Clear Lake Fishing near Clear Lake, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Clear Lake lies in Polk County, in Wisconsin. It sits in mixed forest country. At about 33 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Nearest place of any size is Clear Lake, 0.7 miles away. Further out sit Amery (5.2 miles) and Turtle Lake (11 miles). The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Clear Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Polk County records list brown trout, rainbow trout, northern pike, largemouth bass and bluegill among the fish reported. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Clear Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 70°F; by January the average is down near 10°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early April. Averages suggest open water from about early April through to roughly late November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Clear Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. 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. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. For a change of water, Ice House Lake is 0.2 miles distant. Confirm before you fish Clear Lake.