Clear

Clear Lake is a 65-acre lake located in the town of Russell in Lyon County. Clear Lake has a maximum depth of 10 ft. and a watershed to lake ratio of 6 to 1, which is small considering the topographic setting. Clear Lake is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Yellow Perch and Northern Pike. A targeted survey was on October 8, 2025 to determine if Walleye fingerlings, yearlings, and adults would need to be stocked in the fall of 2025. Duration of sampling was very short (4 minutes) and age-0 Walleye were captured at a rate of 56.5 per hour and Walleye age-1 or older were captured at a rate of 207.3 per hour during daytime electrofishing. Length of Walleye fingerlings ranged from 6.2 to 6.7 inches and averaged 6.4 inches. Length of age-1 and older Walleye ranged from 9.3 to 13.7 inches and averaged 10.2 inches. It took minimal time sampling to conclude that Walleye of multiple sizes are readily available in Clear Lake. Essentially there are plenty of Walleye for anglers to catch and likely will provide some great fishing in the near future.

Clear Lake shallow bowl-shaped 65-acre lake located in the town of Russell in Lyon County. Clear Lake has a maximum depth of 10 feet and a small contributing watershed. Clear Lake is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Yellow Perch and Northern Pike. A standard survey was conducted the week of May 28, 2024, to monitor fish populations using 1 gill net and 6 trap nets. Walleye catch rates have ranged from 0 per gill net in 1995 to 94 per gill net in 2016. The 2024 gill net catch rate was 7 per gill net. Clear Lake is a great example of the boom-and-bust nature of fish communities in some southwestern Minnesota prairie lakes. Only 1 age class of Walleye, 5.6 to 7.2 inches in length, was observed indicating a new population. Clear Lake experienced a winterkill during the winter of 2022-2023 that required restocking of walleye. It appears that the walleye population is poised to recover well in Clear Lake. Yellow Perch appear to be abundant in Clear Lake. The 2024 gill net catch rate was 33.0 per net. Lengths of Yellow Perch sampled ranged from 5.2 to 9.9 inches. Seventy-five percent of Yellow Perch were between 5 and 6.5 inches. Excluding any harsh winter conditions over the next several years, Clear Lake could have excellent Yellow Perch angling. Northern Pike abundance is on the rise in Clear Lake. Four-hundred and twenty Northern Pike fingerlings were last stocked in 2023 resulting in 11 per gill net in the 2024 survey. Re-establishment of Northern Pike appears to be working well. Continued stocking will help to boost the population as fall fingerling are produced locally or adult fish are available. Remember, Clear Lake is in the southern Minnesota regulation zone for Northern Pike meaning 2 fish over 24 inches each can be harvested daily with a 2 fish possession limit. Other species sampled included Black Bullhead, Green Sunfish, Yellow Bullhead, and White Sucker.

Clear Lake is a 65-acre lake located in the Town of Russell in Lyon County. Clear Lake has a maximum depth of 10 ft. and a watershed to lake ratio of 6 to 1, which is fairly small compared to many of our other lakes (Secchi depth = 0.8 ft.). Clear Lake is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Yellow Perch and Northern Pike. A standard survey was conducted the week of June 1, 2021 to monitor fish populations using a gill net and trap nets. Walleye catch rates have been highly variable in Clear Lake, ranging from 0.0 per gill net in 1995 to 94.0 per gill net in 2016, and averaging 30.7 per gill net since 1995. The 2021 gill net catch rate was 61.0 per gill net and 9.8 per trap net, both exceeding their expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (1.0 to 7.3 per gill net and 0.4 to 1.9 per trap net). Three year classes of Walleye were present (age-2, 4, and 6) with age-2 Walleye comprising 76 percent of the sample. Walleye growth appears to be fast, as mean length at age-2 was 14.6 inches. Lengths of Walleye ranged from 13.0 to 27.6 inches and averaged 18.1 inches. Stocking Walleye fingerlings every other year appears to be an effective stocking strategy that has produced a very abundant Walleye population. The 2021 Yellow Perch catch rate was 2.0 per gill net, which is the lowest observed catch rate ever observed on Clear Lake and is below the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (3.0 to 26.5 per gill net). Lengths of the two Yellow Perch sampled were 8.1 and 8.3 inches. The abundant Walleye population is likely decimating the Yellow Perch population. It is likely that pre-spawn adult Yellow Perch will be stocked to restart this population. One, 22.8-inch Northern Pike was sampled in the survey. Seven-hundred Northern Pike fingerlings were last stocked in 2016. Other species sampled included Black Bullhead and White Sucker.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Walleye, Green Sunfish, and Northern Pike 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 11 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Clear is from 2024.

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.