Rice Lake Fishing near Young America (historical), Minnesota

• Overview

  Rice Lake sits in Carver County, out in Minnesota. This is rolling bush country. At about 246 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Around 2.7 miles of margin, front to back. Size puts it in the front rank of our Carver County list. Start from Young America (historical), 2.7 miles down the road. Minneapolis is the closest city, 32 miles away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Rice Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Across Carver County, recorded fish include bluegill, largemouth bass and common carp. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Rice Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 72°F, with January the cold end at about 11°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early April. Open water usually runs from early April until about late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Rice Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Failing this one, try Barlous Lake, 1 mile away. Confirm access to Rice Lake locally before you travel.