Little Rice Lake (Forest County)

Forest, Wisconsin

Little Rice Lake is a 1,201-acre, shallow lake in Forest County with a maximum depth of 10 feet and a muck-dominated bottom. WDNR lists panfish and northern pike as common and largemouth bass as present.

Air temp in Crandon, WI Loading current temperature…

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Current air temperature at Little Rice Lake (Forest County) (National Weather Service) ↗

Surface area1,201 acres

Max depth10 ft

Shoreline—

Boat motorsCheck local ordinances

Species

Fishery rating out of 5.

Northern Pike●●●○○

Common per WDNR

Bluegill●●●○○

Panfish common; historically well regarded

Crappie●●●○○

Panfish common per Lake-Link

Largemouth Bass●●○○○

Present per WDNR

Boat launches

2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.

Public boat landingPublic
WDNR lists 2 public boat landingsDirections ↗
More public accessPublic
See the WDNR lake page for all landingsDirections ↗

Size & creel limits

Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.

Species	Min size	Daily limit
Walleye 20-24 in protected; only 1 over 24 in; open May 2, 2026 to Mar 7, 2027	15 in	3 / day
Largemouth Bass May 2 to Jun 19, 2026	14 in	5 / day
Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass Jun 20, 2026 to Mar 7, 2027	14 in	5 / day
Smallmouth Bass May 2 to Jun 19, 2026; catch and release only	See Wisconsin rules book ↗	0 / day
Northern Pike Open May 2, 2026 to Mar 7, 2027	See Wisconsin rules book ↗	5 / day
Muskellunge May 2 to Dec 31, 2026; open water only	40 in	1 / day
Panfish Open all year	See Wisconsin rules book ↗	25 / day
Catfish Open all year	See Wisconsin rules book ↗	10 / day
Trout See specific trout regulations	Varies	Varies

Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Wisconsin DNR ↗

Verified October 2026. Rules change, so confirm current limits with the Wisconsin DNR before you fish.

Bait & tackle nearby

Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.

Tamarack OutfittersNearby
209 E Pioneer St, Crandon, WI 54520(715) 478-1455 Directions ↗
Jokin' Joe's Bait & TackleNearby
1674 Superior St, Three Lakes, WI 54562(715) 536-2150 Directions ↗
Patriot Baits & JigsNearby
1674 Superior St, Three Lakes, WI 54562(715) 499-8584 Directions ↗

Search more bait shops near Little Rice Lake (Forest County) ↗

Local tips

Very shallow with wild rice: use weedless presentations
Winterkill has been reported; conditions vary year to year
Check WDNR regulations before keeping fish

View on interactive map

Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.

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Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.