Rice Lake Fishing near Perham, Minnesota

• Overview

  The Otter Tail County end of Minnesota holds Rice Lake. This is mixed forest country. It measures about 109 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The edge runs 3.1 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. The town to know is Perham, 8.6 miles out. Frazee lies 13 miles off, Pelican Rapids another 16 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Rice Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Fish documented in Otter Tail County include largemouth bass, black crappie, walleye, bluegill and yellow perch. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Rice Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 6°F and July at about 70°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Time your trip to Rice Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. 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. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, Tenter Lake is 0.9 miles off. The position on Rice Lake is worth confirming on the day.