Minnesota · Martin County
Clear Lake Fishing guide
Clear Lake sits in Martin County, Minnesota, and covers 267 acres, reaching 7 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 0.9 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 11 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Excellent numbers10.7per gill net17"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 37 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 37 fish
2025Lengths measured · 40 fish
2020Lengths measured · 18 fish
2017Lengths measured · 28 fish
2016No recent survey rating.
No recent survey rating.
CrappieOne of the best around33.5per trap net7"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 671 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 671 fish
2025Lengths measured · 657 fish
2020Lengths measured · 311 fish
2016Lengths measured · 418 fish
2012Yellow perchLast stocked 2017Excellent numbers13.7per gill net8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 49 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 49 fish
2025Lengths measured · 18 fish
2020Lengths measured · 7 fish
2016Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 10 fish
2012Channel catfishGood numbers3per gill net18"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 11 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 11 fish
2025Lengths measured · 34 fish
2020Lengths measured · 17 fish
2016Lengths measured · 34 fish
2012Rates 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 0.9 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 7-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Crappie
- Spring
- Crappie are up in the back bays and against wood in a few feet of water, spawning shallower than most people fish for them. In 0.9 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Crappie are pulling off the bays to the first deep weed edge and brush, still reachable shallow at dusk.
- Summer
- Crappie are over the basin of a stratified lake, well off any structure, which is why summer netting barely catches them inshore. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Crappie are schooled along the deep weedline and the basin edge, pushing shallow to feed at dusk while the water still turns over slowly. A 7-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 | Crappie | Yellow perch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27" | 12" | 10" |
| 2020 | 24" | 12" | 9" |
| 2017 | 8" | — | — |
| 2016 | 17" | 9" | 8" |
| 2012 | 23" | 11" | 7" |
| 2007 | 23" | 13" | 6" |
| 2003 | 18" | 12" | 10" |
| 1999 | 27" | 13" | 10" |
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
Crappie · Jigs & bladed
Beetle Spin
1.5–2" curly-tail grub trailer on a small in-line spinner jighead
Crappie · Soft plastics
Tungsten Jig + Micro Plastic
1–1.5" micro plastic
Yellow perch · Live bait
Clip-On Bobber + Worm
half to whole garden nightcrawler
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Tungsten Jig + Micro Plastic
1–1.5" micro plastic
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 | Walleye | 133,500 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 133,508 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 133,500 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 133,500 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 140,000 fry |
| 2017 | Yellow Perch | 330 adults |
| 2016 | Walleye | 260,563 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Clear Lake is 261-acres, lake located toward the top of the watershed, in Martin County near the City of Ceylon. Clear Lake has a maximum depth of seven feet and is in a watershed that is comprised primarily of agriculture (90 percent). Because it is in an agricultural watershed, water quality is typically poor despite having a relatively small watershed (3.4 to 1 watershed to lake ratio). Clear Lake is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Yellow Perch, Black and White Crappie. Clear Lake was surveyed in the week of July 14, 2025 to monitor fish populations using three gill nets and nine trap nets.
Walleye catch rates have steadily increased, going from 2.7 per gill net in 2016 to 6.7 per gill net in 2020 to 10.4 per gill net in 2025. The 2025 Walleye catch rate of 10.4 per gill net was within the expected of catch rates for similar lakes (2.3 to 18.1 per gill net). Catch rates of Walleye in Clear Lake have been highly variable, ranging from 2.7 per gill net in 2016 to 41.0 per gill net in 1991 and have averaged 12.6 per gill net over all surveys. Year classes sampled included age-2, age-3, age-8, and age-11 (2023, 2022, 2017, and 2014 year classes). The 2023-year class (age-6) accounted for 50 percent of aged Walleye, with all year classes corresponding to stocking years, except the 2022 year class (age-3), which accounted for 13 percent of the Walleye aged. Walleye lengths ranged from 13.2 to 27.4 inches and averaged 18.3 inches. Walleye growth appears to be fast at young ages, as age-2 Walleye averaged 14.4 inches and slower at older ages as age-8 walleye averaged 18.8 inches in length. The management goal was met because the catch rate was above 10.0 per gill net. A steady increase in Walleye catch rates since 2016 indicates that the current stocking regime of 1 of 2 years at 500 per littoral acre is effective at meeting management goals.
Read the full DNR narrative
The Yellow Perch catch rate in 2025 was 13.7 per gill net, the highest catch rate since the mid-1990's, and within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (2.7 to 25.0 per gill net). Adult Yellow Perch (N=330) stocked in 2017 may have been effective at reestablishing a self-sustaining Yellow Perch population. Lengths of Yellow Perch ranged from 4.1 to 10.2 inches and averaged 8.3 inches. A fishable population of Yellow Perch is present in Clear Lake.
The Black Crappie catch rate in 2025 was 17.2 per trap net which was within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (1.2 to 20.5 per trap net). Lengths of Black Crappie ranged from 3.8 to 10.5 inches and averaged 6.4 inches. The management goal was met, as a fishable population of Black Crappie was present.
White Crappie abundance has drastically increased in Clear Lake with 2025 catch rates of 120.0 per gill net and 16.3 per trap net, both greatly exceeding their expected ranges of catch rates for similar lakes (0.5 to 8.4 per gill net and 0.3 to 6.0 per trap net). The gill net catch rate in 2025 represents the highest catch rate of White Crappie ever recorded in Clear Lake. Size structure of White Crappie increased as lengths of White Crappie ranged from 4.5 to 12.8 inches and averaged 8.3 inches. Despite their high abundance, condition of White Crappie was high (Wr=95), indicating that they are foraging successfully. The management goal was met, as a fishable population of White Crappie is present in Clear Lake.
Channel Catfish, ranging from 6.7 to 24.1 inches and averaging 17.9 inches, were caught at a rate of 3.0 per gill net. Black Bullheads were captured at a rate of 158.7 per trap net, exceeding the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (11.5 to 132.6 per trap net) and exceeding the long-term average of 114.3 per trap net. Other species sampled included Bigmouth Buffalo, Bluegill, Common Carp, Orangespotted Sunfish, 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 (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Clear Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Okamanpeedan Lake · 2,268 ac · 3.9 mi
- Bright Lake · 639 ac · 4.1 mi
- Willmert (main bay) Lake · 335 ac · 8.7 mi
- Iowa Lake · 705 ac · 8.8 mi
- South Silver Lake · 252 ac · 9.1 mi
- Temperance Lake · 166 ac · 9.5 mi
- Amber Lake · 182 ac · 10.3 mi
- Fox Lake · 951 ac · 10.6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Clear Lake?
Clear Lake reaches 7 ft at its deepest point; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Clear Lake?
Clear Lake covers 267 acres with about 2.7 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Clear Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Clear Lake average 0.9 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, channel catfish.
Is Clear Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye 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 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 1999.
When was Clear Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Clear Lake in 2025, the most recent of 11 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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