Last reviewed: 2026-05-23 > Quick answer: For Rice Lake's shallow, weedy, troll-heavy walleye fishing, the proven setup is a Mercury 60-90 HP FourStroke main paired with a Mercury 9.9 ProKicker. The kicker runs the slow 1-2 mph trolling speed walleye demand; the FourStroke...
Last reviewed: 2026-05-23
Quick answer: For Rice Lake's shallow, weedy, troll-heavy walleye fishing, the proven setup is a Mercury 60-90 HP FourStroke main paired with a Mercury 9.9 ProKicker. The kicker runs the slow 1-2 mph trolling speed walleye demand; the FourStroke handles the afternoon wind on the ride home. Match horsepower to your hull's capacity plate, not the minimum. Build a quote at mercuryrepower.ca.
My grandfather built cedar strip canoes and boats on Rice Lake's south shore. My dad spent his career as the mechanic, repairing and rigging Mercury outboards. I run the marina now. Three generations, same dock, same lake.
In close to 80 seasons of watching people fish this water, we have learned one thing above all the rest: Rice Lake makes anglers look like geniuses or like amateurs, and it comes down almost entirely to whether they showed up set up right.
It is shallow. It is weedy. It runs 32 km east to west with nothing to stop the wind. It has a sunken 19th-century railway across the middle of it, underwater, waiting for your lower unit. And it holds some of the best walleye, muskie, bass, and crappie in Southern Ontario.
This is our home water. This guide is everything we know about fishing it properly: the species, the seasons, the local spots, the 2026 regulations, and the right Mercury for every setup.
2026 Ontario Fishing Regulations: Rice Lake (FMZ 17)
Rules first, because there is a walleye slot limit that catches people off guard every single season.
Rice Lake sits in Ontario Fisheries Management Zone 17. The following are in effect for 2026 under the FMZ 17 variation order.
| Species |
Opens |
Closes |
Sport limit |
Key rule |
| Walleye & Sauger |
May 9 |
Nov. 15 |
4 fish/day |
Keep only fish 35-50 cm. Outside that slot, release it. |
| Bass (Smallmouth & Largemouth) |
June 20 |
Dec. 15 |
6 fish/day, any size |
Catch-and-release allowed before the opener; keeping fish is not |
| Muskellunge |
June 6 |
Dec. 15 |
1 fish/day |
Must exceed 112 cm (44 in). Conservation licence is catch-and-release only |
| Northern Pike |
All year |
none |
6 fish/day |
No size limit in FMZ 17 |
| Crappie |
All year |
none |
30 fish/day |
No closed season. Strong fall and winter option |
| Yellow Perch |
All year |
none |
50 fish/day |
Excellent year-round fishery |
| Sunfish |
All year |
none |
300/day (max 30 over 18 cm) |
Best family fishing on the lake |
| Channel Catfish |
Apr. 25 |
Nov. 15 |
12 fish/day |
Underrated Rice Lake fishery |
| Lake Sturgeon |
Closed all year |
none |
0 |
No exceptions |
2026 opener dates:
- Walleye: May 9
- Muskie: June 6
- Bass: June 20
- Catfish: April 25
- Crappie, perch, pike: open year-round
The Walleye Slot: Read This Twice
You can only keep walleye measuring 35 cm to 50 cm (roughly 14 to 20 inches). Any fish under 35 cm goes back. Any fish over 50 cm, including that beautiful 7-pounder, also goes back. Immediately.
We know. It hurts. That is the rule.
The slot protects both juvenile fish and the big breeders. It is also the reason Rice Lake still holds a trophy walleye population worth fishing. Release the giants and they are there again next year.
The Muskie Minimum: 112 cm (44 Inches)
One fish per day on a sport licence. A conservation licence is catch-and-release only. Any muskie under 44 inches goes back. Rice Lake regularly produces fish well above that mark, so for serious muskie anglers the minimum is a baseline, not a real restriction.
Free Fishing Weekends in 2026
No licence is required during Father's Day Weekend (June 20-21) and Family Fishing Week (June 27 to July 5). Worth noting: the bass opener lands on June 20, right on the free weekend. If you have been meaning to bring someone new out, that is the weekend to do it.
Regulations can change. Always verify current season dates and limits at ontario.ca/fishing before your trip. This guide is current as of May 2026 and is not a substitute for the official summary.
What's Actually in Rice Lake
More than 10 sport fish species in the same body of water. Here is what you are targeting.
Walleye (Pickerel)
Rice Lake is one of the best walleye fisheries in Southern Ontario, full stop. The shallow, warm, weedy water is textbook walleye habitat. Average fish run 1-2 lbs, but 5-6 lb walleye are a realistic target on any given day, and 8-9 lb fish come out every season.
Trolling worm harnesses along weed edges and jigging in weed pockets are the two bread-and-butter techniques. Walleye is what most Rice Lake anglers come for, and it is the main reason the Mercury 9.9 ProKicker exists in our lineup.
Muskie
The Rice Lake muskie reputation is legitimate province-wide. Ten to 15 lb fish are a typical day's work. Thirty-pound fish are caught every year. The lake holds muskie from Bewdley east to Hastings, plus the Otonabee, Ouse, and Indian River inflows and the Trent River outflow at the east end.
Trolling large body baits in perch or shad patterns along the deep south-end channels is the classic approach. Casting big bucktails along weed lines on a windy afternoon also produces, and the wind is, as you will learn, a reliable feature of Rice Lake afternoons.
Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth are the dominant bass species here, and tournament weigh-ins confirm it year after year. The premier smallmouth water is the rocky structure along the old sunken railway near Tick Island. The stone roadbed is loaded with crayfish, and smallmouth stack on it to feed. Fish 15-17 feet along the railway structure. Tube jigs, drop shots, and evening topwater all produce.
Largemouth Bass
Rice Lake ranks among the top largemouth lakes in Southern Ontario. Average fish are about 2 lbs, but 5-6 lb largemouth come out of the weed flats north of Bewdley regularly. The key to the big ones is committing to the thickest, nastiest weed mats that look unfishable. The biggest largemouth on this lake live right in there. Texas-rigged worms, jigs, and punch rigs through heavy mats.
Crappie
This might be Rice Lake's most underrated fishery. Black crappie averaging 10-12 inches are common, and 1 lb-plus slabs are not unusual. They are here in numbers, catchable year-round, and excellent on the table. Small tube jigs under a slip float, or tiny spinners along weed edges in spring.
Panfish: Perch, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass
Yellow perch are open all year, abundant, and a legitimate winter ice target. The bluegill population is extraordinary, with nesting flats so extensive in some bays they look like a city from above. Rock bass stack on the rocky railway structure. All of these are perfect for kids and new anglers, and they will keep anyone busy on a slow walleye day.
Carp, Pike, Catfish
Rice Lake is one of the top carp fisheries in Southern Ontario for anyone targeting them. Northern pike are open all year and badly underrated. Channel catfish, open late April through mid-November, are a seriously fun evening bite that most anglers ignore completely.
Month-by-Month: The Rice Lake Fishing Calendar
January to March: Ice Fishing
Rice Lake produces solid ice fishing for perch, crappie, sunfish, and pike. The standard access points are the Bewdley west shore and Paudash Street in Hiawatha on the north shore. Walk-in spots are common, but check ice thickness every time. Four to six inches of solid, clear ice is the minimum for walking on.
Perch on small spoons and jigging raps near weed edges. Crappie on tiny jigs under a tip-up near submerged structure. Pike on dead-bait tip-ups.
Motor note: You are not running a boat in February. But this is the best time to book spring commissioning at HBW. The walleye-opener lineup backs up fast, and nobody wants to miss May 9 because their motor is still in the shop.
April to Early May: Pre-Season, Catfish and Crappie
Walleye, bass, and muskie are still in their closed window. But catfish (opens April 25), crappie, pike, and perch are all fair game.
April crappie in shallow warming bays can be outstanding. Water in the 55-60°F range pushes crappie into pre-spawn staging, and they stack tight. If you have never targeted Rice Lake crappie in late April, you are in for a pleasant surprise.
Motor note: This is prime repower and commissioning season at HBW, before the May 9 walleye rush hits and before everyone realizes their motor needs work. Book in April. Thank yourself in May.
May 9 Onward: Walleye Season Opens
This is the best two weeks of fishing on Rice Lake, bar none. Walleye are aggressive, they are in the shallows, and the lake is not yet covered in summer boat traffic.
Where to go:
- Bewdley weed flats (west end). Cast silver rattle baits at medium speed in 5-8 feet. Troll chartreuse worm harnesses across the flats at 1.5 mph. This is walleye-opener textbook.
- Mouth of the Otonabee River. Jigs tipped with worms or minnows in the deeper holding pools off Jubilee Point. One of the most reliable early-season walleye spots on the lake.
- South of Gores Landing channels. Fish the transition from the shallow weed flats to the 17-21 ft deeper water just off our dock. These channels produce from opener through summer.
Slot reminder: keep 35-50 cm fish, release everything else, including the big ones.
Motor note: Walleye trolling at 1-2 mph is not possible on a main motor at idle. If you do not have a ProKicker, you are doing it wrong. Full explanation below.
June 6 to June 19: Muskie Opens, Pre-Bass Catch and Release
Muskie season opens June 6. Bass catch-and-release is permitted before June 20; keeping fish is not.
Muskie, early season: the deep south-end channels from Gores Landing westward. Large crankbaits in perch or shad patterns at dawn. Weed-line edges with big bucktails on windy afternoons.
Largemouth pre-season: the weed flats north of Bewdley, the lily pads up the Otonabee near Bensfort Bridge (frog imitations), and the Cow Island area off the Otonabee mouth. You can fish, you just cannot keep anything yet.
June 20 Onward: Bass Opener and Family Fishing Week
Bass opens June 20, the same day as the Father's Day free-fishing weekend. Family Fishing Week runs June 27 to July 5, also licence-free.
Largemouth: go straight to the weed mats north of Bewdley. Skip the open weed edges and commit to the thick stuff with a punch rig or a heavy Texas-rigged creature bait.
Smallmouth: the Tick Island railway structure, 15-17 feet, tube jigs worked slow on the bottom. First-week post-opener smallmouth on the railway can be exceptional.
July to August: Summer Fishing and Wind Awareness
Summer walleye move off the flats and into the 17-21 foot channels just south of Gores Landing. Slow-troll chartreuse worm harnesses across these channels. When you hook one, stop, anchor, and jig that school. They usually hold in groups.
Largemouth in July and August: the thickest, most impossible-looking weed mats are your target. The biggest fish on Rice Lake spend summer in the middle of vegetation most anglers will not approach. Get a heavy tungsten weight and punch through it.
A word about the afternoon wind. Rice Lake runs 32 km east to west with nothing to break a westerly. Nothing. By 1 PM on a summer afternoon, a glass-calm morning can turn into two-foot chop with whitecaps. We have watched some humbling rides back to the dock over the years. Plan your return before 1 PM on any day with a forecast west wind. This is not generic caution. Every summer, someone misjudges this exact lake and has a very bad afternoon.
September to November: Best Muskie Season, Walleye Returns
Fall is the prime muskie season on Rice Lake. Fish feed aggressively before winter, and the morning and evening windows in September and October can produce the best fish of the year. Troll suspending jerkbaits across the south-end channels and pause them. Sometimes a long, dead pause triggers a follow that has been behind the lure for 100 metres.
Walleye return to accessible depths as the water drops below 60°F. The Gores Landing channels that produced summer fish come back to life. Walleye season runs to November 15.
Late-fall smallmouth on the railway drop-off, jig-and-drag in 15-plus feet with a tube or swimbait, can produce the biggest fish of the year. Bass season does not close until December 15.
Motor note: November fishing means cold mornings, heavier clothing, and conditions that do not forgive an unreliable motor. Book fall lay-up or winterization in October, before availability disappears.
December to Ice-Up: Season Close and Winterization
Bass and muskie close December 15. Walleye closed November 15. Crappie, perch, sunfish, and pike stay open all year.
Now is the time to winterize your Mercury properly. FourStroke and ProKicker motors have specific fogging and fuel-stabilization procedures. HBW handles winterization for any Mercury or MerCruiser. Book before the December rush. It always comes.
The Railway: Rice Lake's Most Expensive Tourist Attraction
In the 1850s, a group of optimistic engineers decided to build a railway across the middle of Rice Lake. It sank. They reinforced it and tried again. It sank again, more slowly. The Cobourg and Peterborough Railway was eventually abandoned, and today the roadbed sits roughly 4 feet below the surface, running through Tick Island across the widest part of the lake.
It has been collecting lower units, prop blades, and the dignity of confident boat operators for roughly 170 years.
Mark it on your chartplotter before you run this lake. Navionics, Garmin, and C-MAP all chart it. The good news: that same rocky roadbed is one of the best smallmouth spots on the lake. Learn to navigate it slowly, then fish it hard.
What Drives Motor Selection on Rice Lake
Generic outboard advice does not apply here. These are the specific conditions that determine the right motor for this water.
Shallow and weedy. Max depth is about 27 feet, but most of the fishing happens in 6-17 feet with heavy summer weed growth. FourStroke motors run cleaner through weeds, and the torque delivery handles a weeded prop better than a screaming two-stroke.
Trolling is the primary technique. Walleye trolling at 1-2 mph is well below idle speed on any main motor. A ProKicker is how you actually catch walleye on Rice Lake. Idling the main motor all day gives you the wrong speed, the wrong noise, and a fuel bill you did not need.
Wind and fetch. The 32 km east-west run is fully exposed to prevailing westerlies. Adequate horsepower for your hull is a safety matter on this lake, not a comfort preference.
The railway. Already covered. Mark it. Fish it. Respect it.
Trent-Severn access. The east end of Rice Lake connects to 386 km of the Trent-Severn Waterway. Boats that run the system need consistent mid-range cruise performance for lock-to-lock days.
The ramp. Most public launches on Rice Lake are adequate. The Harris Boat Works two-lane concrete ramp at Gores Landing is the only 24/7 full-service option on the lake: open 365 days, marine fuel, parking for oversized trailers, $20 per day or a season pass.
What We See at HBW
We have set up a lot of fishing boats over the years, and the same pattern repeats. People buy the minimum horsepower the capacity plate allows, skip the kicker to save money, and run a prop that came on the boat. Then August arrives, the west wind comes up, and they are crossing 32 km of open water on an underpowered rig with no good way to troll. We see it every season. The right setup is the one matched to how you actually fish this water, and it is rarely the most expensive thing on the wall.
The Right Mercury for Your Rice Lake Setup
| Your fishing |
Boat |
Recommended Mercury |
| Walleye trolling |
16-18 ft aluminum console |
60-90 HP FourStroke + 9.9 ProKicker |
| Smallmouth & largemouth bass |
17-19 ft fishing boat |
90-115 HP FourStroke or Pro XS + trolling motor |
| Muskie |
18-21 ft deep-V |
115-150 HP + 9.9 ProKicker |
| Tournament bass |
19-21 ft bass boat |
Pro XS V8 (200-250 HP) |
| Family / mixed use |
16-18 ft aluminum console |
90-115 HP FourStroke (Command Thrust for heavy loads) |
Best fit: Walleye Trolling
A 16-18 ft aluminum console with a Mercury 60-90 HP FourStroke main and a Mercury 9.9 ProKicker. The main handles travel and fights the afternoon chop on the ride home. The ProKicker handles the fishing: slow, quiet, dialled in at 1-2 mph while your worm harnesses tick along the weed edges.
Without the kicker, here is what actually happens. You put the main in gear at idle, you are doing 3.5 mph, walleye will not touch it, you spend the day frustrated, and you come back next spring asking about a kicker. We watch this cycle every season. Save yourself a year and put the kicker on now.
Best fit: Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass
A 17-19 ft fishing boat with a Mercury 90-115 HP FourStroke or Pro XS and a bow-mount electric trolling motor. You are running and gunning between the railway structure, weed flats, and island edges. A bow-mount electric handles precise weed-edge positioning better than a kicker for bass. The main motor choice depends on hull weight and how often you run the full length of the lake.
Best fit: Muskie Fishing
An 18-21 ft deep-V or modified-V with a Mercury 115-150 HP and a 9.9 ProKicker. Bigger hull, bigger lures, longer days, often Trent-Severn range. The step from 115 to 150 HP earns its price on a heavier muskie rig carrying two anglers and a full day of gear. Do not cheap out on horsepower for this one.
Best fit: Tournament Bass
A 19-21 ft bass boat with a Mercury Pro XS V8 (200-250 HP). Maximum acceleration, maximum top speed, tournament-ready. The Pro XS is built for exactly this. For anything outside competitive tournament fishing, the FourStroke at the same horsepower is quieter, more fuel-efficient, and more than capable.
Best fit: Family and Mixed Use
A 16-18 ft aluminum console with a Mercury 90-115 HP FourStroke, Command Thrust gearcase for heavier loads. Full crew, full gear, a slower pace, some bluegill and crappie casting mixed in with walleye trolling. The FourStroke is quiet and efficient. The Command Thrust gearcase makes a real, noticeable difference when you consistently run a fully loaded boat. For heavy-use family fishing, it earns its place.
Common Mistakes
The "I'll add the kicker later" plan. Nobody adds the kicker later cleanly. They do add it, but it costs more, takes longer, and means undoing half the wiring we already ran. Put it on at repower time. Your future self, and your walleye numbers, will thank you.
The wrong prop. A mismatched prop is like running in the wrong size boots. You can do it, but you are never quite right. We test props on the water during every sea trial. It matters more than most people think, and it is cheap to get right at install time.
Underbuying horsepower for real-world use. There is a specific conversation we have every August with someone who bought a 60 HP in May, then discovered they are running a loaded 19-footer into afternoon west winds across 32 km of open lake. Match the motor to how you actually fish, not the minimum on the capacity plate.
No chartplotter for the railway. See above. See everything above. Mark it before you run.
Leaving electronics for "later." There is no later. Later is a pile of wires behind the dash, a fish finder mounted at an angle that makes no sense, and a chartplotter taped to the windshield. Sort the electronics at rigging time. It takes an hour now versus a full day later.
What We Ask Before Recommending a Motor
Before we put a motor number in front of anyone, we want to know:
- Hull length, type, and weight
- Capacity plate HP rating, which is the legal ceiling and one we never exceed
- Primary fishery and fishing style (walleye troller, bass run-and-gun, muskie angler)
- Solo use or family use with full loads
- Trolling-heavy, or mostly running between spots
- Where you launch most often
- Whether you want a kicker
- Electronics setup and battery requirements
- Budget
The capacity plate sets the ceiling. Real-world use sets the target. Three generations on Rice Lake's south shore, from cedar strip boats to Mercury mechanics to full repower and service today, gives us a hard-earned sense of what actually works on this specific water, and what looks fine on paper but lets you down in August chop.
Launching on Rice Lake
| Launch |
Location |
Notes |
| Harris Boat Works |
Gores Landing, south shore |
24/7, two-lane concrete ramp, marine fuel, $20/day or season pass, full marina |
| Bewdley |
West end |
Public launch, good west-end weed-flat access |
| Hastings |
East end |
Trent River outlet, good east-end fishing and Trent-Severn access |
| Roseneath |
North shore |
Public, north-shore structure access |
| Hiawatha (Paudash St.) |
North shore |
Popular ice-fishing shore access |
The HBW ramp at Gores Landing is the only 24/7 full-service launch on the lake. Daily parking, overflow space for large trailers, marine gas, and a dock. Whether you are launching at 5 AM for the walleye bite or coming off the water after dark, the lights are on.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Mercury outboard for Rice Lake fishing?
For the lake's walleye-and-troll style of fishing, a Mercury 60-90 HP FourStroke main paired with a 9.9 ProKicker is the proven setup. The FourStroke handles travel and afternoon wind; the ProKicker runs the slow trolling speed walleye demand. Bass, muskie, and tournament setups call for more horsepower. See the table above.
Do I need a kicker motor for Rice Lake walleye?
For proper walleye trolling, yes. Main motors at idle run too fast and too loud for an effective walleye presentation here. The Mercury 9.9 ProKicker is the standard on Rice Lake fishing boats. It runs the right speed, quietly, for hours.
What is the walleye slot limit on Rice Lake?
Keep walleye between 35 cm and 50 cm only. Fish outside that range, too small or too big, must be released immediately. The sport licence limit is 4 fish per day within the slot.
When does walleye season open on Rice Lake in 2026?
May 9, 2026 (the second Saturday in May), running to November 15. Muskie opens June 6, bass opens June 20, and channel catfish opens April 25.
When does bass season open on Rice Lake in 2026?
June 20, 2026. Catch-and-release is permitted before the opener; keeping fish is not. Bass season runs to December 15.
What can I fish year-round on Rice Lake?
Crappie, yellow perch, sunfish, and northern pike are open all year with no closed season.
What is the sunken railway on Rice Lake?
The 19th-century Cobourg and Peterborough Railway roadbed sits roughly 4 feet below the surface, crossing the lake through Tick Island. It is a real navigation hazard, so mark it on your chartplotter. It is also a premier smallmouth bass area.
What horsepower do I need for a 16 ft aluminum boat on Rice Lake?
Typically 60-90 HP. Check the capacity plate first, because that is the ceiling. Your actual use sets the right point within the range. A solo walleye angler needs a different answer than a full family running into afternoon wind.
Is there a free fishing weekend in 2026?
Yes. Father's Day Weekend (June 20-21) and Family Fishing Week (June 27 to July 5). No licence required during either.
Ready to Build Your Rice Lake Setup?
If you fish Rice Lake, the right motor comes down to a match between your hull, your fishing style, and this specific water. We have been making that match here for three generations.
Head to mercuryrepower.ca for live Mercury pricing in CAD, configured for your hull and your fishing. Or call us. You will get a straight answer on what you actually need, not a pitch for the most expensive thing on the wall.
Phone: 905-342-2153
Address: 5369 Harris Boat Works Rd, Gores Landing, ON
Configurator: mercuryrepower.ca
Sources
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Sport Fishing Variation Order for Fisheries Management Zone 17 (SF-2025/17): ontario.ca/page/sport-fishing-variation-order-fisheries-management-zone-17
- Ontario free family fishing dates 2026: ontario.ca/page/free-family-fishing
- Trent-Severn Waterway, Parks Canada: parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern
- Rice Lake boat launch ramp, Harris Boat Works: harrisboatworks.ca/boat-launch-ramp
Fishing regulations are current as of May 2026, based on Ontario FMZ 17 (SF-2025/17). Always verify season dates, size limits, and possession limits at ontario.ca/fishing before your trip.
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