Fishing Rice Lake in Wadena County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Look for Rice Lake in Wadena County, Minnesota. This is lake country bush country. Surface area runs to about 7 acres — small enough to read in one session. On size it sits at the modest end of our Wadena County list. You are 7.1 miles from Menahga. Park Rapids is 17 miles and Wadena 18 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Rice Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Open biodiversity records for Wadena County list black crappie, northern pike, largemouth bass and walleye. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. The near bank of Rice Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 68°F, the coldest about 5°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. It holds true on Rice Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. 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. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Mud Lake at 0.8 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm access to Rice Lake locally before you travel.