Rice Lake Fishing Guide, Waseca County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Rice Lake sits within Waseca County in Minnesota. Land around it is rolling bush. It measures about 174 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. A shoreline of some 2.6 miles keeps the choices simple. Waseca sits 2.5 miles from the bank. Rochester is the closest city, 50 miles away. Other water nearby: Watkins Lake at 1 mile, Clear Lake 1.4 miles, Goose Lake at 2.5 miles, Loon Lake 2.9 miles and Everson Lake at 4.2 miles. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Rice Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Waseca County: largemouth bass, bluegill, black bullhead and common carp. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Rice Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 71°F and January reads 12°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Winter locks it down, and early April brings it back. Climate figures give an open season running early April to late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Rice Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. The water borders Tom Cliff Jr. Memorial Wildlife Management Area, so reserve rules are likely to apply. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Failing this one, try Watkins Lake, 1 mile away. Treat Rice Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.