Upper Clear Lake Fishing near Prescott, Minnesota

• Overview

  Upper Clear Lake is set in Dakota County, Minnesota. Country round the bank runs to rolling bush. The nearest place of any size is Prescott, 7.1 miles away. It is 27 miles to Saint Paul, the nearest city. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive. There are over twenty within 15 miles, rising to dozens at 30 miles.

• Where to Fish on Upper Clear Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Open biodiversity records for Dakota County list bluegill, common carp and green sunfish. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. The shape of Upper Clear Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 72°F and January near 13°F on the long-run figures. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Break-up comes around early April, and the run that follows is short and strong. From about early April to around early December, expect open water on the long-run figures. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. On Upper Clear Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. You can launch: the ramp is half a mile away. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Spring Banks Lake at 0.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Upper Clear Lake before loading the car.