Rice River, St. Louis County Fishing
St. Louis County.
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The Rice River, St. Louis County, the Minnesota rundown
Kittle route lines carry the Rice River, St. Louis County, a Minnesota river, through St. Louis County. Its mapped line inside Minnesota runs about 50 miles. Roughly 8 miles of road lie between it and Cook.
The DNR access layer lists 2 public accesses.
Where boats go in on the Rice River, St. Louis County
- Rice River, Hwy 53 (S) Accesscarry-in access, St. Louis County, river mile 27.3
- Rice River, Hwy 53 (N) Accesscarry-in access, St. Louis County, river mile 13
Minnesota DNR Public Water Access Sites and Kittle route lines, USGS gauges.
DNR rules on the Rice River, St. Louis County
The statewide table below governs the Rice River, St. Louis County.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | 6 combined total (only 1 walleye over 20" in possession) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike (North-central Zone) | 10 (not more than 2 over 26", all from 22-26" must be immediately released) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike (North-central Zone) | 10 (either 2 northern pike over 26" and none from 22 to 26" or 1 from 22 to 26" and 1 over 26") | Nov. 15, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 except where prohibited |
| Largemouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 22, 2026 |
| Largemouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass (when smallmouth season is open) | May 23, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 22, 2026 |
| Smallmouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass | May 23 – Sept. 13, 2026 |
| Smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | Sept. 14, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Crappie | 10 combined total | Continuous |
| Sunfish | 20 combined total | Continuous |
| Yellow perch | 20 daily, 40 in possession | Continuous |
| Muskellunge | 1 (minimum size 54") | June 6 – Nov. 30, 2026 |
| Channel catfish | 5 (only 1 over 24") | Continuous |
| Rock bass | 30 | Continuous |
| Cisco (tullibee) | 15 (over 7") | Continuous |
| Burbot (eelpout) | 4 | Continuous |
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations. All Minnesota limits.
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Lakes neighboring Rice River, St. Louis County
- Gate Lake3 miles
- Thirteen Lake, St. Louis County3 miles
- Auto Lake3 miles
- Fourteen Lake4 miles
Where to grab leeches near Rice River, St. Louis County
- Virginia Surplus Storesporting goods store, Virginia, 15 miles
- Timbuktu Marinamarina, Cook, 16 miles
- Aronson Boat Works Inc.marina, Tower, 16 miles
- Shamrock Resortmarina, Tower, 17 miles
- Gruben's Marinamarina, Tower, 17 miles
Lodging towns close to Rice River, St. Louis County
- Cook8 miles
- Mountain Iron13 miles
- Kinney14 miles
- Virginia15 miles
Other rivers near the Rice River, St. Louis County
- Johnson Creek2 miles
- Sturgeon River9 miles
- Vermilion River17 miles
- Stony Brook20 miles
Rice River, St. Louis County county pages
Piscifun tackle for a day on the Rice River, St. Louis County
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Answers before you wade the Rice River, St. Louis County
Which way does the Rice River, St. Louis County run?
The DNR route line runs through St. Louis County.
Is the Rice River, St. Louis County a trout stream?
The DNR does not list it as trout water.
What is the latest gauge reading on the Rice River, St. Louis County?
No live USGS gauge is matched to it.
How many accesses does the Rice River, St. Louis County have?
2 public accesses on the map, Rice River, Hwy 53 (S) Access among them.
Is there a catch-and-release reach on the Rice River, St. Louis County?
Statewide limits only.
Do I need a Minnesota license for the Rice River, St. Louis County?
Minnesota residents 16 to 89 need an angling license ($25 for the year); nonresidents 16 and older pay $51.
Which bait shop is closest to the Rice River, St. Louis County?
Virginia Surplus Store sits about 15 miles away.
Which Minnesota town lies closest to the Rice River, St. Louis County?
Base out of Cook, roughly 8 miles away.
Which fish has the DNR found in the Rice River, St. Louis County?
No species list is published for it.
Drift a bait through the Rice River, St. Louis County
Flow and limits first, then the drive.