Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest September 15, 2023
Clear Lake FishingFWater-quality grade F
Minnesota DNR surveys at Clear Lake average 7.21 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 19 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated September 15, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–16 inches. In Meeker County, Minnesota, Clear Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of F. Water clarity averages 3.0 feet of visibility, and there are 2 public boat landings. The survey figures on this page are Minnesota DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Species recorded at Clear Lake
13 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at Clear Lake
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for this lake — which species went in, how many, and in which years. Read the years: a lake stocked in one year is not necessarily stocked in the next.
Getting on the water
2 public boat landings are recorded on Clear Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Clear Lake average 7.21 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 19 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated September 15, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–16 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Clear Lake F from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
19 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-09-15 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 92.31 | 0.42 lb |
| Bluegill | 41.83 | 0.18 lb |
| Black Crappie | 34.93 | 0.21 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 10.76 | 0.18 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 8.44 | 1.1 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 7.21 | 0.91 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
From the 2023-09-15 survey
A fall nighttime electrofishing survey was conducted on Clear Lake on September 15th, 2023, to evaluate young of the year (YOY) and yearling Walleye abundance. No YOY were sampled. No YOY have been sampled in the nine total fall nighttime surveys. Walleye fry were stocked in 2023. No yearlings were sampled either.…
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
- —Fish Stocking History — ClearFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ClearPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Clear Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Clear Lake average 7.21 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 19 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated September 15, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–16 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 13 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Clear Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Clear Lake is dated September 15, 2023. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Clear Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Clear Lake. It records which species were released, in what numbers and in which years — the source documents are linked further down this page. A lake can be stocked in some years and not others, so read the years rather than assuming an annual release.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Clear Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Clear Lake F from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class — a lake can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Clear Lake
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