Clark
A 73-acre lake near Ely in St. Louis County — best known for pike and bass. Last surveyed 2013.
Fish Species (8)
Northern Pike
Above-normal numbers · large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 2013
Last surveyed 2013 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 11.7 per gill net · typical 1.3–5.3 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 24, 2013 | 11.67 | 23.6" | 3.37 lbs |
Largemouth Bass
Average-size fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 2013
Last surveyed 2013 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 2.3 per gill net · typical 0.3–1.8 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 24, 2013 | 2.33 | 8.7" | 0.60 lbs |
Bluegill
Small fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 2013
Last surveyed 2013 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 9.3 per gill net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 24, 2013 | 9.33 | 3.5" | 0.04 lbs |
Green Sunfish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 2013
Last surveyed 2013 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.33 per gill net · typical 0.3–1.5 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 24, 2013 | 0.33 | 4.0" | 0.06 lbs |
Hybrid Sunfish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 2013
Last surveyed 2013 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.33 per gill net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 24, 2013 | 0.33 | 5.0" | 0.11 lbs |
Pumpkinseed
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 2013
Last surveyed 2013 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.33 per gill net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 24, 2013 | 0.33 | 3.0" | 0.04 lbs |
Other species in this lake (2)
Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.
White Sucker
Above-normal numbers · average-size fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 2013
Last surveyed 2013 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 5.3 per gill net · typical 1.2–4.9 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 24, 2013 | 5.33 | 15.8" | 2.10 lbs |
Golden Shiner
Typical numbers · small fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 2013
Last surveyed 2013 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.33 per gill net · typical 0.3–4.6 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 24, 2013 | 0.33 | 6.0" | 0.09 lbs |
Biologist Notes
June 24, 2013Clark Lake is located approximately 12 miles NW of Ely and is entirely within the BWCAW. It has a surface area of 66 acres and a maximum depth of 41 f…
Clark Lake is located approximately 12 miles NW of Ely and is entirely within the BWCAW. It has a surface area of 66 acres and a maximum depth of 41 feet. It has the best water clarity of the nearby lakes with a secchi disc reading of 12 feet. Most of the shoreline is slightly steep with pine covered hills and coarse soils. A larger bog area with black spruce is present surrounding the outet to Crab Lake. Access is by portage from Crab Lake (140 rods), Meat Lake (48 rods) or Glimmer Lake (30 rods). There is one designated USFS campsite located on the lake. Northern pike numbers in 2013 (11.7/gill net) were higher than average when compared to other area pike lakes in this class. The average pike sampled was 23.2 inches long and about 4 to 5 years old. The largest pike sampled was 36.7 inches long. Anglers should consider releasing pike over 24" on Clark Lake to help maintain the size quality of the pike fishery. Lakes with a high proportion of large pike are uncommon in this area as the lakes tend to be low in productivity. Pike in these lakes are slow growing, so even light harvest can remove most of the largest individuals from a population, and it takes a long time to replace them. Largemouth bass numbers in 2013 (2.3/gill net) were higher than average when compared to other area largemouth lakes in this class. The average largemouth sampled was 9.3 inches long and about 5 years old. The largest bass sampled was 15.0 inches long. Clark Lake had the most fish species diversity of the nearby smaller lakes. Several species of panfish including bluegill, pumpkinseed, green sunfish and hybrid sunfish were sampled. White sucker and golden shiner were also sampled. Yellow perch remains were observed in pike stomach samples.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fish can you catch in Clark?
Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and Bluegill in Clark. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.
Is there public access at Clark?
Minnesota DNR records list public access for Clark. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.
How deep is Clark?
Clark has a maximum depth of 44 feet and a mean depth of 21 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.
When were the main sport fish in Clark last surveyed?
The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Clark is from 2013. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.
Does Clark have any invasive species?
No invasive species are on record for Clark in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.
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Lake Details
- Surface Area
- 73.43 acres
- Max Depth
- 44 ft
- Mean Depth
- 21 ft
- Shoreline
- 2.52 mi
- Public Access
- Yes