Rice Lake

How big is Rice Lake?

How deep is Rice Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Rice Lake?

Are there topographical lake maps available Rice Lake?

We have an topograpical map for online viewing near the top of this page. Lake-Link Pro users can download an print a topograpical map of Rice Lake (.pdf format) along with 2,700 more lake maps. For more information on all the benefits of Lake-Link Pro click here.

Rice Lake East

Rice Lake West

Are there boat launches on Rice Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Rice Lake?

What aquatic invasive species are found in Rice Lake?

A population assessment of Rice Lake was conducted in late-July of 2014. Rice is a large, moderately deep, and productive lake located in Stearns County. There are two public access sites on Rice. The lake is highly developed with approximately 288 homes and cabins. In addition, the city of Paynesville is within four miles of the lake. The immediate shoreline area is a mixture of hardwoods and residential development with lesser amounts of wetlands, grassland, and pasture areas. The surrounding watershed is a mixture of rolling hardwood and row crop areas, feedlots/pastures, wetlands, and residential development. The largest inlet and nutrient contributor is the North Fork of the Crow River, which enters Rice along the southwest corner and outlets about 100 yards south of where it enters the lake. Nutrient runoff enters Rice from agricultural row crops, feedlots/pasture areas, city storm sewer, and lake residential sources. Water clarity was poor during July 23, 2014 (secchi=2.3 feet). Dissolved oxygen levels were less 1 ppm below 15 feet deep during the survey. Water levels were high during June and July of 2014 from inlets due to rain events, but low by fall. A slow no-wake zone was put in place for lakes in Kandiyohi and Stearns Counties during June thru early July of 2014. High water levels due to rain events resulted in some shoreline erosion in addition to many docks and boat lifts floating away from their moorings. Aquatic vegetation densities are variable in the lake on a yearly basis. Curly-leaf pondweed can often become dense in the bay and near shore littoral areas of Rice Lake. Curly-leaf pondweed can provide important cover for young and adult fish species during early summer, especially in shallow lakes/bays lacking native submergent vegetation cover. However, the release of phosphorus and nitrogen from dead/decaying curly-leaf pondweed during mid-July may exasperate conditions for more intense blue-green algae occurrences in Rice. Severe blue-green algae blooms are a common occurrence on Rice during mid to late summer. Emergent vegetation stands (cattails) are limited within the lake (outlet area and north bay).

Rice Lake is upstream and connects to Lake Koronis via the North Fork of the Crow River. Walleye from both Rice and Koronis spawn in the North Fork of the Crow River upstream of Rice Lake. Walleye also spawn adjacent to an east shore point area in Rice. Both Rice and Koronis are periodic walleye egg take sites for the statewide walleye propagation program. Historic spawning sites for walleye in Rice Lake (i.e. east shore point) have been degraded in recent years with increased sedimentation, algal and periphyton growth. A northern pike spawning area is located along the northwest shore of the northeast bay. Rice is managed primarily for walleye with northern pike, black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and yellow perch as secondary species.

Black crappie numbers were abundant in 2014 (10.53 fish/trapnet) compared to the historical average of 6.94 fish/trapnet. The black crappie average size was moderate (0.44 pounds and 8.60 inches) from trapnets. The black crappie historical average length is 8.29 inches from trapnets. There were abundant numbers of moderate sized (8.00 plus inches) black crappie (8.07 fish/trapnet) from trapnets. Black crappie growth rates were moderate. Abundant numbers of black crappie were captured from several year classes (2013, 2011, and 2010) in 2014.

Bluegill numbers were moderate in 2014 (12.47 fish/trapnet) and similar to the historical average of 14.58 fish/trapnet. The 2014 bluegill average size was moderate (0.19 pounds and 5.76 inches) from trapnets. The bluegill historical average length is 5.37 inches from trapnets. Bluegill growth rates were generally excellent. There were multiple good bluegill year classes present in the 2014 survey catch. The largest bluegill captured was 9.1 inches from a trapnet in 2014.

Northern pike numbers were abundant in 2014 (9.60 fish/gillnet) compared to similar lakes and the historical average of 4.33 fish/gillnet. The northern pike average size was small (2.67 pounds and 21.95 inches) from gillnets. The northern pike historical average length is 22.39 inches from gillnets. There were low numbers of larger (28.00 plus inches) northern pike (0.60 fish/gillnet). Northern pike growth rates were poor for ages 1-4, but moderate to excellent for ages 5-7. The 2011 year class comprised 50% of the 2014 northern pike catch. The largest northern pike captured was 35.0 inches from a trapnet in 2014. Local residents reported good spearing success during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 winters, but fair during the 2014-15 winter due in part to poor clarity.

Smallmouth bass numbers were moderate in 2014 (0.60 fish/gillnet) compared to the historical average of 0.28 fish/gillnet. The smallmouth bass average size was large (2.38 pounds and 16.29 inches) from gillnets. The smallmouth bass historical average length is 15.28 inches from gillnets. The largest smallmouth bass captured was 18.9 inches in the 2014 assessment.

Largemouth bass numbers were moderate in 2014 (0.47 fish/trapnet) for Rice and compared to similar lakes. The largemouth bass historical average catch rate is 0.40 fish/trapnet. The 2014 largemouth bass average size was large (2.53 pounds and 16.44 inches) from trapnets. Local anglers have reported higher catches of bass numbers and quality sizes in recent years for Rice Lake. Anglers often seek both smallmouth bass and largemouth bass in shallow basins like the north bay or nearby Mud Lake located downstream of Rice Lake via the North Fork of the Crow River during the early summer months.

Yellow perch numbers were moderate in 2014 (17.60 fish/gillnet), but below the historical average of 28.78 fish/gillnet. The yellow perch average size was small (0.10 pounds and 5.94 inches) from gillnets. The yellow perch historical average length is 6.89 inches from gillnets.

Walleye numbers were moderate in 2014 (10.60 fish/gillnet) compared to the historical average of 10.01 fish/gillnet. The 2014 walleye average size was moderate to large (1.81 pounds and 15.92 inches) from gillnets. The walleye historical average length is 15.84 inches from gillnets. There were abundant numbers of moderate sized (15.00 plus inches) walleye (6.80 fish/gillnet). Walleye growth rates were moderate for ages 1-5, but excellent for ages 6-8. There were multiple walleye year classes present in the 2014 assessment. The 2011 and 2013 year classes comprised 29% and 21% respectively of the 2014 walleye catch. The largest walleye captured was 27.4 inches in a 2014 trapnet.

Moderate or good young of year "YOY" walleye year classes due either to natural reproduction or fry stocking were recently documented in 2011 (150.00 YOY/hour, 6.27 inches average), 2013 (37.33 YOY/hour, 6.31 inches average) and 2014 (82.00 YOY/hour, 5.98 inches average) fall electrofishing surveys. Various combinations of walleye fingerlings, yearlings and adults were stocked in Rice during 2007 (25,310 fish, 2,556 pounds), 2008 (417 fish, 330 pounds) and 2010 (15,281, 1,923 pounds) due to poor fry survival either from stocking or natural reproduction during those years as documented in summer or fall surveys from 2005-2010.

Walleye fry (1-2 million each year) were stocked during 2001-2014 as a 10% return of walleye eggs taken for the DNR statewide walleye hatching program. Approximately 62% of the YOY walleye captured in both the 2011 and 2013 fall electrofishing surveys were OTC marked fish from fry stockings.

Black bullhead numbers were low in 2014 (0.20 fish/gillnet) compared to the historical average of 23.96 fish/gillnet. The 2014 black bullhead average weight (1.38 pounds) was large and above the Rice historical average (0.73 pounds) for gillnets.

Other species of interest captured in 2014 included high numbers of white sucker (6.20 fish/gillnet); moderate numbers of shorthead redhorse (3.60 fish/gillnet), yellow bullhead (3.20 fish/gillnet), and carp (1.93 fish/trapnet). The 2014 average size was 2.45 pounds for shorthead redhorse, 1.94 pounds for white sucker, 1.02 pounds for yellow bullhead, and 7.78 pounds for carp.

Current fish management activities on Rice include protecting important aquatic vegetation through the permit process, participating in local watershed projects, assisting aquatic plant management and enforcement personnel with invasive species monitoring and education, considering potential curly leaf pondweed management options, operating the northern pike spawning area as needed, and stocking walleye fry or fingerlings as required or needed. The Rice Lake fishery will be surveyed during the 2015 fall for YOY walleye numbers and 2017 for a population assessment.

What is the average air temp for Rice Lake?

Are there any state parks near Rice Lake?