The Gorgeous, Little-Known Lake Is One Of The Most Underrated Fishing Spots In Iowa

During warmer weather, Iowa's lakes are full of freshwater bounty. That means some of the most popular lakes like Black Hawk Lake can be pretty crowded - which means we're always on the lookout for a great fishing lake in Iowa that many people don't know about yet. We found exactly that at Prairie Rose State Park, one of Iowa's more laid-back state parks. It's home to Prairie Rose Lake, a massive, fully stocked lake that is ideal for taking home the catch of the day. It's an ideal destination when you're looking to spend the day on the water, enjoy the pride of a well-won catch, and have plenty of beautiful nature to explore.

Surrounded by a 5.7-mile loop trail, Prairie Rose Lake is the heart of its state park.

This massive freshwater lake offers beautiful views, and it'll usually be surrounded by anglers looking to reel in the catch of the day.

And oh, boy, there is catch to be had! Among the highlights here are bluegill (pictured), largemouth bass, and catfish, as well as crappie and sunfish.

When you're done fishing, take a break and explore the loop trail.

It's an easy hike primarily on a safe and well-maintained boardwalk.

This is a dog-friendly park - feel free to bring your good boy or girl to keep you company, as long as they're on a leash.

Whatever you do, make sure to stick around for sunset over Prairie Rose Lake - it's truly stunning.

Have you fished at Prairie Rose Lake before? Let us know about your time at this laid-back fishing lake in Iowa in the comments section! You can see more of the lake trail on the official AllTrails trail listing, and make sure to check out the Iowa DNR website for more info on Prairie Rose State Park. While you're in the area, why not pay a visit to Harlan - we think it's the friendliest town in Iowa.

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