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3,684-acre lake near Clear Lake. The lake tops out around 22 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Clear Lake maps at 3,625 acres behind 14.2 miles of shoreline — one island included. A middling shoreline index (1.7) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. Roughly 96% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Figure 4.9 mi of water from one end to the other, 2.2 mi at the beam. It sits in Cerro Gordo County. Its nearest charted neighbour, Bluebill Lake, is 5 mi to the east.
Start shallow in spring: walleye sit in 4 to 15 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 7 to 22 ft; cold water stacks them in 7 to 22 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 12 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in the evening and early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) until the fish tell you otherwise.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Gravel shoal (2 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (12 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (12 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (21 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring muskellunge on Clear Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 7 to 22 ft, and by winter most fish are in 7 to 22 ft. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 12 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in the evening and early morning. The summer box starts with a double-10 bucktail or a topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper).
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Back-bay flat (3 ft) | Smaller bucktail (#8 blades), 6" glide bait |
| Summer | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (12 ft) | Double-10 bucktail, Topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) |
| Fall | 6 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | Break off the point (12 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), 10"+ glide bait |
| Winter | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (21 ft) | Large rubber, crawled slow |
Spring crappie on Clear Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 7 to 22 ft in summer and finish the year down in 7 to 22 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 21 ft that grades prime for winter. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled).
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (12 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (12 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (21 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Early season channel catfish use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 7 to 22 ft game here, winter a 7 to 22 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 21 ft, prime for winter. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (8 ft) | |
| Summer | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (21 ft) | |
| Fall | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Deep basin (21 ft) | |
| Winter | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (21 ft) |
Spring bluegill on Clear Lake hold shallow, usually 1 to 6 ft. By summer they slide out to 4 to 15 ft, and by winter most fish are in 7 to 22 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 2 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Back-bay flat (3 ft) | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | Break off the point (12 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (21 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Come spring, look for common carp tight to the bank in 2 to 10 ft. Expect a summer slide to 3 to 15 ft, then a winter hold in 7 to 22 ft. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 2 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Back-bay flat (3 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft | midday | Feeding flat (8 ft) | |
| Winter | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | midday | Deep basin (21 ft) |
Clear Lake also holds flathead catfish (6 to 22 ft in summer), largemouth bass (8 to 20 ft in summer), northern pike (8 to 20 ft in summer), pumpkinseed (2 to 10 ft in summer), white bass (7 to 22 ft in summer), yellow perch (7 to 22 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Clear Lake carries 19 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 21 ft down.
Access data: Iowa DNR — Boat Ramps. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Iowa waters are set by the Iowa DNR — and special regulations can apply to Clear Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Iowa fishing regulations →
Clear Lake is about 22 ft (7 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target walleye, muskellunge, crappie, channel catfish, bluegill, common carp, flathead catfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, white bass, yellow perch on Clear Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 12 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Clear Lake is regulated by the Iowa DNR. Check the official Iowa regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Bluebill Lake 5 mi · Eldred Sherwood Lake 14 mi · Rice Lake 18 mi · Crystal Lake 20 mi · Silver Lake (Worth) 25 mi · Beeds Lake 26 mi · Lake Cornelia 27 mi · Rudd Lake 27 mi · Bear 29 mi, MN · Pickeral 35 mi, MN · Albert Lea 35 mi, MN · Fountain (East Bay) 37 mi, MN
See how Clear Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Iowa · best walleye lakes in Iowa · best white bass lakes in Iowa · best northern pike lakes in Iowa
Browse all Iowa fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.