Clear

Clear Lake is 261-acres, lake located toward the top of the watershed, in Martin County near the City of Ceylon. Clear Lake has a maximum depth of seven feet and is in a watershed that is comprised primarily of agriculture (90 percent). Because it is in an agricultural watershed, water quality is typically poor despite having a relatively small watershed (3.4 to 1 watershed to lake ratio). Clear Lake is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Yellow Perch, Black and White Crappie. Clear Lake was surveyed in the week of July 14, 2025 to monitor fish populations using three gill nets and nine trap nets. Walleye catch rates have steadily increased, going from 2.7 per gill net in 2016 to 6.7 per gill net in 2020 to 10.4 per gill net in 2025. The 2025 Walleye catch rate of 10.4 per gill net was within the expected of catch rates for similar lakes (2.3 to 18.1 per gill net). Catch rates of Walleye in Clear Lake have been highly variable, ranging from 2.7 per gill net in 2016 to 41.0 per gill net in 1991 and have averaged 12.6 per gill net over all surveys. Year classes sampled included age-2, age-3, age-8, and age-11 (2023, 2022, 2017, and 2014 year classes). The 2023-year class (age-6) accounted for 50 percent of aged Walleye, with all year classes corresponding to stocking years, except the 2022 year class (age-3), which accounted for 13 percent of the Walleye aged. Walleye lengths ranged from 13.2 to 27.4 inches and averaged 18.3 inches. Walleye growth appears to be fast at young ages, as age-2 Walleye averaged 14.4 inches and slower at older ages as age-8 walleye averaged 18.8 inches in length. The management goal was met because the catch rate was above 10.0 per gill net. A steady increase in Walleye catch rates since 2016 indicates that the current stocking regime of 1 of 2 years at 500 per littoral acre is effective at meeting management goals. The Yellow Perch catch rate in 2025 was 13.7 per gill net, the highest catch rate since the mid-1990's, and within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (2.7 to 25.0 per gill net). Adult Yellow Perch (N=330) stocked in 2017 may have been effective at reestablishing a self-sustaining Yellow Perch population. Lengths of Yellow Perch ranged from 4.1 to 10.2 inches and averaged 8.3 inches. A fishable population of Yellow Perch is present in Clear Lake. The Black Crappie catch rate in 2025 was 17.2 per trap net which was within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (1.2 to 20.5 per trap net). Lengths of Black Crappie ranged from 3.8 to 10.5 inches and averaged 6.4 inches. The management goal was met, as a fishable population of Black Crappie was present. White Crappie abundance has drastically increased in Clear Lake with 2025 catch rates of 120.0 per gill net and 16.3 per trap net, both greatly exceeding their expected ranges of catch rates for similar lakes (0.5 to 8.4 per gill net and 0.3 to 6.0 per trap net). The gill net catch rate in 2025 represents the highest catch rate of White Crappie ever recorded in Clear Lake. Size structure of White Crappie increased as lengths of White Crappie ranged from 4.5 to 12.8 inches and averaged 8.3 inches. Despite their high abundance, condition of White Crappie was high (Wr=95), indicating that they are foraging successfully. The management goal was met, as a fishable population of White Crappie is present in Clear Lake. Channel Catfish, ranging from 6.7 to 24.1 inches and averaging 17.9 inches, were caught at a rate of 3.0 per gill net. Black Bullheads were captured at a rate of 158.7 per trap net, exceeding the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (11.5 to 132.6 per trap net) and exceeding the long-term average of 114.3 per trap net. Other species sampled included Bigmouth Buffalo, Bluegill, Common Carp, Orangespotted Sunfish, and Yellow Bullhead.

Clear Lake is a 261-acre lake located in Martin County near the City of Ceylon. Clear Lake has a maximum depth of seven feet and is located in a watershed that is comprised primarily of agriculture. Water quality is typically poor despite having a relatively small watershed. Clear Lake is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Yellow Perch, Black and White Crappie. Clear Lake was surveyed the week of July 20, 2020 to monitor fish populations using three gill nets and nine trap nets. The 2020 Walleye catch rate was 6.7 per gill net, which is an increase from the 2016 catch rate of 2.7 per gill net and within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (2.3 to 18.1 per gill net). Catch rates of Walleye in Clear Lake have been highly variable, ranging from 2.7 per gill net in 2016 to 41.0 per gill net in 1991 and have averaged 12.8 per gill net over all surveys. Zero Walleye less than age-5 were sampled in gill nets in 2020. Year classes sampled included age-5, age-6, age-7, and age-10; however, some Walleye that were 11.5 to 14.5 inches were sampled in trap nets, but not aged, and are likely age-3 Walleye. The 2014 year class (age-6) accounted for 73 percent of the gill net sample, with all year classes corresponding to stocking years, except the 2015 year class (age-5) which only had one fish sampled. Walleye lengths ranged from 11.7 to 24.3 inches and averaged 17.2 inches. Walleye growth appears to be slow as mean length of age-6 and age-7 Walleye was 20.6 inches and 18.2 inches, respectively. The current stocking regime of 1 of 2 years at 500 per littoral acre will be reassessed after the 2024 survey on Clear Lake. The Yellow Perch cate rate in 2020 was 5.3 per gill net, the highest catch rate since the early 2000's, and within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (2.7 to 25.0 per gill net). Adult Yellow Perch (N=330) that were stocked in 2017 appear to have slightly increased the abundance of Yellow Perch in Clear Lake. Lengths of Yellow Perch ranged from 6.3 to 9.0 inches and averaged 7.5 inches. Clear Lake does not appear to be a destination for Yellow Perch anglers. The Black Crappie catch rate in 2020 of 24.6 per trap net was an increase from 16.4 per trap net in 2016 and exceeded the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (1.2 to 20.5 per trap net). Lengths of Black Crappie ranged from 3.7 to 12.2 inches and averaged 7.4 inches. Black Crappie are abundant in Clear Lake but average size hasn't changed much since the 2016 survey. White Crappie abundance has drastically increased in Clear Lake with catch rates of 66.0 per gill net and 25.9 per trap net, both greatly exceeding their expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (0.5 to 8.4 per gill net and 0.3 to 6.0 per trap net). Gill net and trap net catch rates in 2020 both represent the highest catch rates of White Crappie ever recorded in Clear Lake. White Crappie were small, with lengths ranging from 4.4 to 12.1 inches and averaging 7.5 inches. White Crappie should be easily caught on Clear Lake, but size will likely be small. Channel Catfish, ranging from 9.5 to 24.1 inches and averaging 16.7 inches, were caught at a rate of 10.0 per gill net, the highest recorded catch rate in Clear Lake surveys. Black Bullheads were not sampled in trap nets, which have averaged 114.3 per trap net since 1951, and had a catch rate of 3.7 per gill net, which is below the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (30.3 to 150.6 per gill net). Other species sampled included Bigmouth Buffalo, Bluegill, Common Carp, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.

Clear Lake is a 261-acre, class 43 lake located in Martin County near the City of Ceylon. Clear Lake has a maximum depth of seven feet and is located in a watershed that is comprised primarily of agriculture (90 percent). Despite having a relatively small watershed (3.4 to 1 watershed-to-lake-ratio), water quality is typically poor and is heavily influenced by agricultural runoff. Clear Lake is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, and White Crappie. Clear Lake was stocked with Lower Mississippi strain Walleye fry in the spring of 2017, due to surplus production of this strain. The Lower Mississippi strain was last stocked decades ago, but has persisted in several area lakes despite extensive stocking of Mississippi strain Walleye. A daytime electrofishing survey was conducted on September 27, 2017 to determine if the fry stocking was successful. Young-of-the year Walleye were captured at a rate of 23.8 per hour electrofishing, which indicates that the fry stocking was somewhat successful. In stocked years, the goal is to attain 30.0 per hour electrofishing. Lengths of Walleye ranged from 7.5 to 8.7 inches and averaged 8.1 inches.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Channel Catfish, Walleye, Yellow Perch, White Crappie, 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 7 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.