Rice Lake Fishing in DuPage County, Illinois

• Overview

  Rice Lake is a DuPage County water, in Illinois. The setting is lake country bush on every side. The water covers some 42 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Around 1.5 miles of margin, front to back. On our DuPage County list it sits near the top for size. Lisle sits 2.2 miles from here and is the nearest stop. It is 3.7 miles to Naperville, the nearest city. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Rice Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for DuPage County cover bluegill, green sunfish, common carp and white sucker. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Rice Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 74°F and January about 22°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid March. The open-water window runs from around mid March to about mid December in an average year. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Rice Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Parking is close: a car park sits half a mile from the bank. There is a pier recorded roughly half a mile away. A picnic area is mapped about half a mile away. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. What applies at Rice Lake may have changed since it was mapped.