Fishing Rice Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Look for Rice Lake in the Burnett County part of Wisconsin. It lies 906 feet above sea level. The water covers some 86 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Bank access stretches around 1.3 miles in total. Frederic lies 6 miles from the water. The big place round here is Saint Paul, 58 miles distant. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Rice Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Records held for Burnett County cover brown trout, northern pike, largemouth bass, bluegill and pumpkinseed. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Rice Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 70°F and January near 10°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Ice-out usually falls in early April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Ice clears near early April and comes back about late November in a typical year. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Expect Rice Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Spook Lake, 1.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm before you fish Rice Lake.