Minnesota · Brown County
Clear Lake Fishing guide
Clear Lake covers 252 acres in Brown County, Minnesota, reaching 8 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 1.8 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 13 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2016Fair numbers3per gill net17"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 14 fish
Recent · 2016 + 2021Lengths measured · 7 fish
2021Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 6 fish
2019Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 7 fish
2016Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 14 fish
2011Northern pikeLast stocked 2024No recent survey ratingNo recent survey rating.
No recent survey rating.
Lengths measured · 39 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2025Lengths measured · 35 fish
2025Lengths measured · 4 fish
2021Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 3 fish
2019Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
BluegillJust a few2.7per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 173 fish
Recent · 2016 + 2021 + 2025Lengths measured · 5 fish
2025Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 144 fish
2021Lengths measured · 24 fish
2016Lengths measured · 534 fish
2011CrappieOne of the best around122.1per trap net6"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 4985 fish
Recent · 2016 + 2021 + 2025Lengths measured · 2135 fish
2025Lengths measured · 1702 fish
2021Lengths measured · 253 fish
2019Lengths measured · 1148 fish
2016Yellow perchLast stocked 2019Excellent numbers15per gill net6"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 57 fish
Recent · 2016 + 2021 + 2025Lengths measured · 22 fish
2025Lengths measured · 5 fish
2021Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 1 fish
2019Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 30 fish
2016Rates 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 Clear Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 1.8 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows. A 8-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. In 1.8 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze. A 8-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
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 | Walleye | Largemouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 29" |
| 2021 | 27" | 14" | 26" |
| 2019 | 14" | 18" | 20" |
| 2016 | 25" | 17" | — |
| 2011 | 26" | 17" | — |
| 2003 | 14" | 14" | — |
| 1993 | 17" | 14" | — |
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:
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Spinnerbait
3/8–1/2 oz safety-pin spinnerbait with tandem willow-leaf blades
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Northern Pike | 306 adults |
| 2019 | Northern Pike | 300 adults |
| 2019 | Yellow Perch | 2,145 yearlings · 798 adults |
| 2018 | Northern Pike | 124 adults |
| 2017 | Northern Pike | 166 adults |
| 2016 | Walleye | 253,378 fry · 2,412 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Clear is a small lake (251 acres) located south of New Ulm, in Brown County. A medium-sized county owned access, with a single cement boat ramp, is present on the southeast shore. A fishing pier is available at the Lost Dog and Fox Hunters County Park. Clear has three miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of eight feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Clear is a class 43 lake and other similar lakes in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Swan and Winsted in McLeod County. This lake is occasionally aerated during the winter, and anglers are advised to stay clear of the open water and thin ice signs when the system is operated.
Fisheries management changed at Clear in 2017 when it was decided to primarily manage the lake for Northern Pike and Yellow Perch, while the 2022 lake management plan also listed Black Crappie and Bluegill as secondary management species. Northern Pike and Yellow Perch can typically survive lower winter oxygen levels than Bluegill, Largemouth Bass and Walleye. Northern Pike adults were stocked in 2017, 2018, and 2019, while Yellow Perch (adults and yearlings) were stocked in 2019. Ice-out trap net catches in 2021 indicated that neither of those two species had become abundant. Clear Lake experienced a partial winterkill in 2023, and Northern Pike were stocked in 2024. In the 2025 ice-out trap netting, Northern Pike were present in moderate numbers with fish averaging 20 inches in length. Only two of the sampled pike were longer than the southern pike-zone regulation's 24-inch minimum size limit. Yellow Perch were sampled in low numbers, but the water was still too cold to catch spawning fish. However, approximately 50 percent of the perch catch was 9 inches or longer, with maximum length being an impressive 11.3 inches. Walleye were not sampled in the 2023 winterkill assessment or in the 2025 ice-out trap netting and are likely no longer present at Clear Lake. Clear has an abundant crappie population and ice-out trap netting verified this. Black Crappie averaged 6 inches in length with good numbers of 8 to11 inch long fish also being captured. The longest crappie sampled was 13.4 inches. There was also a very large group of 4.5-inch long crappie that should provide good fishing in the next several years - if they survive. Bluegill were sampled in very low numbers, and all were small.
Read the full DNR narrative
Other species that anglers may encounter include Black Bullhead, Common Carp, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, White Sucker and Yellow Bullhead.
People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Over harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local DNR office. Additional information on all these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Clear Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Clear 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
- Clear Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Clear Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Hanska Lake · 1,795 ac · 9.5 mi
- Sleepy Eye Lake · 241 ac · 11.1 mi
- Clear Lake · 505 ac · 13.4 mi
- Fedji Lake · 172 ac · 14.4 mi
- Crystal Lake · 379 ac · 18.9 mi
- Loon Lake · 809 ac · 20.5 mi
- St. James Lake · 203 ac · 20.9 mi
- Mills Lake · 237 ac · 22.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Clear Lake?
Clear Lake reaches 8 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 5 ft; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Clear Lake?
Clear Lake covers 252 acres with about 3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Clear Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Clear Lake average 1.8 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Clear Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Clear Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked northern pike in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Clear Lake have a public access?
Yes. Clear Lake has one public access site: Clear Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Clear Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 27"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1993.
When was Clear Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Clear Lake in 2025, the most recent of 13 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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