Clear

Clear is a small lake (251 acres) located south of New Ulm, in Brown County. A medium-sized county owned access, with a single cement boat ramp, is present on the southeast shore. A fishing pier is available at the Lost Dog and Fox Hunters County Park. Clear has three miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of eight feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Clear is a class 43 lake and other similar lakes in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Swan and Winsted in McLeod County. This lake is occasionally aerated during the winter, and anglers are advised to stay clear of the open water and thin ice signs when the system is operated. Fisheries management changed at Clear in 2017 when it was decided to primarily manage the lake for Northern Pike and Yellow Perch, while the 2022 lake management plan also listed Black Crappie and Bluegill as secondary management species. Northern Pike and Yellow Perch can typically survive lower winter oxygen levels than Bluegill, Largemouth Bass and Walleye. Northern Pike adults were stocked in 2017, 2018, and 2019, while Yellow Perch (adults and yearlings) were stocked in 2019. Ice-out trap net catches in 2021 indicated that neither of those two species had become abundant. Clear Lake experienced a partial winterkill in 2023, and Northern Pike were stocked in 2024. In the 2025 ice-out trap netting, Northern Pike were present in moderate numbers with fish averaging 20 inches in length. Only two of the sampled pike were longer than the southern pike-zone regulation's 24-inch minimum size limit. Yellow Perch were sampled in low numbers, but the water was still too cold to catch spawning fish. However, approximately 50 percent of the perch catch was 9 inches or longer, with maximum length being an impressive 11.3 inches. Walleye were not sampled in the 2023 winterkill assessment or in the 2025 ice-out trap netting and are likely no longer present at Clear Lake. Clear has an abundant crappie population and ice-out trap netting verified this. Black Crappie averaged 6 inches in length with good numbers of 8 to11 inch long fish also being captured. The longest crappie sampled was 13.4 inches. There was also a very large group of 4.5-inch long crappie that should provide good fishing in the next several years - if they survive. Bluegill were sampled in very low numbers, and all were small. Other species that anglers may encounter include Black Bullhead, Common Carp, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, White Sucker and Yellow Bullhead. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Over harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local DNR office. Additional information on all these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.

Clear is a small lake (251 acres) located south of New Ulm, in Brown County. A medium sized county owned access, with a single cement boat ramp, is present on the southeast shore. A fishing pier is available at the Lost Dog and Fox Hunters County Park. Clear has 3 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 8 feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Clear is a class 43 lake and other similar lakes in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Swan and Winsted in McLeod County. This lake is occasionally aerated during the winter and anglers are advised to stay clear of the open water and thin ice signs when the system is operated. Fisheries management changed at Clear in 2017 when it was decided to primarily manage the lake for Northern Pike and Yellow Perch. These two species typically can survive lower winter oxygen levels than Bluegill and Largemouth Bass often do. Northern Pike adults were stocked in 2017, 2018, and 2019, while Yellow Perch (adults and yearlings) were stocked in 2019. Ice-out trap net catches in 2021 indicated that neither of those two species have become abundant, but the populations may need more time to develop. Pike and perch angling opportunities appear to be somewhat limited at this time. Northern Pike averaged 23 inches in length. Net catches for Walleye also indicated that a marginal population was present, but an average length of 20 inches was impressive. Walleye up to 27 inches in length are also present at Clear Lake. Trolling crankbaits should catch both Walleye and Northern pike in this turbid lake. Soaking a sucker minnow under a bobber off the fishing pier could also catch a pike. Panfish anglers know that Clear Lake has an abundant crappie population and ice-out trap netting seemed to confirm this in 2021. Black Crappie averaged 8 inches in length with good numbers of 8 and 9 inch fish being captured. The longest crappie sampled was 11 inches. A small minnow under a bobber should get some action from the crappies at Clear. Try along the cattails or off the fishing pier in the spring if you are after Black Crappie. A decent number of Bluegill were present in 2021 too, with many in the 7 and 8 inch length range. A teardrop tipped with a waxworm should get you a few sunfish for supper. Ice-out trap netting indicated that a moderate number of Common Carp were present at Clear Lake. Get out the ultralight action rod and a can of corn if you want to have some serious fun - fishing for carp! Other species that anglers may encounter include Black Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, and Largemouth Bass. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Over harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local DNR office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office. Thanks and good fishing!

In 2017, fisheries management at Clear Lake near New Ulm switched to Northern Pike and Yellow Perch, species better suited to survive low oxygen winters in this shallow lake. Adult Northern Pike were stocked in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Yellow Perch were stocked in 2019. Aeration was discouraged with hopes that the lake's abundant Common Carp population would eventually be reduced by a winterkill. Oxygen testing during the 2018-2019 winter indicated that a winterkill could have occurred at Clear Lake. Fish populations can fluctuate widely on winterkill lakes, depending on the frequency and severity of the latest winterkill. Nets were set to document fish abundances following the somewhat severe 2018-2019 winter. Low numbers of dead Common Carp were observed along the cattails following ice-out in 2019. Net catches were as follows: Nets sampled high numbers of Black Crappie (averaging 8.4 inches in length, and maximum length of 9.0 inches) and high numbers of Common Carp (ranging from 12.0 to 23.4 inches in length). Low numbers of other game fish were also netted: Largemouth Bass (1 at 18.1 inches in length), Northern Pike (3, up to 20.7 inches in length), Walleye (6, up to 14.8 inches in length), and Yellow Perch (1). Black Bullhead (8) were also captured in low numbers. Bluegill were not netted in 2019. Net catches and dead fish observations indicated that the 2019 winterkill had little impact. However, one day ice-out trap netting assessments are not always reliable indicators of species presence or fish abundance. For the time being, anglers will likely have the best luck by targeting Crappie, with occasional catches of Walleye and Northern Pike. Northern Pike abundance should increase over the next several years as stocked fish start reproducing. A fishing pier is available at the Brown County Lost Dog and Fox Hunters Park.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, Walleye, Green Sunfish, and Largemouth Bass in Clear. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Clear. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Clear has a maximum depth of 8 feet and a mean depth of 5 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Clear is from 2025.

No invasive species are on record for Clear in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.