Minnesota · Hennepin County
Rice Lake Fishing guide
Rice Lake is a 366-acre lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota, reaching 11.5 ft at its deepest point. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 3 times, most recently in 1994, with largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill and crappie in the nets. That survey is 32 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
The DNR last surveyed Rice Lake in 1994. Ratings need a survey from the last 20 years, so this page lists the species from that older record without numbers.
- Largemouth bass
- Northern pike
- Bluegill
- Crappie
- Yellow perch
How to fish Rice Lake through the year
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. With 97% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze. A 11.5-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Bluegill
- Spring
- Bluegill are on the beds in firm-bottomed shallows, in colonies of dozens. On a clear lake those colonies sit deeper than you expect.
- Early summer
- Bluegill are off the beds and onto the weed edges and brush, the biggest ones pulling out first.
- Summer
- Bluegill are on the deep weedline of a stratified lake, sliding out as the surface starts back down. With 97% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Bluegill are back up onto the flats and into the last green weeds, feeding hard while the shallows still hold heat. A 11.5-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
Bluegill · Live bait
Clip-On Bobber + Worm
half to whole garden nightcrawler
Bluegill · Soft plastics
Tungsten Jig + Micro Plastic
1–1.5" micro plastic
Crappie · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Crappie · Jigs & bladed
Beetle Spin
1.5–2" curly-tail grub trailer on a small in-line spinner jighead
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Black Crappie | 1,500 adults |
| 2017 | Bluegill Sunfish | 3,000 adults |
| 2017 | Largemouth Bass | 2,000 yearlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 1994 survey
Both bluegills and black crappies were found in above average numbers. Each species had an average weight of approximately 1/4 of a pound. The northern pike population is also high. The average weight and length are 2.6 pounds and 21.6 inches. Twenty five percent of the northern pike sampled were longer than twenty five inches. The black bullhead population has dropped significantly since the 1985 survey. In 1994 alone, commercial fisherman removed 9380 pounds of bullheads. Largemouth bass, while sampled in small numbers, were abundant for this type of lake. Their average length, however, was only 8.3 inches. Rice Lake also contains a large population of yellow perch. A majority of these fish are in the seven to eight inch range.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Rice Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Rice Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- City access: Across park area in outlet creek
DNR bathymetry
Rice Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Fish Lake · 238 ac · 1.7 mi
- Weaver Lake · 152 ac · 2 mi
- Boundary Creek Pond · 11 ac · 3.5 mi
- Eagle Lake · 296 ac · 3.7 mi
- Bass Lake · 183 ac · 4.5 mi
- Champlin Mill Pond · 37 ac · 5.8 mi
- Twin Lake · 217 ac · 7.8 mi
- Medicine Lake · 924 ac · 7.8 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Rice Lake?
Rice Lake reaches 11.5 ft at its deepest point; about 97% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Rice Lake?
Rice Lake covers 366 acres with about 9.5 miles of shoreline.
What fish are in Rice Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 1994) record largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Rice Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked black crappie, bluegill sunfish and largemouth bass in 2017.
Does Rice Lake have a public access?
Yes. Rice Lake has one public access site: City access (Across park area in outlet creek).
When was Rice Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Rice Lake in 1994, the most recent of 3 surveys on record. That is more than 20 years ago, so this page lists species without ratings.
Page updated .
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