Clam Lake Fishing in Martin County, Minnesota

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Clam Lake belongs to Martin County. The setting is pine and birch. Around 67 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. A shoreline of some 1.5 miles keeps the choices simple. Our Martin County list holds plenty of bigger water. Some 6 miles away sits Sherburn, the nearest settlement. The big place round here is Sioux Falls, 104 miles distant. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Clam Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Martin County include common carp, yellow perch, black bullhead, black crappie and walleye. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Clam Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 13°F in January up to 72°F in July. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early April. Break-up sits around early April on average, with the water closing again about early December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. That shapes the year on Clam Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Rooney Run Wildlife Management Area covers ground next to the water; its rules will apply on that side. For walleye, a jig and minnow near the bottom is the standard; evenings beat middays. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Failing this one, try Round Lake, 2.1 miles away. Confirm before you fish Clam Lake.