Fishing at Rice Lake, Rainy River District, Ontario

• Overview

  Rice Lake lies in Rainy River District, Ontario. It lies 369 metres above sea level. This is sizeable water at about 1.38 sq km, and a boat opens up most of it. Some 5.5 km of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. Ignace lies 62 km from the water. Atikokan is 68 km away, with Dryden at 79 km. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Rice Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Across Rainy River District, recorded fish include northern pike, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. The near bank of Rice Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 18°C and January reads -17°C. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. At Rice Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. The nearest alternative is Patricia Lake, 4.1 km out. Nothing on Rice Lake should be assumed from this page alone.