Today's Best Fishing Times
Get the best fishing times for Rice Lake with Lake-Link's Fishing Forecast. SEE MORE
Share your catch!
We want to see what you've caught on Rice Lake.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rice Lake, MN
- How big is Rice Lake?
- How deep is Rice Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Rice Lake?
- What are the closest cities to Rice Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Rice Lake area?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Rice Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Rice Lake?
- Are there any state parks near Rice Lake?
How big is Rice Lake?
How deep is Rice Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Rice Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Hybrid Sunfish, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, Tadpole Madtom and White Sucker.
What are the closest cities to Rice Lake?
Are there places to stay in the Rice Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Lake-Link Featured Lodging
Rice Lake area businesses:
Are there places to eat and drink near Rice Lake?
Explore the Rice Lake area in a RV
Are you looking for an adventurous vacation option that won't break the bank? Look no further than renting an RV! Contrary to popular belief, the process is much simpler than you might imagine. With just a few easy steps, you'll soon be experiencing the ultimate freedom and convenience of exploring the open road in your very own recreational vehicle. And the best part? RV travel can save you up to 60% compared to other types of vacations! With the money you'll save, you'll be able to travel even more and create unforgettable memories along the way. So why wait? Start planning your next adventure today with an RV rental. Learn more about renting a RV.
What aquatic invasive species are found in Rice Lake?
Join us in the fight to prevent the spread of invasive species These sneaky creatures can hitch a ride on boats, clinging onto propellers, anchor lines, and trailers. They can even survive in hidden places like bilge water and ballast tanks, or disguise themselves in dirt and sand that sticks to nets, buckets, anchors, and waders. But don't worry, we have the power to stop them in their tracks with just a few simple steps. So let's do our part and protect our waters from these unwanted invaders.
History & Status of the Fishery
Rice Lake is an 817-acre lake located 4 miles northeast of Squaw Lake, MN. The lake is very shallow with a maximum depth of 5 ft. The Bowstring River enters the lake from Little Sand Lake on the south shore and outlets on the north shore. The lake was undeveloped except for a duck camp on the northwest shore. There was a concrete access on the inlet and a carry down access on the outlet. The lake is known mostly for duck hunting and wild rice harvesting, however, anglers fish for walleye, northern pike, and sunfish in the spring. This survey set 12 trap nets; gill nets were not set due to shallow water.
Walleye trap-net catch was 0.6/net and was similar to the average for similar lakes. The last survey was conducted in 1957 and used 12 nets of slightly different construction than were used in this assessment. In that survey the walleye catch rate was 0.4/net. Although walleye were not abundant, size structure was good and fish varied from 18 to 23 inches. Growth was similar to the statewide average with fish averaging 14 inches by age 3. It is likely that the walleye population in Rice Lake fluctuates, with walleye migrating upstream from Little Sand Lake in the spring and moving back downstream as water temperatures increase in summer. The substrate in Rice Lake is entirely muck and walleye natural reproduction is unlikely.
Northern pike trap-net catch was 2.3/net and was similar to the catch rate of 1.5/net in 1957. Size structure was poor and no fish larger than 24 inches were sampled. Growth was slow, but greater than 85% of the statewide average with fish averaging 23 inches in six years. Since Rice Lake is shallow, it likely serves as a spawning and nursery area for young northern pike. However, most adult fish are likely to migrate to deeper waters after the spawning season.
Bluegill trap-net catch was 2.8/net and was similar to the first quartile of 2.5/net. Bluegill were listed as a species present in the 1957 survey, but there was no mention of how many were sampled. Size structure was good with fish up to 9 inches sampled. Growth was fast, but still within 15% of the lake class average. Bluegill averaged 7.2 inches at age 4.
Pumpkinseed sunfish were the most abundant species sampled and had a catch rate of 9.7/trap net. Size structure was good with many fish sampled greater than 7 inches.
Yellow perch catch rate was 1.8/trap net and was similar to the expected range. Although not very abundant, yellow perch had good size structure with fish up to 11 inches sampled. Growth was similar to the statewide average with fish averaging 8.8 inches at age 5.
Brown bullhead were sampled at 5.8/trap net and were much less than the catch rate of 33.7/trap net sampled in 1957. At one time, Rice Lake was commercially netted for bullheads.
Other species sampled include black and yellow bullhead, bowfin, largemouth bass, shorthead and silver redhorse, tadpole madtom, and white sucker.
What is the average air temp for Rice Lake?
Are there any state parks near Rice Lake?
For more Minnesota State Park information see our State Park Guide.
More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around Rice Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Little Sand Lake | 1.9 mi | 353 | 19 ft |
| Natures Lake | 3.0 mi | 2,249 | 6 ft |
| Little Whitefish Lake | 3.1 mi | 160 | 15 ft |
| Lake Helen | 4.1 mi | 164 | 33 ft |
| Cedar Lake | 4.2 mi | 178 | 45 ft |
| Whitefish Lake | 4.4 mi | 564 | 51 ft |
| Bass Lake | 5.0 mi | 93 | 25 ft |
| Sand Lake | 5.1 mi | 3,575 | 70 ft |
| Dora Lake | 5.1 mi | 423 | 18 ft |
| Bass Lake | 5.2 mi | 210 | 40 ft |
