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Clear Lake

General Information

County: Cerro Gordo
Location: south edge of Clear Lake
Acres: 3684.00
Maximum Depth: 18.1 ft. (2013)
Motoring Restrictions: none

Nearby Parks

McIntosh Woods State Park
Clear Lake State Park

Amenities

Amenities at Clear Lake include:
  • Boat Access
  • Fishing Jetty
  • Accessible Pier
  • Boat Rental
  • Picnic Area
  • Beach
  • Trails
  • Accessible Facilities
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Camping
  • Hard Surface Boat Ramp
  • Fish Cleaning Station

Clear Lake, Crystal Lake, Rice Lake and Silver Lake have aeration systems running. Avoid any open water areas and be cautious of waterfowl holes on these lakes. Check ice thickness often as you go. For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
Ice thickness is 6 to 8 inches.
Walleye - Slow:
Black Crappie - Good: Fish near the rushes on the north shore.
Yellow Bass - Fair: Fish a jig tipped with bait in 2 to 3 feet of water.
Bluegill - Good: Fish a small jig tipped with bait near vegetation.
Yellow Perch - Fair: Most of the perch being caught are 4 to 6 inches.

Lake Maps

Download Printable Lake Map

You can zoom in on the map for bathymetric information for some lakes

  • September 2022 - 12,000 Channel Catfish (9)
  • 5/9/22 - 15,523,500 Walleye (Fry)
  • 10/17/22 - 2,026 Walleye (9.3)
  • November 2021 - 17,880 Walleye (9)
  • May 2021 - 10,961,990 Walleye (Fry)
  • 04/30/2021 - 6,000,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • September 2020 - 11,923 Channel Catfish (8.3)
  • October 2020 - 18,005 Walleye (8.5)
  • 05/04/2020 - 12,756,324 Walleye (Fry)
  • October 2019 - 12,767 Walleye (9.5)
  • 05/15/2019 - 600 Muskellunge (12)
  • 05/13/2019 - 1,394 Northern Pike (1.22)
  • 05/03/2019 - 8,632 Northern Pike (Fry)
  • 05/03/2019 - 12,776,524 Walleye (Fry)
  • 10/15/2018 - 10,009 Walleye (8.9)
  • 09/17/2018 - 10,000 Channel Catfish (8.5)
  • 06/04/2018 - 10,108 Northern Pike (2.7)
  • 05/18/2018 - 12,460,726 Walleye (Fry)
  • 05/09/2018 - 6,667,786 Walleye (Fry)
  • 5/23/2017 - 10,015 Northern Pike (2.4")
  • 5/11/2017 - 392 Muskellunge (13.1")
  • 4/29/2017 - 14,500,000 Walleye (fry)
  • 11/3/2017 - 3,614 Walleye (9.3")
  • 11/15/2017 - 1,018 Walleye (9.3")
  • 10/27/2017 - 734 Walleye (8.9")
  • 10/26/2017 - 923 Walleye (9")
  • 10/26/2017 - 2,663 Walleye (8.9")
  • 10/19/2017 - 2,127 Walleye (9.3")
  • 10/19/2017 - 3,442 Walleye (9.3")
  • 10/19/2017 - 3,483 Walleye (9.3")
  • spring 2016 - 15,095 Northern Pike (2.1")
  • fall 2016 - 7,506 Channel Catfish (9.1")
  • 5/6/16 - 15,300,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 11/9/16 - 18,916 Walleye (9.9")
  • 10/5/16 - 18,070 Walleye (4.5")
  • annual 2015 - 14,031 Walleye (7")
  • annual 2015 - 22,290 Walleye (8")
  • 05/18/2015 - 10,000 Northern Pike (2.9")
  • 05/13/2015 - 600 Muskellunge (12.3")
  • 04/29/2015 - 16,000,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • annual 2014 - 9,509 Channel Catfish (8")
  • annual 2014 - 18,007 Walleye (8")
  • 09/25/2014 - 18,019 Walleye (6")
  • 06/03/2014 - 10,909 Northern Pike (2-3")
  • 05/08/2014 - 16,000,000 Walleye (Fry)

  • Curlyleaf Pondweed
  • Eurasian Watermilfoil
  • Zebra Mussel

The Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.

  • Bigmouth Buffalo
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Black Crappie
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined black and white crappie, 25 fish
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: No daily limit on private waters
  • Bluegill
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: No daily limit on private waters
  • Channel Catfish
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 8 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: Except for border lakes
  • Common Carp
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.
  • Flathead Catfish
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 8 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: Except for border lakes
  • Green Sunfish
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Largemouth Bass
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 3 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
    • Length Limit: 15-inch minimum
    • Other:
  • Muskellunge
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined: muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, 1 fish
    • Possession Limit: combined: muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, 1 fish
    • Length Limit: 40-inch minimum
    • Other: except for West Okoboji, East Okoboji, and Spirit Lakes (Dickinson County)
  • Northern Pike
    • Season: Continuous, except for boundary lakes
    • Daily Bag Limit: 3 fish
    • Possession Limit: 6 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: Except for border lakes
  • Pumpkinseed
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: No daily limit on private waters
  • Walleye
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 3 fish
    • Possession Limit: 6 fish
    • Length Limit: all 17 to 22-inch walleyes must be immediately released alive
    • Other: No more than one walleye longer than 22 inches may be taken per day
  • White Bass
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • White Crappie
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: combined black and white crappie, 25 fish
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: No daily limit on private waters
  • White Sucker
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.
  • Yellow Bass
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: none
    • Possession Limit: unlimited
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:
  • Yellow Perch
    • Season: Continuous
    • Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
    • Possession Limit: 50 fish
    • Length Limit: none
    • Other:

Clear Lake has a protected slot limit on Walleye. All fish 17-22 inches must be immediately released unharmed. Walleye angling has been excellent the past few seasons. There are good numbers of 15-17 inch Walleye for anglers to harvest. The Yellow Bass population has improved some, but still is much lower than the fishery supported a decade or so ago. The size quality of Yellow Bass is very good. Crappie are doing well in Clear Lake. Anglers consistently catch crappie during all seasons or angling. Muskellunge angling remains excellent. Channel Catfish is another species worth targeting on Clear Lake.(2024)

Tip: Click the arrow in the lower right corner to view the Fish Survey Data tool in full-screen mode.

Contacts

Iowa-Caught Fish Are Safe to Eat, In Almost All Cases

The vast majority of Iowa’s streams, rivers and lakes offer safe and high-quality fish that pose little or no threat to human health if consumed. Some limitations may apply for young children and pregnant women. Here’s a Fish Consumption Fact Sheet from the Iowa DNR and the Iowa Dept. of Public Health for more information.