---
type: lake
name: "Wells Lake"
county: "Rice"
nearest_town: "Faribault"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 677
max_depth_ft: 4
latitude: 44.28993
longitude: -93.32968
lake_score: 47
dnr_lake_id: "66001000"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/wells-lake
---

# Wells Lake

Lake in Rice County, Minnesota, near Faribault

- **Surface Area**: 677 acres
- **Max Depth**: 4 ft
- **Shoreline**: 12.5 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 1.1 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 47/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Wells Lake is a 677-acre lake near Faribault in Rice County, Minnesota. It reaches 4 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 12.5 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 1.1 feet, so expect stained or algae-tinted water in summer.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 15 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, and yellow perch. The DNR has stocking records for the lake, so check the stocking report for the most recent species and year classes. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2020.

There is one public boat launch (concrete surface) managed by the county and Minnesota DNR. The lake is listed as infested with flowering rush — clean, drain and dry your boat and gear before leaving. Ice typically goes out around March 29, based on 28 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

- **Public access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Managed by**: county, Minnesota DNR
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 15
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2020
- **Special regulations**: No
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling

## Amenities

Boat Ramp

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish, White Bass, Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Bowfin, Common Carp, Freshwater Drum, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead

## Invasive Species

flowering rush. Clean, drain and dry boats and gear before leaving.

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: March 29
- **Years of record**: 28
- **Earliest**: 2024-02-28
- **Latest**: 2018-04-27

## Nearby Lakes

- [Cannon Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/cannon-lake) - 2.7 miles, 1,593 acres
- [Roberds Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/roberds-lake) - 2.8 miles, 632 acres
- [French Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/french-lake) - 4.6 miles, 876 acres
- [Dudley Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/dudley-lake) - 4.8 miles, 128 acres
- [Cedar Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/cedar-lake) - 5 miles, 902 acres
- [Hunt Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/hunt-lake) - 6.5 miles, 176 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=44.28993,-93.32968)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=66001000)
- [All lakes in Rice County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/wells-lake)*