Also called Indian Rice or water oats, wild rice has a common name of foran annual aquatic grass. It is a member of the grass family and is not closely related to common cultivated rice.
Wild rice starts to grow in spring after the ice melts in swamps and in the swampy, shallow parts of lakes and slow moving rivers. Preferring shallow and moderate water depths, in about mid-June, it surfaces. Green leaves appear as the plant lays flat and then the plants stands up. Sudden changes in water levels can destroy beds of wild rice while the plant is lying flat.
During summer, the season for wild rice harvesting opens. Although legally open then, by no means is the rice ready to be harvested, as it is not ripe. It is illegal to harvest green rice. Rice can be determined to be green if you have to pound a plant to remove it. Due to the varying times that rice should be harvested, you need to look for signs posted by the DNR and/or Tribal organizations. These will indicate special lake closings or special opening dates for wild rice harvesting.
Harvesting is often done by canoe. With a legal maximum width of 36” and a maximum length of 18’, the canoe is the vehicle of choice. It is light, maneuverable, and has the capacity of carrying a harvested crop. Pushed by a pole, either with a “duckbill” or fork, the canoe is pushed through the beds. “Store bought” duckbills are discouraged as they can damage plant roots. Poles, by law, can have forks a maximum of 12”. Sticks, used to knock the grain off of the plant, are called flails and are required to be made of wood. They can weigh no more than one pound and be no longer than 30”.
I had the opportunity to take Native American children ricing. This was quite an education, as I had not riced before. I learned a few things including the fact that a canoe definitely can tip over while ricing. Fortunately, it was not the canoe I was in as I was carrying camera gear. The person in the front of the canoe flails the rice and the person to the rear stands up and pushes it forward using the push pole. With a high center of gravity, tipping a canoe is a strong possibility. By law, there has to be personal flotation devices (PFD) on board fitting the intended wearer. I would, in addition, strongly encourage they be worn at all times.
Others things I learned are that while harvesting, the plants should be gently bent over into the canoe with a flail and brushed towards the top with the other, which should be forward and away from you. If the rice is ready, it should easily fall off. The person using the push pole should take their time and slowly move the canoe. If you go too fast, the person in the front might not be able to keep up with the flailing.
With ricing comes responsibilities. Licenses are required. There are seasons, including, on some lakes, special closings.  Equipment must meet certain standards of measurement. People violating rules or laws can be fined. All this is not intended to scare anyone from enjoying wild ricing. I encourage you to obtain from the Minnesota DNR a copy of the current Minnesota Wild Rice Harvesting Regulations.