Rice

Becker County

Near Richwood

DOW: 03029100

PumpkinseedGood · 67Black CrappieGood · 65Yellow PerchGood · 63

A 231-acre lake near Richwood in Becker County — best known for panfish and walleye. Last surveyed 1987.

Fish Species (12)

Pumpkinseed

Good · 67

Above-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.13 lbs

Catch rate: 12.1 per trap net · typical 1.5–9.1 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1987	0.75	-	0.27 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 3, 1987	12.14	-	0.13 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Crappie

Good · 65

Typical numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.71 lbs

Catch rate: 1.6 per trap net · typical 0.9–8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1987	0.25	-	0.20 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 3, 1987	1.57	-	0.71 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Perch

Good · 63

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.26 lbs

Catch rate: 6.5 per gill net · typical 3.7–28.4 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1987	2.29	-	0.12 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 3, 1987	6.50	-	0.26 lbs	Standard gill nets

Walleye

Good · 58

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.93 lbs

Catch rate: 5.3 per gill net · typical 1.2–5.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1987	5.25	-	0.93 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 3, 1987	0.14	-	0.40 lbs	Standard trap nets

Bluegill

Good · 53

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.18 lbs

Catch rate: 18.4 per trap net · typical 5.9–43.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1987	0.75	-	0.33 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 3, 1987	18.43	-	0.18 lbs	Standard trap nets

Northern Pike

Average · 31

Typical numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.83 lbs

Catch rate: 3.8 per gill net · typical 2.3–9.2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1987	3.75	-	0.83 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 3, 1987	0.71	-	0.86 lbs	Standard trap nets

Largemouth Bass

Average · 30

Small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.30 lbs

Catch rate: 0.25 per gill net · typical 0.3–1.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1987	0.25	-	0.30 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 3, 1987	1.86	-	0.29 lbs	Standard trap nets

Hybrid Sunfish

Poor · 15

Below-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.00 lbs

Catch rate: 0.14 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1987	0.14	-	1.00 lbs	Standard trap nets

Other species in this lake (4)

Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.

Yellow Bullhead

Good · 72

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.43 lbs

Catch rate: 21.9 per trap net · typical 2.4–9.1 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1987	5.50	-	0.50 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 3, 1987	21.86	-	0.43 lbs	Standard trap nets

Brown Bullhead

Good · 67

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.24 lbs

Catch rate: 12.7 per trap net · typical 0.6–5.2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1987	12.71	-	0.24 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 3, 1987	10.00	-	0.31 lbs	Standard gill nets

White Sucker

Average · 44

Typical numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.11 lbs

Catch rate: 1.8 per gill net · typical 0.5–3.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1987	1.75	-	1.11 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 3, 1987	0.86	-	2.53 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Bullhead

Average · 43

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.25 lbs

Catch rate: 2.9 per trap net · typical 1–29.9 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1987	2.86	-	0.25 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 3, 1987	27.75	-	0.35 lbs	Standard gill nets

See the best pumpkinseed lakes in Minnesota

Fishing Regulations

Statewide limits

Standard statewide Minnesota limits for the species in this lake.

Walleye and Sauger

Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

6 combined, not more than one walleye over 20"

Northern Pike

Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

North-central zone

Angling: 10 (not more than 2 over 26". All from 22-26" must be immediatley released).

Largemouth Bass

Season: Mar 1, 2026 – May 22, 2026

Largemouth bass in the Southern and North-central zones

Catch-and-release only

Largemouth Bass

Season: May 23, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

Largemouth bass in the Southern and North-central zones

6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth (when smallmouth season is open)

Crappie

10 combined total

Sunfish

20 combined total

Perch

20 daily and 40 in possession

More statewide rules (spearing, rough fish)

Northern Pike

Season: Nov 15, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

North-central zone

Darkhouse spearing: 10 (only 1 between 22-26" and 1 over 26"; or, only 2 over 26").

Bowfin, buffalo, carp, carpsuckers, freshwater drum, goldeneye, redhorse, and suckers

no limit

Bullhead

100

Biologist Notes

August 3, 1987WALLEYE POPULATION SHOWS VERY LITTLE OR NO NATURAL REPRODUCTION. CENTRARCHID SPECIES NUMBERS ARE ALL ABOVE THE MEDIANS AND OF RELATIVELY SMALL SIZE. N…

WALLEYE POPULATION SHOWS VERY LITTLE OR NO NATURAL REPRODUCTION. CENTRARCHID SPECIES NUMBERS ARE ALL ABOVE THE MEDIANS AND OF RELATIVELY SMALL SIZE. NORTHERN PIKE NUMBERS ARE ABOVE STATE AVERAGES BUT BELOW THE LOCAL MEDIANS. BULLHEAD NUMBERS ARE ABOVE STATE MEDIANS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Rice?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Pumpkinseed, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, Walleye, and Bluegill in Rice. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Rice?

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Rice. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

How deep is Rice?

Rice has a maximum depth of 23 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Rice last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Rice is from 1987. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Does Rice have any invasive species?

No invasive species are on record for Rice in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.

Are there special fishing regulations on Rice?

No — Rice has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide sunfish limit is: 20 combined total. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.