Rice Lake Fishing near Long Prairie, Minnesota

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Rice Lake falls inside Todd County. Country round the bank runs to lake country bush. With some 38 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Long Prairie sits 6.1 miles from the bank. The nearest city of size is Minneapolis, 103 miles away. This one is safely inside the county line. You can learn the basics of it in one visit.

• Where to Fish on Rice Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Todd County include largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie and northern pike. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. The shape of Rice Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 70°F and January near 8°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and late November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Time your trip to Rice Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. For a change of water, Jacobs Lake is 0.7 miles distant. None of that is settled for Rice Lake in what we hold.