Clear Lake in Lyon County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lyon County, Minnesota, is where Clear Lake sits. Beyond the shoreline you have rolling bush. Roughly 62 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. With about 1.2 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. 9.5 miles away sits Tyler, the nearest town. It is 66 miles to Sioux Falls, the nearest city. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Clear Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Open biodiversity records for Lyon County list common carp, walleye and black bullhead. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The shape of Clear Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 71°F and January near 12°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. After early April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The water is typically free of ice between early April and late November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Time your trip to Clear Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Boat access is recorded roughly half a mile away. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Brauner Lake at 1.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat access at Clear Lake as something to verify.