Little Rice

Stearns County

Near Farming

DOW: 73016700

Northern PikeGood · 60Hybrid SunfishGood · 59PumpkinseedGood · 58

A 56-acre lake near Farming in Stearns County — best known for pike and panfish. Last surveyed 1987.

Fish Species (11)

Northern Pike

Good · 60

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

2.40 lbs

Catch rate: 8.5 per gill net · typical 2–10.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1987	8.50	-	2.40 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 3, 1987	1.75	-	2.14 lbs	Standard trap nets

Hybrid Sunfish

Good · 59

Typical numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.37 lbs

Catch rate: 0.75 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1987	0.75	-	0.37 lbs	Standard trap nets

Pumpkinseed

Good · 58

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.05 lbs

Catch rate: 16.8 per trap net · typical 0.7–6.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1987	3.50	-	0.04 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 3, 1987	16.75	-	0.05 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Crappie

Good · 50

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.26 lbs

Catch rate: 8.0 per trap net · typical 2.1–24.1 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1987	6.00	-	0.17 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 3, 1987	8.00	-	0.26 lbs	Standard trap nets

Bluegill

Average · 49

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.06 lbs

Catch rate: 70.3 per trap net · typical 3.5–57.1 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1987	2.00	-	0.03 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 3, 1987	70.25	-	0.06 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Perch

Average · 40

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.10 lbs

Catch rate: 2.0 per gill net · typical 2–22.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1987	1.00	-	0.15 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 3, 1987	2.00	-	0.10 lbs	Standard gill nets

Largemouth Bass

Average · 32

Small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.40 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net · typical 0.3–0.6 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1987	0.50	-	0.40 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 3, 1987	1.75	-	0.31 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 · 65

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.63 lbs

Catch rate: 6.0 per trap net · typical 1–7.1 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1987	1.50	-	0.53 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 3, 1987	6.00	-	0.63 lbs	Standard trap nets

Brown Bullhead

Good · 59

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.38 lbs

Catch rate: 4.8 per trap net · typical 0.4–5.1 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1987	4.75	-	0.38 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 3, 1987	15.50	-	0.36 lbs	Standard gill nets

Black Bullhead

Good · 59

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.11 lbs

Catch rate: 79.3 per trap net · typical 1.5–58 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1987	79.25	-	0.11 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 3, 1987	59.50	-	0.18 lbs	Standard gill nets

Golden Shiner

Average · 36

Typical numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.05 lbs

Catch rate: 1.0 per gill net · typical 0.6–2.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1987	1.00	-	0.05 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 3, 1987	0.50	-	0.10 lbs	Standard trap nets

See the best northern pike lakes in Minnesota

Fishing Regulations

Statewide limits

Standard statewide Minnesota limits for the species in this lake.

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").

Bullhead

100

Biologist Notes

August 3, 1987Northern Pike abundance is average but above the local median. Ages 2 through 7 were sampled; growth is good. Seventy-eight percent of the sample was…

Northern Pike abundance is average but above the local median. Ages 2 through 7 were sampled; growth is good. Seventy-eight percent of the sample was 3, 4 and 5 year old fish, 15 to 26 inches in length. The Bluegill population is abundant, well above the local median of 26.6/ trap net. Ages 1 through 7 were sampled; growth is good. Yearling fish made up 84% of the sample. No 3 or 6 year old fish were sampled. Largemouth Bass abundance appears high at 1.8 per trap net ages 2 and 3 were sampled. Growth is good. Black Crappie abundance is average. Ages one through four were sampled; growth is good. Pumpkinseed were abundant but small. The Yellow Perch population is also average and along with an average abundance of Golden Shiners provide some forage for game fish. Rough fish abundance varies with species from scarce to average to high. Common Carp were observed but none were captured. The Black Bullhead population is high, 16 times the local median of 5.7/trap net. The sample was comprised of 4.5 to 4.9 inch fish and 7.0 to 8.5 inch fish.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Little Rice?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Black Crappie, and Bluegill in Little Rice. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Little Rice?

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

How deep is Little Rice?

Little Rice has a maximum depth of 24 feet and a mean depth of 4.6 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Little Rice last surveyed?

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

Does Little Rice have any invasive species?

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

Are there special fishing regulations on Little Rice?

No — Little 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.