Built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood control and now one of the largest lakes in the state of Iowa, Rathbun Lake is a beautiful lake in south-central Iowa that offers an excellent variety of watersports, fishing, and outdoor recreational activities of all kinds. Located in Appanoose County, the lake is ideal for boating, sailing, and swimming and is home to the largest warm-water fish hatchery in the state, so is an excellent spot to fish for crappie, channel catfish, largemouth bass, and walleye. Eight parks are situated around the lake’s shoreline, which provide camping sites and picnic areas, public docks, boat ramps, and children’s playgrounds, along with an 18-hole golf course and huge indoor waterpark at the state-run Honey Creek State Park Resort.