Clear Lake

How big is Clear Lake?

How deep is Clear Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Clear Lake?

Are there boat launches on Clear Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Clear Lake?

What are the fishing regulations for Clear Lake?

There are specific fishing regulations Clear Lake that you need to know. For complete fishing regulations visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. To report a violation call (800) 652-9093. Need a Minnesota fishing license?

What aquatic invasive species are found in Clear Lake?

Clear Lake is a 652 acre lake located in Waseca County near the town of Waseca. There are city owned accesses located on the north and southeast shores. Clear Lake has a maximum depth of 34 feet. It is placed in Lake Class 24, which includes other Waterville Area Lakes such as Cedar Lake (Rice County), Frances Lake (Le Sueur County), Madison Lake (Blue Earth County), and Reeds Lake (Waseca County). Clear Lake is primarily managed for Bluegill, Black Crappie, and Largemouth Bass and secondarily for Northern Pike and Walleye. The management plan calls for stocking Walleye fingerlings biennially at a rate of 2 pounds per littoral area. Adult Northern Pike are stocked on an annual basis through cooperative efforts with the Minnesota Darkhouse & Angling Association Southern Chapter using a box trap on the outlet of nearby Goose Lake. Recent stocking events include Walleye fingerlings in 2012 and 2014 and Northern Pike Fry annually from 2011-2014 and fingerlings in 2015. A special regulation that protects Largemouth Bass from harvest has been in place since 1994. Clear Lake was surveyed the week of August 3, 2015 as part of a regular monitoring program conducted by the Minnesota DNR. This survey was intended to assess the fish community by deploying nine gill nets and 10 trap nets, as well as recording water quality parameters.

Bluegill
A total of 129 Bluegills were sampled with trap nets for a catch rate of 12.9/net, which indicated low to moderate numbers were present. This represents the lowest catch rate since 1988. From 1982 to 2015, catch rates have varied from 1.7/net in 1985 to 247.7/net in 1991 with an average of 61.9/net. Lengths ranged from 4.6 to 9.1 inches with an average of 7.1 inches. An additional 16 Bluegills ranging from 5.7 to 8.9 inches were sampled with gill nets. Fish from both gears ranged from 1 to 10 years old with 10 year-classes present. No year-class represented more than 20% of the sample. Fisheries managers have struggled with poor growth rates and small size structure of the Bluegill population since the lake wide reclamation in 1987. Strategies to correct the issue include intensive removal of adult Bluegills and implementing a "no kill" regulation on Largemouth Bass. Although it has taken nearly 20 years, the Bluegill population now appears to offer the public a viable fishery in Clear Lake.


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Black Crappie
Black Crappies were sampled at an extremely high rate in 2015. A total of 1,082 were sample with trap nets for a catch rate of 108.2/net, indicating high numbers were present. Since 1982, catch rates have varied from 4.7/net in 1999 to 369.0/net in 1988 with an average of 76.8/net. Lengths ranged from 3.0 to 10.8 inches with an average of 6.3 inches. Over 76% of fish sampled were less than 5 inches. Black Crappies were sampled at a high rate with gill nets as well with fish up to 10.5 inches sampled at a rate of 63/net. Fish from both gears ranged from 1 to 8 years old with eight year-classes present. Almost 80% of the sample was 1 year old. Much like the Bluegill population, Black Crappies in Clear Lake experienced a long period of slow growth and small size structure following the 1987 reclamation. The results of the 2015 survey show a dramatic improvement in both aspects. Hopefully, the large 2014 year-class will continue this trend.

Largemouth Bass
A total of 39 Largemouth Bass were sampled with night electrofishing for a catch rate of 40.5/hour. Since 1998, catch rates have varied from 15.0/hour in 2003 to 50.0/hour in 1998 with an average of 34.1/hour. Lengths ranged from 4.5 to 17.4 inches with an average of 11.6 inches. A total of eight Largemouth Bass up to 16.9 inches were also sampled with gill and trap nets. Fish from all gears ranged from 0 to 9 years old with 10 year-classes present. The special "no-kill" regulation appears to benefit the lake in two ways. First, it protects large fish desirable to the anglers and second, it helps maintain an abundant population of predators to reduce the overabundance of small, slow growing Bluegill and Black Crappie.

Northern Pike
Only four Northern Pike ranging from 18.9 to 32.7 inches were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 0.4/net, indicating low numbers were present. It was also the lowest catch rate since 1988. Since 1982 , catch rates have varied from 0 in 1982, 1983, 1985, and 1986 to 5.7 in 1990 with a mean of just 2.1/net. An additional four fish ranging from 20.0 to 24.4 inches were sampled with trap nets. Fish from both gears ranged from 1 to 5 years old with four year-classes present. Based on the 2015 survey, fry stocking from 2011 to 2014 was insufficient to meet management goals. Although present in low numbers, the Northern Pike population in Clear Lake exhibits good growth and provides an opportunity to catch larger fish.

Walleye
Walleye were sampled in high numbers in 2015. A total of 94 fish were sampled in gill nets for a catch rate of 10.4/net, indicating high numbers were present. Walleye have typically been sampled in low numbers in Clear Lake since the reclamation in 1987. Post-reclamation gill net catch rates have ranged from 0/net in 1991, 1992, 1994, and 1997 to 10.4/net in 2015 with an average of just 1.7/net. Lengths in 2015 ranged from 7.4 to 26.8 inches with an average of 16.1 inches. Walleyes were also sampled well with trap nets, with a total of 22 fish averaging 9.9 inches sampled for a catch rate of 2.2/net. Fish from both gears ranged from 1 to 10 years old with six year-classes present. Recent walleye dispositions in Clear Lake include fingerlings in 2014, 2012, and 2010 and yearlings in 2012 and 2010. More than 98% of the sample coincided with these stocking events. Specifically, the 2014, 2012, and 2010 year-classes accounted for 23%, 65%, and 7% of the sample, respectively. The presence of multiple strong year-classes associated with recent fingerling stocking supports the current management strategy.



Yellow Perch
A total of 297 Yellow Perch were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 33.0/net, indicating high numbers were present. Since 1982, catch rates have varied from 0/net in 1986 to 55.2/net in 2005 with an average of 12.8/net. Lengths ranged from 5.2 to 10.5 inches with an average of 7.1 inches. An additional 53 Yellow Perch ranging from 4.4 to 10.8 inches long were sampled with trap nets. Fish from both gears ranged from 1 to 6 years old with six year-classes present. Two and 3 year old fish accounted for approximately 83% of the sample. Yellow Perch are an important forage species in Clear Lake and although the size structure in 2015 was less than desirable to anglers, the high catch rate was conducive to achieving Walleye, Northern Pike, and Largemouth Bass management objectives.

Black Bullhead
Just six Black Bullheads were sampled with gill and trap nets in 2015. Catch rates averaged over 250/gill net before the reclamation in 1987. However since 1995, catch rates have declined to an average of just 3.3/gill net. Conversely, Yellow Bullhead numbers have increased from an average of less than 1.0/net from 1982 to 1998 to 7.7/net from 1999 to 2015 . Since 1987, the lake has experienced a period of relative stability during which local stakeholders have begun to address pollution issues in the lakeshed. With improved water quality and the absence of lake-wide fish kills, planned or otherwise, a shift from Black Bullheads that thrive in highly disturbed systems to Yellow Bullheads that require stability will continue in Clear Lake.

Common Carp
Just four Common Carp were sampled with trap nets for a catch rate of 0.4/net, which was equal to the lake-class first quartile (0.4). Common Carp have been sampled in low numbers, averaging just 0.3/trap net, since the reclamation in 1987. Although their continued presence is not ideal, the low levels at which they are sampled alleviate concerns over Common Carp having a noticeably negative impact in Clear Lake.

Other Species
Other species sampled in 2015 include Golden Shiner, Pumpkinseed, and hybrid sunfish.

Water Quality Parameters
Water quality parameter measurements included secchi depth, water temperature, and dissolved oxygen readings. At the time of this survey, absolute secchi depth was 3.0 feet, indicating poor water clarity. Water temperatures and dissolved oxygen readings throughout the water column ranged from 76.8 degrees Fahrenheit and 7.5 ppm at the surface to 75.0 degrees Fahrenheit and 1.3 ppm at 29 feet. A thermocline was not identified.

Anglers can play an important role in maintaining or improving a fish population by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest allows for the harvest of smaller fish for consumption, while encouraging the release of medium to large fish that may contribute to natural recruitment. This practice helps maintain balance in the fish community and provides anglers the opportunity to catch more and larger fish in the future. Additionally, smaller fish often taste better and have fewer contaminants than larger, older fish from the same water body.

Shoreline property owners also play an important role in the overall health of an aquatic ecosystem, including the fish population. Natural shorelines, including vegetation, woody debris, and bottom substrates, provide valuable habitat for fish and wildlife, help maintain water quality, and reduce bank erosion. By leaving natural shorelines unaltered or restoring them to natural conditions, shoreline property owners are doing their part to maintain or improve a healthy ecosystem in the lake and protect the resource for future generations.

-Kip Rounds, Fisheries Specialist

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