Fishing at Rice Lake, Hennepin County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Rice Lake lies in Hennepin County, Minnesota. The ground around here is lake country bush. At 315 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. The outline is close to a simple bowl, without much in the way of bays. It ranks high for size among our Hennepin County listings. Nearest town is Savage, 2.7 miles off. Minneapolis is the closest city, 14 miles away. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Rice Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Hennepin County records list bluegill, common carp, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed and black crappie among the fish reported. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Rice Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 12°F and July at about 73°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Break-up comes around early April, and the run that follows is short and strong. In an average year the thaw lands around early April and the freeze near early December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Rice Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Fisher Lake sits 1.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Ask locally about Rice Lake if anything is unclear.