Rice Lake

[uphill]

Need some help! I was out on Rice Lake by Roscoe yesterday with a group of guys. We fished from about 2pm till 8pm there was fish present thought that time period on the bottom, a foot from the bottom, everywhere and in every place I drilled a hole. We went home with 5 eyes and 6 crappies between 8 guys. We should have went home with a limit for each guy but we could not get the fish to bite. We tried jigging just about every kind of jigging lure a guy could think of. Dead stick with numerous different jigs glowing and not. If anybody would like to forfit the info I don't need a spot to fish just what kind of lures are being used? Thanks.

[Borch]

I think I saw you guys out there yesterday. Only advice I could give you is to drill a few holes(which you did) and hole hop. You might only pick off a fish or two out of each hole. But by jumping around you pick off the fewe neutral to positive fish in each pod of fish. That's what worked for us anyways. A really good hole might kick out 4 fish before it died for us yesterday.

We did best on small jigs packed with waxworms or maggots. Although we did catch several on a deadstick with a crappies minnow. But the minnow fish definitely ran smaller.

[IceHawk]

The bite out there has been tough lately. From experiance the fish you marked more than likely were crappies if you were in the area I'm guessing. Fishing pressure (Amount of anglers) has made the fish negative to nuetral out there. It seems every possible hook combination has probably been dropped on them. I have been getting a few but alot of holes need to be cut and hole hopping is a must. It seems once you get one out of a hole you need to look for another aggressive fish in a different hole. I have been haveing best luck straight line fishing maggots and small ice jigs during the day. I prefer Plastics out there but lately the smaller presentaitons have been better. With the amount of pressure lately I wouldn't rule out soaking a minnow late in the evening for some real slabs.

[uphill]

Borch, we where in the bay by Fisher's resort I don't normally like to fish with a crowd but I had my dad and some folks that wanted it to be more of a social hour but we had fun.

[The Chemist]

If jigs aren't working go to dead sticking w/ a plain hook and a crappie minnow. Our biggest crappies during winter have come that way.

[The Donk]

Hows the ice out there? About the same? I havent been out in the St. Cloud area for a couple weeks now. Did well on the freakishly big walleyes up by Mille Lacs, and pannies in Brain-dead town. When I was there last, getting those crappies to bite was a pain, but with a boat load of jigging you can usually entice a meal. Keep the hook moving up and down constantly, through a five foot column of water, make them chase it! Good luck and see ya out there.

[andy j]

I would like to remind you about catch and release for the nicer walleyes out on Rice. In my opinion they should be protected out there with a slot. There are some nice ones in there, If you happen to ice one, let her go to swim another day. Just my 2 cents.

[Borch]

There are a lot of eyes in there that are over 20" right now(lots of little ones too). The new statewide slot starting this spring really eliminates the need for so many individual lake slots. The 1 fish over 20" will help out a lot of lakes including Rice.

[ASMOLEY]

I agree it will be very beneficial to our lake if anglers folow that regulation. Late fall and all winter it's important to return those big females thats the spawning population. Besides the little guys taste better anyhow.

[Ryan_V]

how is the ice on rice??? might be heading there on sunday. is it a 4 wheeler and big house day, or do I need to stick to the portable, either walking or pulling with the 4 wheeler?? thanks for the help!!

[Borch]

The ice is ok. There's about 7" of decent ice. A 4 wheeler is ok and there are several permanents out on the lake. However, if you want to catch fish being mobile will put the odds more in your favor. I'll likely be out that direction Sunday afternoon to see if I can scrape a meal of fresh fish together.

[NELS-BELLS]

There was 14" were I was, south of the crappie town, last Sunday. Thats not an estimate, I measured it. I still wouldn't drive a car or truck on the lake.

Nels

[The Donk]

Was out there last night, caught and released 3 small walleyes, and then the crappies started moving through. They didnt stick around for long, but I managed a meal. Caught 7, kept 3. One was 8 1/2", one was 11 1/4", and one went 14"! Sure made my mouth water for big Red! Ice was 11 inches where I was at, plenty of ATV's running on the ice.