Minnesota · Jackson County
Clear Lake Fishing guide
Clear Lake sits in Jackson County, Minnesota, and covers 434 acres, reaching 9 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 2.6 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 22 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
No recent survey rating.
No recent survey rating.
Northern pikeLast stocked 2023Fair numbers7.7per gill net22"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 26 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 26 fish
2023Lengths measured · 10 fish
2015Lengths measured · 1 fish
2011Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 1 fish
2009Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
No recent survey rating.
Channel catfishExcellent numbers1per trap net22"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 23 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 23 fish
2023Lengths measured · 18 fish
2019Lengths measured · 4 fish
2015Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 17 fish
2011Rates 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 2.6 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 9-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. In 2.6 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops. A 9-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 | Northern pike | Channel catfish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 24" | 25" | 28" |
| 2020 | 7" | — | — |
| 2019 | 28" | — | 26" |
| 2018 | 7" | — | — |
| 2017 | 8" | — | — |
| 2016 | 8" | — | — |
| 2015 | 22" | 22" | 26" |
| 2011 | 19" | 35" | 25" |
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 · Trolling
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Spinnerbait
3/8–1/2 oz safety-pin spinnerbait with tandem willow-leaf blades
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
Channel catfish · Live bait
Bullhead Bottom Rig
nightcrawler chunk or whole worm
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Black Crappie | 2,000 adults |
| 2025 | Walleye | 208,000 fry |
| 2025 | Yellow Perch | 2,000 adults |
| 2024 | Walleye | 208,000 fry |
| 2023 | Northern Pike | 1,001 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 208,000 fry |
| 2021 | Northern Pike | 922 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 208,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 208,000 fry |
| 2017 | Northern Pike | 200 adults |
| 2017 | Walleye | 208,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 202,941 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2023 survey
Clear Lake is a 415-acre lake, located four miles west of the City of Jackson in Jackson County. The lake has a maximum depth of 9.0 feet and a shoreline length of 3.8 miles. Water clarity was good during the survey in early June, with a Secchi disk reading of 3.5 feet. Clear Lake is managed primarily for Walleye and has historically been a good Walleye fishery. Secondary management species include Northern Pike and Yellow Perch. The current management plan calls for Walleye fry to be stocked 3 of 4 years (2024, 2025, 2026 and 2028) at 500 per littoral acre. Northern Pike are stocked when there is surplus fingerlings and winter rescue adults are available. Clear Lake was surveyed the week of June 5, 2023, to monitor fish populations using three gill nets and nine trap nets.
Thee 2023 Walleye catch rate was the lowest rate ever recorded at Clear Lake at 1.7 per gill net. Historically, catch rates of Walleye have varied from 1.7 per gill net in 2003 and 2023 to 18.0 per gill net in 1990, and have averaged 9.3 per gill net. The catch was also below the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (2.3 to 18.1 per gill net), but lack of fish movement during the survey week may have resulted in low catches, as abundant adult Walleye were observed during a fall electrofishing survey. Walleye ranged in total length from 13.6 to 24.6 inches and averaged 20.0 inches. Four year classes were sampled (2014, 2016, 2017, and 2019) in the June survey and all were stocked years except for 2019 (1 fish). A natural reproduction check was done in the fall of 2023, during which Young of the Year Walleye were sampled at a rate of 140.0 per hour of electrofishing. We know catch rates of Age-0 Walleye at 30 per hour can produce great fishing at times. Clear Lake Walleye successfully reproduced in 2023 and likely will bode well for the Walleye population in the future for anglers.
Read the full DNR narrative
Prior to 2023, catch rates of Northern Pike have varied from 0.0 per gill net in both 1993 and 2019 to 5.0 per gill net in 1982 and have averaged 1.3 per gill net. The 2023 catch rate of 7.7 Northern Pike per gill net is the highest on record at Clear Lake and is likely the result of stocking advanced stage fingerlings in 2021. Additional large fingerlings were stocked in the fall of 2023, so Clear Lake's Northern Pike population is in good shape. Spawning habitat for Northern Pike is very limited in Clear Lake, so the population is highly dependent on maintenance stockings. Northern Pike lengths ranged from 19.1 to 25.6 inches and averaged 22.4 inches. Clear Lake is within the "southern zone" of the Northern Pike zone regulations, so two Pike longer than 24 inches can be harvested.
The Yellow Perch population in Clear Lake has been highly variable, ranging from 0.3 per gill net in 1990 to 263.0 per gill net in 1987, and averaging 41.5 per gill net since 1982. No Yellow Perch were captured in the 2023 survey. Again, this may be an instance where the fish were not moving during the survey week, nonetheless pre-spawn adult Yellow Perch will be stocked in the spring of 2024.
In the spring of 2016, an angler reported catching two adult Yellow Bass at Clear Lake, but did not keep them for confirmation. During the September electrofishing survey in 2016, young-of-the-year (YOY) Yellow Bass were observed throughout the lake. During several subsequent fall electrofishing surveys, YOY and older Yellow Bass have been observed throughout the lake, indicating that natural reproduction is occurring. In 2023, Yellow Bass were captured at a rate of 10.3 per gill net, an increase from the 2019 catch rate of 4.7 per gill net. Although Yellow Bass abundance increased from the previous survey, the magnitude of the increase is not as large as what we have seen in other new illegal introductions in southwest Minnesota. Lengths of Yellow Bass ranged from 4.6 to 10.7 inches and averaged 8.8 inches. The Yellow Bass population should continue to be monitored as diet studies have suggested that they may compete with Yellow Perch and other native species of fish. Yellow Bass were likely illegally stocked.
Freshwater Drum abundance has varied from 0.0 per gill net in 1997 to 16.7 per gill in 2007. The 2023 catch rate was 18.3 per gill net, the highest on record at Clear Lake. Black Bullheads were scarce as only one was sampled in the whole survey. Other species sampled included Bigmouth Buffalo, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Yellow Bullhead.
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 (N) (trailer launch)
- Clear Lake (S) (trailer launch)
- Loon Lake Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Clear Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Loon Lake · 708 ac · 6.2 mi
- Rush Lake · 243 ac · 6.5 mi
- Pearl Lake · 117 ac · 6.9 mi
- Little Spirit Lake · 624 ac · 8.5 mi
- Independence Lake · 99 ac · 9.7 mi
- Heron (South Heron) Lake · 2,641 ac · 9.8 mi
- Flahtery Lake · 457 ac · 10 mi
- Timber Lake · 191 ac · 14.8 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Clear Lake?
Clear Lake reaches 9 ft at its deepest point; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Clear Lake?
Clear Lake covers 434 acres with about 3.8 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Clear Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Clear Lake average 2.6 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Clear Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish.
Is Clear Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked black crappie, walleye and yellow perch in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Clear Lake have a public access?
Yes. Clear Lake has 3 public access sites, including Clear Lake (N) (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Clear Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 24"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2011.
When was Clear Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Clear Lake in 2023, the most recent of 22 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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