Fishing at Clear Lake, Le Sueur County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Clear Lake lies in Le Sueur County, in Minnesota. Country round the bank runs to pine and birch. About 278 acres, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. There is roughly 2.7 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Minnesota listings. Le Center lies 3.7 miles from the water. Further out sit Montgomery (5.7 miles) and New Prague (9.4 miles). The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Clear Lake

  The basin drops to a measured 23 feet. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Public occurrence data for Le Sueur County names common carp, bluegill, largemouth bass and walleye. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Clear Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 11°F and July at about 71°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter shuts the surface down for months. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early April. The water is typically free of ice between early April and late November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Clear Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. The nearest alternative is Mary Lake, 0.9 miles out. For Clear Lake in particular, ask before you travel.