Fishing Clear Lake in Pike County, Illinois

• Overview

  Clear Lake is set in Pike County, Illinois. Height above sea level is 463 feet. It covers about 12 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Pike County. Nearest place of any size is Hannibal, 1.5 miles away. Then Payson, 8.6 miles, and Palmyra, 9.8 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Clear Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Pike County, recorded fish include green sunfish, orangethroat darter, fantail darter, bluegill and yellow bullhead. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Clear Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 77°F in July and bottoms out near 26°F in January. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. Clear Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. McKay Lake, 2.6 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. For Clear Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.