Rice lake, Walleye fishing

Hi I was looking waterfront cottages for sale and was wondering if Rice Lake was still good walleye fishing any info would be appreciated thanks.

Hi there,

Walleye fishing on Rice lake is not as good as it was a few years ago. There are still fish to be caught, however walleye in the slot size (35 to 50 cm) have not been particularly abundant in the last couple of years. Most of the walleye I caught this year were over the slot - between 50 and 65 cm - and had to be released.

Rice Lake and the Otonabee River have seen a lot of changes over the last couple of decades. The invasion and spread of gobies, crappie and northern pike have changed ecosystem dynamics.

Bass fishing for both largemouth and smallmouth has been very good. Spring and fall crappie fishing can be excellent. Pike in the 3 to 8 lb. range are fairly common.

Hope my perspectives are helpful.

p.s. As you probably know, walleye are out of sesaon on Rice Lake during the winter months

Walleye fishing has definitely tanked in the last 8 or 9 years and each year seems more disappointing. I hope it comes back.

I just don’t get why they can’t figure it out or do anything about it, as it is very disappointing.

Nice that bass fishing has been outstanding, but I am a walleye fisherman and prefer catching those. Also - think the yellow perch fishing has declined as well in same time frame the Walleye started declining.

Have been fishing Rice Lake for about 56 years now and there was a similar phase where it went down in the late 90s early 2000’s and somehow it came back, but not sure it was this poor.

Does it have to be Rice lake? The walleye season is only 6 months on Rice Lake. No walleye fishing during the ice fishing season. More opportunities for walleye in Zones 13, 14, 15, 16 etc. What price range are you thinking for a lake front cottage? There is quite a difference from lake to lake real estate in the Kawarthas. Some lakes are less than Rice Lake, and some are more.

I was looking at bay of quinte and anywhere 2hrs away from my son who lives in iroquois Ontario near Ottawa.

I have fished that lake all my life and I have noticed the same thing as you. I wish they would at least stock the lake with walleye and cull as many Cormorants as possible. And close ice fishing, as I noticed a massive decline in sizable blue gills caught.

Rice is good even a lot of people said that walleye fishing is harder than before. But the cons are murkier water and rich vegetation. These are not good for water skiing or swimming.

MANY people in the area told me it has something to do with the Locks. And the timing they are opened.....either washing away the walleye eggs or causing extremely low water in the area's they spawn.
I have no doubt in my mind that ice fishing has caused major effects on the pan fishing. Either way, the government has no concern about finding out more about the issues with the lake. Just hope it bounces back in my life time.
Regardless, I hope for tight lines for all that enjoy fishing.

Agree with all of that. My first trip was as a teenager in the late 80's. Since 2002, I've been coming just about every year since. Have heard every theory from zebra mussels, gobies, introduction of pike, poaching and water control of the locks. Of all these, I think the water control of the locks is the biggest factor that is creating a not so conducive environment for spawn relating in very few adolescent fish. Not a good sign at all. I remember going through some good years from about 2012-2018 where the adolescent walleye were abundant. Coming up the end of next week and trying our luck for 8 days. It's a shame that MNR is not doing anything to help preserve. It makes no sense to me. I'll leave you with this tidbit that also makes no sense from the regulation makers. If pike are invasive to Rice and were introduced via the locks, then why do they impose a catch limit for the pike. You would think they would want them out or at least controlled.

Rice lake is a heavily pressured lake for fishing year round, just like Lake Simcoe. Walleye fishing in Ontario is double the rate of any other species targeted. Overfishing and environmental factors (pollution, loss of habitat, invasive species etc.) All these factors lower survival rates in walleye populations, and increase mortality rates. Sounds like the same thing, survival rates and mortality rates. I consider survival rates to be from spawning, to egg, to approximately age two. The first few years of a walleye, from egg to age two have the lowest survival rates. This is all of the environmental factors, natural or man made combined. The survival rate of a walleye in these first few years, is very low. After the first few years the walleye is bigger now and being targeted by anglers as well as natural predators. Walleye is targeted more than any other species in Ontario waters. So now is where I use the term mortality rates. Catch and release or catch and harvest, both have an affect on the walleye population. Catch and harvest a fish legally to eat, that's it, that's fine, that's what fishing is for. Catch and not release a fish properly, increases the mortality rate to almost 100%. Millions of fish are released each year in Ontario that will not survive, because of an improper release. Now add to this the overfishing, which has a 100% mortality rate. There are many anglers that do not follow the regulations for what ever reasons. History has shown us that fish stocks have been depleted, in some cases completely from overfishing alone. Long before the environmental factors became dangerously high, there was overfishing. The MNR won't catch them all, there will always be overfishing. Anglers must be more responsible with the care and handling of fish, and following the regulations. Washing off boats, trailers, bait buckets and other equipment, before entering a new lake. We can't change the past, but we can try our best to change the future. Totally agree with more fish stocking programs where they are needed. Double the price of my fishing license, whatever it takes. I will still buy a fishing license after turning 65 to support the fish and the Conservation Officers enforcing the regulations.