Until recently, Rice Lake has been a virtual unknown resource for producing quality muskies but the secret has been getting out. For the last few years, more reports of muskies being landed in the range of 50" to 54 inches on Rice Lake have been circulating around the muskie community that has been a draw for many serious muskie anglers.
The lake first received a stocking of muskies in 1987 when 1,400 fingerlings were planted. Some of these fish from the original stocking have been showing up recently with trophy lengths and above average weights, do to the abundant forage of white sucker, bullhead and other prey. Another major stocking took place in 1999 and subsequent stockings have made Rice Lake not only a body of water where an angler has a legitimate chance of catching a 50" plus monster, but also do battle with numbers of muskies in the 34" to 44 inch range.
Rice Lake is located within the town of Rice Lake in Barron County. The lake's nearly 1,000 acres and maximum depths of 19 feet is teaming with a variety of game fish, ie.pike, walleye, bass, crappie, and other pan fish. With almost 19 miles of shoreline and extensive weed beds, there is plenty of water for the target anglers to concentrate on while muskie fishing. Bars, expansive flats, old river channels and lake humps will give the mid-lake anglers and suspended fishers plenty of opportunity to make contact with battling muskies.
In the darker, cloudy waters of Rice Lake, the loud colors of chartreuse, blaze orange, yellow, gold and copper out-produce all other color choices. At the beginning of the season, go right to the larger baits: jerk baits, bucktails, cranks, and soft plastics but work them slower with many pauses incorporated in to you retrieve, with the same being true with your fall presentation. As the weather warms in the heat of the summer, try your favorite lures but down size your offering as a speedier, more erratic action that you have with smaller baits will trigger more action and more opportunities. And all season long, have at least one member in your boat toss a top-water bait, either shallow or in deeper water for some of the most explosive action you have seen in a long while.