Clear Lake Fishing near Clear Lake, South Dakota

• Overview

  Clear Lake is set in Deuel County, South Dakota. Elevation runs to 1,768 feet. About 530 acres, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. The edge covers about 4.2 miles, enough to hold several distinct areas. It ranks high for size among our Deuel County listings. Nearest town is Clear Lake, 1.4 miles off. Beyond it, Canby at 19 miles and Watertown at 25 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Clear Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Deuel County, recorded fish include white sucker, Iowa darter, johnny darter and yellow perch. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Clear Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 71°F and January near 11°F on the long-run figures. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. The water is typically free of ice between early April and late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. It holds true on Clear Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. A slipway half a mile out gives trailer access. Fishing from a pier is possible half a mile away. Overnight stays are possible half a mile away. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Mud Lake sits 3.5 miles off and takes the overflow. Treat access at Clear Lake as something to verify.