Minnesota · Crow Wing County
Clamshell Lake Fishing guide
Clamshell Lake is a 211-acre lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, reaching 44 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 15.8 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 11 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
No recent survey rating.
Largemouth bassJust a few3.8per hr (electrofishing)10"Typical15"Biggest
Lengths measured · 11 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 11 fish
2024Lengths measured · 25 fish
2018Lengths measured · 6 fish
2011Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 4 fish
2005Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Northern pikeGood numbers10.7per gill net19"Typical29"Biggest
Lengths measured · 67 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 67 fish
2024Lengths measured · 83 fish
2018Lengths measured · 88 fish
2011Lengths measured · 51 fish
2005BluegillFair numbers37.8per trap net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 366 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 366 fish
2024Lengths measured · 329 fish
2018Lengths measured · 308 fish
2011Lengths measured · 214 fish
2005CrappieJust a few0.1per trap net7"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 10 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 10 fish
2024Lengths measured · 18 fish
2018Lengths measured · 9 fish
2011Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 5 fish
2005Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Yellow perchGood numbers4.8per gill net5"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 33 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 33 fish
2024Lengths measured · 11 fish
2018Lengths measured · 17 fish
2011Lengths measured · 22 fish
2005Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Clamshell Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 15.8 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Pike are on the outside weed edge and points.
- Summer
- Pike are on the deep weed edge and points near the coolest water they can find. On a lake that drops to 44 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. At 15.8 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. On a lake that drops to 44 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Northern pike | Largemouth bass | Smallmouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 29" | 15" | — |
| 2018 | 40" | 17" | — |
| 2011 | 34" | 14" | — |
| 2005 | 32" | 13" | — |
| 2000 | 32" | 18" | — |
| 1995 | 36" | 13" | — |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Smallmouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Tail Spinner
Compact lead body with a free-spinning blade on the tail
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles were collected in the deepest basin in Clamshell Lake on August 14, 2024, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Whitefish, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake (Cisco are also present). Lake Whitefish require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 17.2 degrees C (63.0 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin, the water temperature decreased to below 17.2 degrees C (63.0 degrees F) at 21.2 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 19.8 feet at the time of sampling. The water column did not contain a layer of water with sufficient temperature and dissolved oxygen for Lake Whitefish.
Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 18.5 degrees C (number degrees F). TDO3 values warmer than 17.2 degrees C (63.0 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were unsuitable for Lake Whitefish at the time of this survey.
Read the full DNR narrative
Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in 2011-2023 during the late summer thermal stress period, indicate suitable oxythermal habitat in most years surveyed, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2024. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Lake Whitefish are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Clamshell Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Clamshell Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Clamshell Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Clamshell Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Grass Lake · 46 ac · 0.8 mi
- Bertha Lake · 337 ac · 1.3 mi
- Clear Lake · 226 ac · 1.6 mi
- Whitefish Lake · 7,714 ac · 1.6 mi
- Kimball Lake · 190 ac · 1.6 mi
- Strawberry Lake · 20 ac · 1.7 mi
- Pig Lake · 196 ac · 2 mi
- Bass Lake · 121 ac · 2.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Clamshell Lake?
Clamshell Lake reaches 44 ft at its deepest point; about 67% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Clamshell Lake?
Clamshell Lake covers 211 acres with about 6.5 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Clamshell Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Clamshell Lake average 15.8 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Clamshell Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Clamshell Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Clamshell Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Clamshell Lake have a public access?
Yes. Clamshell Lake has one public access site: Clamshell Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Clamshell Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 29"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1995.
When was Clamshell Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Clamshell Lake in 2024, the most recent of 11 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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