Rice Lake near Lake Mills: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Rice Lake is listed under Winnebago County, Iowa. The surface lies 1,230 feet up. The water covers around 891 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. The edge covers about 13 miles, enough to hold several distinct areas. For supplies, Lake Mills is 1.9 miles out. Rochester is the closest city, 68 miles away. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Rice Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Records held for Winnebago County cover yellow perch, bluegill, white sucker and green sunfish. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Treat Rice Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 72°F and January reads 13°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Winter locks it down, and early April brings it back. Climate averages put the opening at about early April and the closing near early December. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. That is the shape of the year on Rice Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. A slipway is marked about half a mile from here. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. Part of this sits inside or beside Rice Lake Wildlife Protection Area, so read the notices. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try Silver Lake, 7.6 miles away. Nothing here settles the position at Rice Lake for certain.