Rice Lake Fishing guide

Rice Lake is upstream and connects to Lake Koronis via the North Fork of the Crow River. In the past, Walleye from both Rice and Koronis have spawned in the North Fork of the Crow River upstream of Rice Lake. A Walleye egg take station was operated just upstream of Rice Lake in the Crow River from the 1970's to 1992. However, this Walleye spawning run now appears to be considerably reduced. This is based on anecdotal observations of lower opening Walleye fishing activity near the downstream Koronis inlet bay/narrows area especially since the 2000's and recent (2018-2019) ice out hoop netting in the river near the old egg take station. Walleye also spawn adjacent to the east shores of the three islands in Koronis and the east point of Rice. Since 2001, both Koronis and Rice have been periodic "Spicer Strain" Walleye egg take sites for the statewide Walleye propagation program. Other recent Spicer Strain egg take lakes include Diamond and Elizabeth. Historic spawning sites for Walleye in both Koronis and Rice have been degraded in recent years with increased sedimentation, algal and periphyton growth.

Walleye natural reproduction in Rice was generally both frequent and adequate to sustain Walleye numbers based on previous fall and summer surveys and markings. Various combinations of Walleye fingerlings, yearlings and adults were stocked in Rice after years of consecutive poor natural reproduction or fry stocking success during 2007 (25,310 fish, 2,556 pounds), 2008 (417 fish, 330 pounds), 2010 (15,281 fish, 1,923 pounds), 2018 (7,164 yearlings, 2,044 pounds; 125 adults, 167 pounds; 100 fingerlings, 6 pounds), 2019 (18,815 fingerlings, 1,533 pounds), 2021 (4,571 fingerlings, 976 pounds) and 2022 (63,962 fingerlings, 2,152 pounds). Walleye fry (500K to 2 million each year) were stocked during 2001 2019 as a 10% return of Walleye eggs taken for the DNR statewide Walleye hatching program. No Walleye eggs were taken, and no fry were stocked in 2020. No Walleye eggs were taken, but fry were stocked during 2021 (573,169 fry) in Rice. Walleye fry were also stocked in 2022 (959,635 fry), 2023 (1,201,133 fry), 2024 (499,870 fry) and 2025 (756,796 fry). Walleye eggs were taken recently in 2022 (77.75 quarts), 2023 (154.25 quarts), 2024 (133.5 quarts) and 2025 (105 quarts) from Rice. Stocked Walleye fry were marked with Oxytetracycline "OTC" in 2001, 2007, 2009 and 2011-16.

Low YOY Walleye numbers (11.00/hour, 7.26 inches) were caught in the 2025 fall night electrofishing survey. Low YOY Walleye numbers were also captured in 2024 (9.60 YOY/hour, 6.98 inches) and 2023 (1.50/hour, 7.05 inches) fall night electrofishing surveys. Abundant numbers of Walleye yearlings (42.00/hour, 8.91 inches) were caught in the 2023 fall night electrofishing survey. The Walleye yearlings captured in 2023 were likely from a 2022 stocking of fingerlings. Low YOY Walleye numbers (4.50/hour, 7.38 inches) were caught in the 2022 fall night electrofishing survey. No YOY Walleye were captured during the 2021 fall night electrofishing survey. Low YOY Walleye numbers (0.50 YOY/hour) were observed in the 2020 fall night electrofishing survey. Moderate yearling numbers (15.00 fish/hour, 10.06 inches) were captured in the 2020 fall electrofishing survey. The yearling Walleye captured in 2020 were probably from a 2019 fingerling stocking. No YOY Walleye were captured in the 2019 or 2018 fall electrofishing surveys. Low YOY Walleye numbers were captured in 2017 (3.00 YOY/hour, 7.81 inches). Generally, low YOY Walleye numbers were captured in fall night electrofishing surveys from 2005-2010 and 2012. Moderate YOY Walleye year classes due to natural reproduction or fry stockings were documented in 2003 (42.00 YOY/hour, 6.46 inches), 2004 (55.50 YOY/hour, 6.74 inches), 2011 (150.00 YOY/hour, 6.27 inches), 2013 (37.33 YOY/hour, 6.31 inches), 2014 (82.00 YOY/hour, 5.98 inches), 2015 (36.00 YOY/hour, 6.03 inches) and 2016 (56.00 YOY/hour, 5.81 inches). Approximately 62% of the YOY Walleye captured in the 2011, 2013 and 2014 fall electrofishing surveys were OTC marked fish from fry stockings. OTC marked fish contributed 83% and 44% of the 2015 and 2016 year classes respectively in fall electrofishing surveys. Moderate yearling Walleye numbers were captured in 2017 (16.50 YOY/hour, 9.42 inches) and 2014 (18.00 fish/hour).

Walleye abundance was high in the recent 2024 summer survey (14.25 fish/gillnet) compared to the historical average catch rate (1977-present) of 10.23 fish/gillnet for Rice. The 2024 Walleye average size was moderate (1.67 pounds and 15.67 inches) from gillnets. The Walleye historical average length is 16.29 inches from gillnets. Approximately 52% of the Walleye captured were 15.00 inches and larger in the 2024 survey. The largest Walleye captured was 28.07 inches. Walleye growth rates were below normal compared to area lakes. The 2022 year class comprised 38% of the 2024 summer gillnet and trapnet catch.

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 starry stonewort/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 annually during the fall for YOY Walleye by electrofishing and 2027 summer by standard survey gears for all species.