Clear Lake Fishing: The Best Spots, Baits, and More

Clear Lake is located in south-central Minnesota near I-35. The lake is a popular tourist destination due to its natural beauty. Clear Lake is known for its fishing, with trout, bass, and crappie being the most popular species. The lake is also famous for swimming, boating, and other water activities.

Where to Fish

Clear Lake is a great place to fish for trout, bass, and crappie. Areas around Kelsey Creek, Point Lakeview, Baylis Point, Jago Bay, and Luebow Point are all good spots to fish. Drifting around Shag Rock and Rattlesnake Island can be productive. Public areas around Clear Lake are good spots to fish for trout, bass, and crappie. Try fishing in Redbud Park, Library Park, and Lakeside County Park. Horseshoe Bend and up Rodman Slough are also good places to fish.

Primary Fish Species at Clear Lake

Largemouth Bass

At Clear Lake, largemouth bass is the most frequently captured fish. Largemouth bass spawn when the water is between 55 and 65 degrees. Spawning usually takes place in April and May. The best time to fish for largemouth bass at Clear Lake is in the springtime.

Clear Lake offers better shallow fishing opportunities during all seasons than most California lakes. In the summer and fall, bass can be found in water depths of under ten feet. In spring and summer, there’s a good topwater bite. Bass fishing can be unpredictable in fall but often congregate near shallow waters.

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish are a popular choice for fishing in Clear Lake. They are relatively easy to catch and can be pretty tasty. The key to catching them is to use the right bait and fish at night or during the cooler months when they are most active. Channel catfish are found near deep holes and clear water, so look for those areas when fishing. Bait such as dead shad or baitfish fished near the bottom usually catch. With a little bit of practice, you can have a successful trip catching channel catfish in Clear Lake.

White Perch

White perch is a relatively uncommon type of fish at Clear Lake. However, they can be found in the colder months of November through April, when their numbers are higher than usual, and most other fish populations have decreased due to low temperatures. The only time they can be found is when the water temperature spikes higher than normal, which will cause them to become more active.

The best bait to use for white perch is worms. They are the most effective because this type of fish will eat almost anything that can fit into its mouth, and worms are the most common bait used for fishing. It would be best if you went to one of the many docks surrounding Clear Lake to catch white perch. They can be found in the shallow waters near these structures.

Green Sunfish

Green sunfish can be found in Clear Lake year-round, but there are some times of the year when they’re more prevalent. The time to catch them is when the water temperature reaches 60 degrees and rises, usually in March. Spring is a great time to catch sunnies because their numbers increase, and you can target them with small baits.

Sunnies are most active at dawn and dusk, but they’ll hit during the day, too. They can be found in shallow flats or around weed beds and brush piles, where they’ll hang out during the day.

Sunnies are fun fish to catch because of their hard-fighting ability. They’ll put up a big fight for their size, which makes them great fun on light tackle. When fishing for sunnies, use small baits such as jigs, curly-tails, spinners, and small plastic lures. Use a bobber stop to keep your bait off the bottom while fishing in shallow water.

Bluegill

Bluegill fish are easy to catch and offer great fun for all. They can be found in Clear Lake; most are 6 inches long and under a pound. Bluegill can be seen anywhere there are weeds or boat docks in Clear Lake, with a worm on a hook as the only requirement.

Bluegill fish often spawn around the same time as largemouth bass. This makes them easy to catch during the spring and summer months. Fishing for bluegill is a simple way to get into fishing. There are some simple tips for bluegill fishing that can help you catch more fish:

– Use a small hook, size 6 or 8

– Use light tackle, such as an ultralight rod and reel

– Fish near weeds or boat docks

Black Crappie

The black crappie is a species of fish that you can find in Clear Lake. The Black Crappie is a common game fish found throughout the United States. They generally spawn in early February and can be caught throughout March and April. Crappie is in the 10- to 12-inch range and weighs under a pound. They fight hard on light tackle, making them great for beginner anglers.

Crappie is often found in fishing areas with lots of docks. Tube jigs, split-tail jigs, and curly tail grubs are all effective baits for this fish. Casting boat docks can also be an effective fishing spot for the Black Crappie in spring and summer. In the summer, most crappie retreat to open water.

Blue Catfish

Blue catfish are another fish type that you can find at Clear Lake. They eat anything they come across and usually live in the shallows, where they feed on smaller bait fish. This makes them a popular target for anglers because they are easy to catch. You can catch blue catfish using worms, canned corn, chicken liver, and blood bait. You can also catch them using a trotline with chicken liver, blood bait, or nightcrawlers. The best time to catch blue catfish is spring and summer.

When to Fish

Spring is the best time to fish for trout, bass, and crappie in Clear Lake. The warm weather causes the fish to become more active, making them easier to catch.

Summer is a slight lull but can be suitable for fishing during the dawn and dusk hours. The day’s heat can make the fish less active, but they are more likely to bite during the cooler hours of the day.

Fall is the best time to fish for trout, bass, and crappie in Clear Lake. The cooler weather makes the fish more active and easier to catch.

Winter is the most challenging time to fish for trout, bass, and crappie in Clear Lake. The cold weather makes the fish less active, making them harder to catch.