Rice Lake

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Rice Lake of Rice County is a 323 acre lake located southwest of the city of Shieldsville. The lake is accessible by small boat or canoe off of Kasson Trail, near the Cannon River outlet. Rice Lake is a shallow lake with an average depth of only 2.5 feet and a maximum depth of 6.7 feet. Based on lake characteristics, Rice Lake is placed in Lake Class 43. Other area lakes with this classification include Cody Lake (Rice County), Gorman Lake (Le Sueur County), and Wita Lake (Blue Earth County). Rice Lake is managed primarily for Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Yellow Perch and secondarily for Northern Pike. Rice Lake is susceptible to periodic winterkills, after which managed fish species are stocked if the community is not repopulated by the Cannon River. During the harsh winter of 2013-14, Rice Lake experienced dissolved oxygen levels below 1.0 parts per million, which likely resulted in at least a partial winterkill. Rice Lake was surveyed the week of July 13, 2015 as part of a standardized monitoring program conducted by the Minnesota DNR. This survey was intended to assess the fish community by deploying four gill nets and nine trap nets, as well as recording water quality parameters.

Black Crappie
The 2015 Black Crappie catch rate was 14.5 fish/gill net, which was an increase from the previous survey conducted in 2010 (8.9 fish/gill net) and slightly greater than the long-term average for Rice Lake (14.3 fish/gill net). The 2015 trap net catch rate of 9.7 fish/net was also an increase from 2010 (4.6 fish/net), but within the interquartile range for Lake Class 43 (1.2 - 20.5 fish/trap net). The size structure was small, as the average length of all Black Crappies sampled in the survey was 5.6 inches. Most fish in the survey were young, as 83% of the catch was age-1 or age-2. Black Crappies averaged 5.2 inches at age-1, 7.0 inches at age-2, and 8.5 inches at age-3. The small, young population in 2015 suggested that Black Crappie likely succumb to winterkill in 2013-14.

Bluegill
Bluegills averaged 47.7 fish/trap net, which was a decrease from the survey conducted in 2010 (100.7 fish/trap net) and near the long-term average for Rice Lake (50.5 fish/trap net). Only 9% of the Bluegills sampled from both gear types measured 6.0 inches or longer and the average length was 4.3 inches, which indicated a small size structure. Bluegills were aged using scales and averaged 4.1 inches by age-1, 6.2 inches by age-2, 6.9 inches by age-3, 7.6 inches by age-4, and 8.2 inches by age-5. Bluegills have not been stocked in Rice Lake and were present from natural reproduction and immigration from the Cannon River.

Yellow Perch
Yellow Perch were sampled in 2015 at a rate of 25.0 fish/gill net, which was an increase from the 2010 survey (5.0 fish/gill net) and was greater the long-term average for Rice Lake (19.2 fish/gill net). The Yellow Perch size structure was small, as only 5% of the sample was 8.0 inches or longer and the average length was 6.7 inches. About 83% of the aged fish were age-1 or age-2, so the population was composed primarily of young individuals. Yellow Perch averaged 5.7 inches at age-1, 6.8 inches at age-2, and 9.3 inches at age-3. Yellow Perch have not been stocked in Rice Lake, so the population recruited naturally.

Northern Pike
The 2015 Northern Pike gill net catch rate of 4.0 fish/net was less than the long-term average for Rice Lake (5.5 fish/net). Although the 2015 catch rate was similar to the 2010 catch rate, the average length decreased from 24.8 inches in 2010 to 16.9 inches in 2015. Ninety-five percent of the Northern Pike sampled in the 2015 survey were age-1 or age-2, which suggested that the population was composed of young individuals. Northern Pike averaged 14.5 inches at age-1 and 17.4 inches at age-2. Rice Lake has not been stocked with Northern Pike.

Largemouth Bass
Largemouth Bass were sampled in trap nets at a rate of 3.0 fish/net, which was the highest catch rate on record for Rice Lake. The average length of all Largemouth Bass from this survey was 8.7 inches, while the largest individual measured 14.5 inches. Most of the sample was composed of age-2 fish. The average length of Largemouth Bass was 8.3 inches at age-2 and 9.4 inches at age-3. The undeveloped shoreline of Rice Lake was lined with fallen timber and aquatic vegetation, such as white water lilies, which serve as beneficial habitat for Largemouth Bass and other fish species.

Black Bullhead
Black bullheads were abundant in the 2015 survey. Gill nets averaged 81.3 fish/net, which was similar to the 2010 catch rate of 76.2 fish/net. The highest Black Bullhead catch rate on record for Rice Lake was in 2005, when gill nets averaged 202.0 fish/net. Black Bullheads from the 2015 survey ranged in length from 4.3 to 14.2 inches and averaged 7.2 inches.

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Other Species
Common Carp averaged 3.2 fish/trap net, which was near the long-term average for Rice Lake (2.3 fish/trap net). Other fish species sampled in low abundance included Bowfin (N = 6), Bigmouth Buffalo (N = 2), Yellow Bullhead (N = 2), Pumpkinseed (N = 4), Green Sunfish (N = 1), hybrid sunfish (N = 1), and Golden Shiner (N = 1).

Angling Summary
At the time of the 2015 survey, the Rice Lake fish community was composed mainly of young, small populations of Black Crappie, Bluegill, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch. Rice Lake was suspected to have winterkilled during the harsh winter of 2013-14, so the fish community was still rebounding in 2015. Size structures of all fish populations should continue to increase as the community becomes established.

Anglers can play an important role in maintaining or improving a fish population by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest allows for the harvest of smaller fish for consumption, while encouraging the release of medium to large fish that may contribute to natural reproduction. This practice helps maintain balance in the fish populations and provides anglers the opportunity to catch more and larger fish in the future. Additionally, smaller fish often taste better and have fewer contaminants than larger, older fish from the same water body.

Shoreline property owners also play an important role in the overall health of an aquatic ecosystem, including the fish population. Natural shorelines, including vegetation, woody debris, and bottom substrates, provide valuable habitat for fish and wildlife, help maintain water quality, and reduce bank erosion. Cattails and bulrushes are particularly beneficial for fish spawning, rearing, and feeding. By leaving natural shorelines unaltered or restoring them to natural conditions, shoreline property owners are doing their part to maintain or improve a healthy ecosystem in the lake and protect the resource for future generations.

-Kip Rounds, Fisheries Specialist

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