---
type: lake
name: "Rice Lake"
county: "Stearns"
nearest_town: "Paynesville"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 1513
max_depth_ft: 41
latitude: 45.37493
longitude: -94.61578
lake_score: 53
dnr_lake_id: "73019600"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/stearns-county/rice-lake
---

# Rice Lake

Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota, near Paynesville

- **Surface Area**: 1,513 acres
- **Max Depth**: 41 ft
- **Shoreline**: 14.9 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 3.3 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 2 public boat launches (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 53/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Rice Lake is a 1,513-acre lake near Paynesville in Stearns County, Minnesota. It reaches 41 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 14.9 miles of shoreline. By surface area it ranks No. 2 among the 51 Stearns County lakes in this directory. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 3.3 feet, so expect stained or algae-tinted water in summer.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 21 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, and bluegill. 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 2025.

There are 2 public boat launches (concrete surface) managed by the Minnesota DNR. The lake is listed as infested with starry stonewort and zebra mussel — clean, drain and dry your boat and gear before leaving. Ice typically goes out around April 6, based on 36 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

- **Public access**: 2 public boat launches (concrete)
- **Managed by**: Minnesota DNR
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 21
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2025
- **Special regulations**: No
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling

## Amenities

Boat Ramp

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish, Rock Bass, Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Golden Redhorse, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Shorthead Redhorse, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead

## Invasive Species

starry stonewort, zebra mussel. Clean, drain and dry boats and gear before leaving.

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 6
- **Years of record**: 36
- **Earliest**: 2024-03-14
- **Latest**: 2018-05-01

## Nearby Lakes

- [North Brown's Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/stearns-county/north-brown-s-lake) - 3.9 miles, 312 acres
- [Big Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/stearns-county/big-lake) - 3.9 miles, 458 acres
- [Long Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/stearns-county/long-lake) - 4.5 miles, 487 acres
- [Eden Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/stearns-county/eden-lake) - 4.5 miles, 278 acres
- [Vails Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/stearns-county/vails-lake) - 4.7 miles, 161 acres
- [Horseshoe Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/stearns-county/horseshoe-lake) - 5.4 miles, 629 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=45.37493,-94.61578)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=73019600)
- [All lakes in Stearns County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/stearns-county)

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