Rice Lake Fishing in Wright County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Rice Lake lies within the bounds of Wright County, Minnesota. It sits in rolling bush. The water covers some 82 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Bank access stretches around 1.7 miles in total. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Minnesota listings. Clearwater is the closest place, 3.6 miles off. Then Becker, 5.8 miles, and Saint Augusta, 10 miles. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Rice Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Wright County include largemouth bass, bluegill and black crappie. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. The near bank of Rice Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 10°F in January to roughly 71°F in July. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Look for the thaw near early April; the fishing lifts straight after. Average temperatures cross freezing around early April in spring and again near late November in autumn. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. That is the shape of the year on Rice Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Fish Lake is 1 mile off. Rules at Rice Lake are worth checking on the day.