Wild Rice

Wild Rice Reservoir is a 2,127-acre waterbody located about five miles north of Duluth with a maximum depth of 11 feet. There is a back-in concrete ramp located just west of the dam off County Road 247 that is owned by Minnesota Power but open to public use. Wild Rice is operated as a water storage reservoir by Minnesota Power and is subject to water level manipulation. Wild Rice is listed by MN Pollution Control Agency as impaired for aquatic consumption for both per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFOS) and mercury in fish tissue. Anglers should refer to the MN Department of Health website for the most up to date consumption guidelines. The 2024 lake management plan (LMP) listed Walleye, Black Crappie and Bluegill as the primary management species. The LMP goals were to maintain a Walleye gill net catch above average compared to other similar lakes with some Walleye over 20 inches present, as well as Bluegill and Black Crappie populations capable of supporting preferred and occasionally, memorable or trophy size fish. Special five fish daily limit regulations designed to protect and enhance Bluegill and Black Crappie quality size structure were implemented on Wild Rice in 2021. Wild Rice was assessed during the summer of 2024 to update information about fish populations and is surveyed once every five years, most recently in 2019. The Walleye population in Wild Rice is self-sustaining and has not been stocked since 1983. Walleye gill net abundance (15.9/net) was above average compared to other similar Minnesota lakes. Walleye mean length was 16.2 inches with fish ranging from 7.5 to 28.9 inches. Walleye angling in Wild Rice is expected to be excellent in 2025 and beyond with high abundance, good population size structure and consistent natural reproduction. Panfish populations in Wild Rice are currently in excellent condition. Bluegill abundance of 11.3 per trap net was above average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Bluegill were first encountered in Wild Rice by DNR Fisheries in 1988 and have since become well established and are providing quality angling opportunities. Average length was 7.3 inches and several large specimens over 9 inches long were captured. Black Crappie abundance was average compared to other similar lakes. Black Crappie mean length exceeded 10 inches and several crappies over 12 inches long were sampled. Historically, Yellow Perch gill net abundance has been highly variable in Wild Rice ranging from 3.5 to 40.3 per lift. Average length of Yellow Perch was 6.9 inches and ranged from 4.9 to 12.6 inches. Size structure goals for panfish populations were achieved. Wild Rice is known locally for producing quality Northern Pike. Historically, the pike gill net catch ranged from 1.0 to 9.5 fish/net but a historic high catch rate was observed in 2024 (11.3/net). Mean length of Northern Pike was 19.8 inches and ranged from 12.1 to 32.4 inches. Largemouth Bass were first detected in Wild Rice in 2010 and have since become well-established. Spring electrofishing targeting bass captured 35 fish ranging from 2.9 to 19.3 inches long, the highest catch observed since standardized electrofishing assessments were initiated in 2014.

Wild Rice Reservoir is a 2,127 acre waterbody located near Duluth, MN with 100% littoral area and a maximum depth of 11 feet. There is a Minnesota Power back-in concrete ramp located just west of the dam off of County Road 247 that is open to public use. Wild Rice is operated as a water storage reservoir by Minnesota Power and is subject to water level manipulation. Wild Rice was last surveyed in 2014. Wild Rice was surveyed during the summer of 2019 to update information about fish populations. The Walleye population in Wild Rice is self-sustaining and has not been stocked since 1983. Walleye abundance of 15.4 per gillnet lift was above average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Walleye mean length was 15.6 inches and growth was average when compared to other Duluth Area lakes. Walleye angling in Wild Rice is expected to be excellent in 2020 and beyond with high abundance, good population size structure and consistent natural reproduction. Northern Pike abundance of 6.7 per gillnet lift was above average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Mean length of Northern Pike was 20.7 inches and growth was fast when compared to other Duluth Area lakes. A large specimen measuring 37.2 inches was caught and released in the trapnets. Panfish populations in Wild Rice are currently in excellent shape. Yellow Perch abundance of 29.4 per gillnet lift was above average when compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Historically, Yellow Perch gillnet abundance has been highly variable in Wild Rice ranging from 3.5 to 40.3 per lift. Average length of Yellow Perch was 8.1 inches and growth was fast when compared to other Duluth Area lakes. Angling for Yellow Perch should be very good in the coming years with approximately 1/3 of the overall sample currently exceeding 10 inches in length and several strong young year-classes evident. Black Crappie abundance of 3.9 per lift was above average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Black Crappie mean length was impressive at 11.0 inches and growth was average when compared to other Duluth Area populations. Bluegill abundance of 10.8 per lift was above average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Bluegill were first encountered in Wild Rice by DNR Fisheries in 1988 and have since become well established. Average length was 7.1 inches but several large specimens over 9 inches in length were captured.

Wild Rice Reservoir is a 2,127 acre reservoir located near Duluth, MN with 100% littoral area and a maximum depth of 11 feet. There is a Minnesota Power back-in concrete ramp located just west of the dam off of County Road 247 that is open to public use. Wild Rice is operated as a water storage reservoir by Minnesota Power and is subject to water level manipulation. Wild Rice was last surveyed in 2009. Wild Rice was assessed during the summer of 2014 to update information about fish populations. Walleye have not been stocked into Wild Rice since 1983 because sufficient natural reproduction has been documented to sustain the walleye fishery. Walleye abundance of 14.1 per gillnet lift was down from 2009 (17.5) but still above average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Walleye mean length was 16.0 inches and growth was average when compared to other Duluth Area lakes. Recruitment is relatively consistent with only five missing year-classes over 20 years from 1994 through 2013. Sixty-seven percent of the Walleye catch was from 2009-2010 year-classes. Northern Pike abundance of 9.5 per lift was up from 2009 (7.3) and was above average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Mean length of Northern Pike was 22.9 inches and growth was fast when compared to other Duluth Area lakes. Recruitment was consistent with all year-classes represented from 2008 through 2013. A few large individuals were aged to either the 2003 or 2006 year-class. The 2011 year-class was strong, contributing to 50% of the overall catch. Yellow Perch abundance of 38.6 was up substantially from 2009 (3.5) and above average when compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Historically, Yellow Perch gillnet abundance has been highly variable in Wild Rice ranging from 3.5 to 40.3 per lift. Average length of Yellow Perch was 7.3 inches and growth was fast when compared to other Duluth Area lakes. All year-classes from 2005 to 2012 were represented. Black Crappie abundance of 6.3 per lift was up from 2009 (5.0) and was above average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. The 2014 trapnet catch of 6.3 per lift represents a historic high for Wild Rice. Black Crappie mean length was 9.0 inches and growth was fast when compared to other Duluth Area populations. All year-classes from 2005 to 2012 were represented. Bluegill abundance of 25.1 per lift was up substantially from 2009 (11.1) and was above average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Bluegill were first encountered in Wild Rice by DNR Fisheries in 1988. Since then, Bluegill trapnet abundance has dramatically increased over the last several investigations. Average length was 6.3 inches and over 15% of the catch exceeded 8 inches. No prior Largemouth Bass electrofishing assessments had been conducted on Wild Rice, and the species had never been sampled by DNR Fisheries in any investigation dating back to 1942. However, Fond du Lac Resource Management sampled one juvenile Largemouth Bass during an annual young-of-the-year walleye assessment in 2009 and anecdotal reports from anglers indicate that a fishable population is emerging. As a result, a spring electrofishing assessment targeting Largemouth Bass was conducted in 2014. Six Largemouth Bass with a mean length of 12.5 inches were sampled. The catch rate of Largemouth Bass was 3.2 fish per hour of electrofishing on-time. Not enough individuals were captured to evaluate stock density or growth, but recruitment appears sporadic with only two year-classes represented. Other fish species sampled included Hybrid and Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rock Bass, Golden Shiner and White Sucker.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Bluegill, Walleye, Black Crappie, Rock Bass, and Largemouth Bass in Wild Rice. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Wild Rice. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Wild Rice has a maximum depth of 11 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Wild Rice is from 2024.

No invasive species are on record for Wild Rice in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.