Fishing Rice Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Within Polk County, Wisconsin, you have Rice Lake. The water sits 945 feet up. At 4 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Polk County. Nearest town is Saint Croix Falls, 8.6 miles off. The nearest city of size is Saint Paul, 45 miles away. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Rice Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Polk County, recorded fish include brown trout, rainbow trout, northern pike and largemouth bass. The county list is broader than any single water. Read Rice Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 10°F in January up to 70°F in July. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early April. The season between ice runs from about early April to late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. On Rice Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Bog Lake at 0.2 miles is the sensible second choice. Rules at Rice Lake are worth checking on the day.