Clear Lake

How big is Clear Lake?

How deep is Clear Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Clear Lake?

What are the closest cities to Clear Lake?

Are there topographical lake maps available Clear Lake?

We have an topograpical map for online viewing near the top of this page. Lake-Link Pro users can download an print a topograpical map of Clear Lake (.pdf format) along with 2,700 more lake maps. For more information on all the benefits of Lake-Link Pro click here.

Clear Lake

Are there boat launches on Clear Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Clear Lake?

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!

Are there any state parks near Clear Lake?