Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest October 7, 2025
Clearwater Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Clearwater Lake average 13.28 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 22 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated October 7, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–12 inches. In Wright County, Minnesota, Clearwater Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 9.8 feet of visibility, and the lake has public access. 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 Clearwater Lake
17 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 Clearwater 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
Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Clearwater Lake average 13.28 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 22 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated October 7, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–12 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Clearwater Lake A 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
22 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-10-07 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 22.51 | 0.16 lb |
| Walleye | 13.28 | 1.76 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 11.85 | 1.07 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 10.04 | 0.68 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 7.78 | — |
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.
Bluegill
Walleye
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Bass
From the 2025-10-07 survey
The Walleye population in Clearwater Lake has been sustained through fry stocking since 1998, with annual fry stocking conducted from 2014 through 2019. While fry stocking has been regularly implemented, fall electrofishing results have only exceeded the target catch rate of 25 young-of-year (YOY) Walleye per hour…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Clearwater Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ClearwaterFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Clearwater (2009)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ClearwaterFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ClearwaterPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Clearwater Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Clearwater Lake average 13.28 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 22 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated October 7, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–12 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 17 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 Clearwater Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Clearwater Lake is dated October 7, 2025. 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 Clearwater Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Clearwater 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 Clearwater Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Clearwater Lake A 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 Clearwater Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Clearwater Lake
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