Lake · Cerro Gordo, Iowa
Clear Lake at Clear Lake
Clear Lake at Clear Lake
Lake · Iowa
Information Only
StrikeTracks does not currently provide a live condition rating for this destination. Destination and fishery information is still available.
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Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Clear Lake.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
Clear Lake is north-central Iowa's defining natural-lake destination for walleye, yellow bass, panfish, catfish, and muskie. StrikeTracks publishes complete static Fishery with catalog-visible Unavailable conditions because no same-lake live USGS 00010 exists and historical Estimated L-B cannot fire without a current thermal anchor. This is not Spirit Lake and not Storm Lake.
Target species
Walleye
Sander vitreus
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Iowa DNR Clear Lake walleye with 17–22 inch protected slot; 3 per day, one over 22 inches. Not Iowa Great Lakes 19–25 slot.
Yellow Bass
Morone mississippiensis
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Defining Clear Lake open-water species in Iowa DNR Fish Iowa materials. Not Storm Lake white bass.
Black Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Iowa DNR lists excellent crappie opportunity at Clear Lake.
Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Iowa DNR lists bluegill among Clear Lake popular species.
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Iowa DNR stocks channel catfish and lists them among Clear Lake opportunities.
Muskellunge
Esox masquinongy
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Iowa DNR stocks muskellunge and reports a strong Clear Lake muskie fishery.
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
Shallow natural glacial lake (maximum depth about 18 feet) with rock reefs, vegetation, and state-park shoreline. Catalog coordinates remain the historic USGS 05460000 point for identity stability; the station is not assigned as lake thermal.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Boat fishing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
- Trolling
Access and Public Fishing Rights
Iowa DNR lists hard-surface ramps, a fishing jetty, an accessible pier, boat rental, and fish-cleaning stations, including McIntosh Woods State Park and Clear Lake State Park. Confirm current ramp status. Catalog coordinates are not a verified launch pin.
Stocking information
Iowa DNR regularly stocks walleye fry and fingerlings, muskellunge, and channel catfish. Confirm current Fish Iowa stocking records.
- Stocked
Walleye
Stocked · Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Stocked
Channel Catfish
Stocked · Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Stocked
Muskellunge
Stocked · Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Official sources
Clear Lake walleye: 17–22 inch protected slot must be released; 3 per day, only one longer than 22 inches. Distinct from Iowa Great Lakes and Storm Lake 19–25 inch slots. Confirm current Iowa DNR crappie, bluegill, catfish, and muskellunge limits. Aquatic invasive species (Eurasian watermilfoil, curlyleaf pondweed, zebra mussel) are documented.
conditionPublicationPolicy=static-value-structural-unavailable. Clear Lake is the existing Iowa public seed and a destination-named Iowa DNR walleye/yellow-bass fishery with Fish Iowa CLE17, a 17–22 inch walleye slot, and complete static Fishery. inlandHasCompleteStaticFisheryValue already passed on official Iowa DNR fishery, access, and regulations. Fresh 2026-08-29 USGS IV at 05460000 is live 00065 only; no live 00010 or 00060. Historical Estimated L-B / MONITORING_PARTIAL is not automatic Batch-9 authority: accepted L-B requires a same-lake thermal anchor within 30 days, and stage is not temperature. No new Estimated science is introduced. HIGH plus PATH B does not auto-approve; public catalog-visible Unavailable is approved because keeping a pseudo-Estimated seed would misrepresent current science, and honest Unavailable plus complete static Fishery is the strongest class. This justification is Clear Lake-specific and does not copy Spirit Lake or Storm Lake prose.
Location and Access
Cataloged lake location
Cerro Gordo, Iowa
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
Lake Details
County
Cerro Gordo
Management Category
Natural glacial lake
Regulation Scope
Clear Lake at Clear Lake, Iowa
Regulation Summary
Clear Lake at Clear Lake: Iowa DNR lake-specific walleye slot and inland lake rules. Confirm current official regulations.
Target Species
Walleye, Yellow Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Muskellunge
Public Access
Public
Boat Launch
Available
Shore Fishing
Available
Description
Clear Lake at Clear Lake, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. About 3,684-acre natural glacial lake. Catalog-visible Unavailable: USGS 05460000 Clear Lake at Clear Lake is same-lake stage (00065) only with no live 00010 and no live 00060. Stage is not lake temperature. Historical MODEL-2 launch Estimated L-B / MONITORING_PARTIAL is not Batch-9 authority because L-B requires a same-lake thermal anchor within 30 days and 05460000 has no live 00010. Not Spirit Lake and not Storm Lake.
