Big Rice Lake

Details

DNR lake ID

04003100

County

Beltrami

Surface area

642 acres

Maximum depth

13 feet

Shallow water (littoral) area

633 acres, 98% of the lake

Shoreline

6.6 miles

Average water clarity

6.2 feet (Secchi disk, 1 readings)

Nearest town (DNR)

Pennington

Latest DNR fish survey

June 2019, targeted survey

Surveys on record

2, since 1990

Game fish caught in the 2019 survey

bluegill 148, yellow perch 135, pumpkinseed 72, northern pike 42, rock bass 22, black crappie 13, walleye 11, largemouth bass 5

Fish species recorded

black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, yellow perch, and 8 other species

Stocked in 2025

walleye fry (630,000)

Stocked in 2023

walleye fry (729,551)

Stocked in 2021

walleye fry (641,000)

Stocking years on record

5 of the last 10 (2017 to 2025)

Infested waters list

zebra mussel

Special regulation, Cass Chain and connected waters Wolf, Ose, Andrusia, unnamed stream (Big Lake Creek), Mississippi River, Cass, Fox Creek, Windigo, Buck, Big Rice, Little Rice, Kitchi, Turtle River, and Pug Hole Lake

Sunfish: Daily limit five.

Fish consumption

Follow the statewide guidelines; fish from this lake have not been tested

Size

500 to 1,999 acres

Deepest point

Under 15 feet

Stocked in the last 3 years

Yes

Sources

• Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
  Checked September 24, 2026

Survey catches show what DNR nets and electrofishing found on the survey date, not how the fishing is today. Check the current regulations and the Department of Health advice before you keep fish, and confirm access conditions before you tow a boat.