Rice Lake

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 eat and drink near Rice Lake?

Rice Lake is a shallow, heavily vegetated lake that is the lowermost of the headwater lakes in the Poplar River watershed. Despite a rough access, it reportedly sees a fair amount of angling use. The lake is currently managed for Walleye, although it also supports minor fisheries for Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch. Goals for the Walleye population, established in the 2011 lake management plan (LMP), are to maintain a minimum gill net catch of 10 fish/set, with some fish over 20 inches in length.

Walleye were present in fair numbers in 2021, although the Walleye gill net catch was the second-lowest seen to date in this lake. Most of the fish taken fell within the 12 to 20-inch size range; larger fish were apparently scarce. The 2021 Walleye catch fell within the normal range for a lake of this type, but was well short of the goal in the 2011 LMP, although the size goal was met. All Walleye sampled in 2021 had been naturally produced (this lake has never been stocked), including a relatively large number of young-of-year (YOY) Walleye taken in 0.25-inch-mesh trap nets. Ten year classes, including fish up to 26 years of age, were represented in the overall catch in 2021, with some indication that moderately strong 2012 and 2018 year classes were produced. Growth of young Walleye had been average for the area, with fish reaching a mean length of 11.6 inches at the end of their third year.

Northern Pike were fairly abundant in 2021, but despite the capture of one large fish (42 inches), most were small. The gill net catch was within the normal range for a lake of this type, and was similar to past catches in this lake. No Northern Pike were aged in this survey; from their lengths it appeared that most were one or two years of age.

Yellow Perch were apparently abundant in 2021, and enough larger fish were present to provide some angling opportunity. The gill net catch was above the normal range for a lake of this type, but was not unusually high for this lake historically, where the species has generally been abundant. About 34% of fish taken in gill nets were over eight inches in length (up to 11.3 inches). Yellow Perch also provided an excellent forage base for Walleye and Northern Pike in 2021.

Anglers on Rice Lake might encounter an occasional Musky. Although none were sampled in the 2021 survey, Muskellunge do sometimes make their way down to Rice Lake from Crescent Lake, where they are fairly abundant. Muskellunge in this system tend to be small, since all are descended from stockings of Shoepack lake strain fish in the 1970s.

Smallmouth Bass were present in fair numbers in Rice Lake in 2021, with fish up to 16 inches in length sampled. Smallmouth Bass were first sampled in Rice Lake in 2006, after having been illegally introduced in Crescent Lake in the late 1990s. The 2021 gill net catch fell just within the normal range for a Class 12 lake.

A few Pumpkinseed Sunfish were taken in the 2021 survey, marking the first time that species had been found in Rice Lake. They were too few in numbers, and too small, to have been of much interest to anglers. Johnny Darter and Longnose Dace were also collected for the first time in Rice Lake in 2021.

Are there any state parks near Rice Lake?