Clear Lake

Clear Lake near 43.5281, -94.6475 is a lake in Martin County, Minnesota. Clear Lake covers about 267 acres, reaches a recorded 6.5 feet and holds about 1,258 acre-feet.

How the Size and Shape of Clear Lake Affect Fishing

Clear Lake is shallow enough that wind, weeds, shade and even a small dip in the bottom can make one part fish better than another.

Fish and Baits at Clear Lake

Fish reported from Clear Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, common shiner, fathead minnow, golden shiner, johnny darter, largemouth bass, northern pike, orangespotted sunfish, pumpkinseed, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch.

Bass

For bass at Clear Lake, fish weeds, wood and shade with a spinnerbait, jig or Texas-rigged worm for largemouth.

Crappie, Yellow Perch, and Sunfish

For panfish at Clear Lake, use a small jig or minnow beside brush for crappie, and fish a worm, cricket or tiny jig near weeds for bluegill and pumpkinseed, and keep a small jig, minnow or worm close to bottom for yellow perch.

Walleye

For roaming fish at Clear Lake, jig a minnow or troll a crankbait along points and deeper edges for walleye.

Northern Pike

For large predators at Clear Lake, cast a spoon, spinnerbait or swimbait beside weeds for northern pike.

Catfish, Bullheads, and Carp

For bottom fishing at Clear Lake, put cut bait, a nightcrawler or prepared bait on bottom for channel catfish, and fish a worm or small piece of cut bait in quiet water for bullheads, and use corn or dough bait on a simple bottom rig for carp.

How the Seasons Change Clear Lake

Spring at Clear Lake is a good time to check warm coves and incoming water, and summer is best early or late around weeds, shade and the few deeper holes. Fall at Clear Lake can bring fish back to windy points and banks, while winter calls for smaller baits fished slowly.

A Simple Plan for Fishing Clear Lake

On a first trip to Clear Lake, check one quiet cove, one rocky or firm point and the nearby deep water with a moving lure, then use a jig or worm where you find fish.

Useful Tackle for Clear Lake

A medium spinning rod covers smaller lures at Clear Lake, while a heavier rod and stronger leader are better for northern pike.

Clear Lake FAQs

Where should an angler start on the 267-acre Clear Lake?

At Clear Lake, pick one cove and the closest point or drop into deep water, then fish that small area well before making a long move.

Should anglers fish the 6.5-foot deep end of Clear Lake?

Not every trip. A better place at Clear Lake is where a point, drop-off or group of baitfish gives the fish a reason to stop.

What does the 1,258 acre-foot storage figure mean at Clear Lake?

At Clear Lake, it shows that a lot of the water sits away from the bank and around the old channel or deep end.