Fishing Rice Lake in Becker County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Rice Lake stands in Becker County, Minnesota. It lies 1,401 feet above sea level. Roughly 55 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The bank runs about 1.3 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Some 5.7 miles away sits Frazee, the nearest settlement. Then Detroit Lakes, 6.3 miles, and Perham, 16 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Rice Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Becker County records list bluegill, largemouth bass and walleye among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Read Rice Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 69°F and January at 4°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly mid November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Rice Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Howe Lake at 1 mile is the sensible second choice. Signs at Rice Lake carry more weight than any list.