Clear Lake
Clear Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 140.4 acres.
- Clarity
- 14.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 30 ft
- Area
- 140 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 16
- Open water
- 211 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Clear Lake is a 140-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 30 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2021. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Clear Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-08. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Crystal clear, you can see 14.9 ft down. Phosphorus level: 10.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Clear Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Clear Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
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Water Temperature
Clear Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 40 field readings (2021–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Clear Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 140 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 36% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Clear LakePublic
- HarrisonPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Clear Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2017-08-14 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 27.66 | 0.14 lb |
| Bluegill | 12.29 | 0.12 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 1.77 | 0.14 lb |
| Northern Pike | 1.74 | 2.91 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.64 | 2.15 lb |
| Black Crappie | 1.15 | 0.31 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
Northern Pike
From the 2017-08-14 survey
Clear Lake is a 132-acre lake located in northwest Itasca County one mile north of Wirt, MN. An Itasca County administered access is located off County Road 31 on the eastern shore with parking for two vehicles along the shoulder of the road. Clear Lake has a maximum depth of 30 feet and 39% of the lake is 15 feet or…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Clear Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ClearFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Clear (0682)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ClearPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (11 observations).
Estimated open water season: 211 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2021-04-05 (2021) | 2018-05-03 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-02 (2017) | 2016-12-05 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2021-04-05
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Clear Lake
What is the water quality grade for Clear Lake?
- Clear Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 140.4 acres.
Is Clear Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Clear Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Clear Lake?
- Clear Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 40 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Clear Lake?
- Clear Lake has a maximum depth of 30 feet. The lake covers 140.4 acres.
What fish are in Clear Lake?
- Fish species found in Clear Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Clear Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does Clear Lake thaw?
- Clear Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 16. Ice typically forms around Nov 13. The open water season is approximately 211 days.
Are there boat ramps on Clear Lake?
- Clear Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Clear Lake, Harrison. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Clear Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate