Clear Lake Fishing Guide, Rusk County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Clear Lake is listed under Rusk County, Wisconsin. Country round the bank runs to pine and birch. Roughly 95 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Chetek sits 11 miles from the bank. Bloomer is 14 miles away, with Cornell at 16 miles. Also on the doorstep: 0.7 miles away is McCann Lake, 1 mile out stands Chain Lake, 1.9 miles away is Lake Four, 1.9 miles out stands Potato Lake and 2 miles away is Pine Lake. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Clear Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Reported across Rusk County: rainbow trout, brown trout, bluegill, largemouth bass and black crappie. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. At Clear Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 10°F and July at about 69°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early April and starts locking again about late November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Clear Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try McCann Lake, 0.7 miles away. Treat Clear Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.