Lake Red Rock
Red Rock Reservoir is Iowa's largest lake at 15,250 acres, with a maximum depth of 44 feet. Iowa DNR reports good crappie and white bass numbers and abundant channel catfish.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Channel Catfish
Abundant at all sizes up to 30 in
Crappie
Black 5-14 in, white 6-15 in
White Bass
Good numbers 4.5-8 in
Largemouth Bass
Good around rock habitat
Walleye
Stocked annually; mostly incidental
Wiper
Occasional, 2-15 lb; stocked
Bluegill
Listed
Northern Pike
Listed
Flathead Catfish
Listed
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Channel Catfish | ||||||||||||
| Crappie | ||||||||||||
| White Bass | ||||||||||||
| Largemouth Bass |
Boat launches
7 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Hard-surface boat rampsRampDNR lists boat access, rental and hard-surface ramp; individual ramps not namedDirections ↗
- 2Red Rock Marina RampPublicPublic boat ramp, Iowa DNR listing; restroomsDirections ↗
- 3Whitebreast AccessPublicPublic boat ramp and water access; Whitebreast Camp (132 sites) nearby has a boat rampDirections ↗
- 4Elk Rock A AccessPublicPublic boat ramp, Knoxville area, Iowa DNR listingDirections ↗
- 5Elk Rock B AccessPublicPublic boat ramp near Knoxville, Iowa DNR listingDirections ↗
- 6North Overlook (Red Rock Dam) RampPublicBoat ramp at North Overlook Campground near Pella; part of Red Rock Water Trail; USGS listingDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee the state agency or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 15 in | 3 (black bass combined) |
| Walleye | See Iowa rules book ↗ | 5 |
| Crappie | See Iowa rules book ↗ | 25 |
| Bluegill | See Iowa rules book ↗ | 25 |
| Channel Catfish | See Iowa rules book ↗ | 15 (cats combined) |
| Northern Pike | See Iowa rules book ↗ | 3 |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Iowa Department of Natural Resources ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Red Rock Quick StopNearby977 198th Place, Pella, IADirections ↗
Local tips
- Largemouth hold on rock habitat; 15 in. minimum.
- Zebra mussels were found in 2024; clean, drain and dry gear.
- Walleye are mostly an incidental catch.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Lake Red Rock.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.