Big Rice Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for Big Rice Lake in the Beltrami County part of Minnesota. It sits in lake country bush country. This is sizeable water at about 623 acres, and a boat opens up most of it. Few waters listed in Beltrami County are bigger. Bemidji lies 16 miles from the water. The big place round here is Fargo, 114 miles distant. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Big Rice Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Across Beltrami County, recorded fish include walleye, yellow perch and northern pike. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Big Rice Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 67°F, with January the cold end at about 4°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around mid November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. On Big Rice Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Little Pimushe Lake, 1.2 miles out. None of that is settled for Big Rice Lake in what we hold.