Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 24, 2024
Clear Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Clear Lake average 23.18 yellow perch per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated June 24, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–7 inches. In Otter Tail County, Minnesota, Clear Lake has no letter grade — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Water clarity averages 7.0 feet of visibility, and there is one public boat landing. 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
1 public boat landing is 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 23.18 yellow perch per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated June 24, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–7 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Clear Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-06-24 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 76.62 | 0.43 lb |
| Fathead Minnow | 28.47 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 23.18 | 0.14 lb |
| Bluegill | 15.00 | 0.16 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 11.53 | 0.1 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
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
From the 2024-06-24 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Clear Lake was conducted beginning on June 24, 2024, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Clear Lake. 4 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 (1053)Aquatic Plant Report · 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 23.18 yellow perch per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated June 24, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–7 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 June 24, 2024. 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 does not assign an A–F grade on Clear Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. 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
Top-rated places to stay near Clear Lake
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