery?

White bass in enormous numbers, especially during the spring river run and summer open-water schooling.

How turbid is it?

Often quite: a shallow flood-control lake on a silty river. Vibration and contrast beat natural presentations.

Does the level really swing?

Dramatically: heavy rain can raise it many feet and flood access roads. Always check current elevation.

Is fishing good at Red Rock Lake right now?

Check the daily report at the top of this page: it is regenerated every morning from live data. Today's read: Fair. Fish the windows. A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day.

Nearby waters

Rathbun Lake37 miSaylorville Lake43 miLake MacBride79 miCoralville Lake79 miCedar River79 miClear Lake123 mi
Share your catch