Fishing Clear Lake in Pine County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Pine County, Minnesota, is where Clear Lake sits. Elevation runs to 1,066 feet. Around 26 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. Sandstone is the closest town at 12 miles. Further out sit Moose Lake (12 miles) and Hinckley (20 miles). Others within reach: Mud Lake lies 0.2 miles on, Twin Lakes at about 0.4 miles, Fox Lake lies 0.9 miles on, Little Mud Lake at about 1.2 miles and Shoemaker Lake lies 1.3 miles on. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Clear Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Survey and observation records for Pine County include northern pike, bluegill, largemouth bass, black crappie and pumpkinseed. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Treat Clear Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 68°F; by January the average is down near 8°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near late November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Expect Clear Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. There is recorded parking some half a mile off. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Mud Lake is 0.2 miles distant. What applies at Clear Lake may have changed since it was mapped.