Beautiful day on Rice

[Elrik]

Spent a gorgeous day out on rice lake in the kayak today. Had hopes of walleye and crappie but never hooked into either. Started early in the morning. Cast to some surface activity thinking it was some panfish, to my surprise when I set the hook it was a huge carp instead! He dragged me around for 20 minutes or so but I eventually got him boat side and let him go. Saw so many carp over the course of the day. They were everywhere. Spent a bunch of hours working the weed lines and drifting in deeper water but mr. Walleye didn't want to come out to play, although a few naughty largies and smallies broke up the monotony. Also never found the crappie, but by early afternoon the water had warmed up (74 degrees in the shallows!) enough that the gills and seeds were pumped to play and I spent a couple hours having a blast working through a few schools of them. Several nice big beefy sunfish were caught and I had to drag myself away to get home in time for family responsibilities.

Saw lots and lots of bass fry swimming around so it looks like it was a good successful spawning season for the bass this year. should be a good opener next week as the fish have already transitioned off the beds. Was a great day for watching period with glass calm water and me so low to the water in the kayak, so much of interest when you are going slow. As well as all the carp I saw going crazy I had a catfish hanging around me for awhile doing the air gulp thang. Lots and lots of birds. Saw some form of water mammal, decent size but didn't get close enough to confirm what it was, had a painted turtle swim right under me (used to seeing them sitting on logs, not so much swimming right under me in 6ft of crystal clear water) and finally wrapped up my interesting animal watch with a water snake.

All in all, a good day

[Lookinforeyes]

That sounds spectacular and great report!! Hoping to be on Rice Saturday fingers crossed!!

[Jonathan358]

Wonderful, thanks for the report!

[Hank Jr]

Sounds like a nice day on the water thanks for the detailed report .

[metalbuckle]

Great report and enjoyable read..

Thanks for sharing..

Sounds like a nice day of fishing.

[Victor]