Fish Iowa - Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs

Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs DNR Homepage

About Clear Lake

Surface Area (acres): 3684.00
Maximum Depth (feet): 18.1 ft. (2013)
Motoring Restrictions: None
See below for additional location-specific regulations

Location

County: Cerro Gordo
Description:
Coordinates: 43.13303842, -93.39069388

Nearby Parks

McIntosh Woods State Park
Clear Lake State Park

Amenities

Amenities at Clear Lake include:

Boat Access
Fishing Jetty
Accessible Pier
Boat Rental
Picnic Area
Beach
Trails
Accessible Facilities
Playground
Restrooms
Camping
Hard Surface Boat Ramp
Fish Cleaning Station

What to Fish For

Fishing Report

Ice Condition: Not Recommended
Water Temperature (°F):
Ramp Condition: Useable
Comments: Ice thickness is 2 to 3 inches. The West open water aeration system is running. Last updated on 12/04/2025

Species Reports

Yellow Bass - Status Unsure

Walleye - Status Unsure

Fishing Summary

Clear Lake has a protected slot on Walleye. Fish 17-22 inches need to be immediately released. In 2025, anglers will find the majority of the caught Walleye in the slot. Yellow Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, and Channel Catfish are available as well. Muskellunge angling is good as well. - Last updated on 03/24/2025.

Popular Fish Species

Consumption Guidelines

Iowa-Caught Fish Are Safe to Eat, In Almost All Cases

In nearly all cases, Iowa fish are safe to eat. Cleaning and/or preparing the meal causes most of the problems regarding taste or color of fish. Like all living creatures, fish are susceptible to diseases, parasites, and other naturally occurring conditions in the water. If you suspect your fish is affected by any of these conditions, do not eat it. Consider eating smaller and younger fish which usually have lower levels of contaminants than larger ones. Most contaminants accumulate in larger, older fish. For additional information, check out our resources for eating and cooking Iowa caught fish.

To learn more about fish tissue monitoring, visit our Fish Tissue Monitoring page .

Where to Go

View Map (.pdf)

Explore the full Fishing Atlas

Stocking and Management

Stocking

5/4, 5/7 & 5/9/23 2023 - 15,015,106 Walleye (Fry)
5/18/23 - 649 Muskellunge (12.6)
10/18, 10/19, & 10/23/23 2023 - 10,779 Walleye (9)
September 2022 - 12,000 Channel Catfish (9)
5/9/22 - 15,523,500 Walleye (Fry)
10/17/22 - 2,026 Walleye (9.3)
November 2021 - 17,880 Walleye (9)
May 2021 - 10,961,990 Walleye (Fry)
04/30/2021 - 6,000,000 Walleye (Fry)
September 2020 - 11,923 Channel Catfish (8.3)
October 2020 - 18,005 Walleye (8.5)
05/04/2020 - 12,756,324 Walleye (Fry)
October 2019 - 12,767 Walleye (9.5)
05/15/2019 - 600 Muskellunge (12)
05/13/2019 - 1,394 Northern Pike (1.22)
05/03/2019 - 8,632 Northern Pike (Fry)
05/03/2019 - 12,776,524 Walleye (Fry)
10/15/2018 - 10,009 Walleye (8.9)
09/17/2018 - 10,000 Channel Catfish (8.5)
06/04/2018 - 10,108 Northern Pike (2.7)
05/18/2018 - 12,460,726 Walleye (Fry)
05/09/2018 - 6,667,786 Walleye (Fry)
5/23/2017 - 10,015 Northern Pike (2.4")
5/11/2017 - 392 Muskellunge (13.1")
4/29/2017 - 14,500,000 Walleye (fry)
11/3/2017 - 3,614 Walleye (9.3")
11/15/2017 - 1,018 Walleye (9.3")
10/27/2017 - 734 Walleye (8.9")
10/26/2017 - 923 Walleye (9")
10/26/2017 - 2,663 Walleye (8.9")
10/19/2017 - 2,127 Walleye (9.3")
10/19/2017 - 3,442 Walleye (9.3")
10/19/2017 - 3,483 Walleye (9.3")
spring 2016 - 15,095 Northern Pike (2.1")
fall 2016 - 7,506 Channel Catfish (9.1")
5/6/16 - 15,300,000 Walleye (Fry)
11/9/16 - 18,916 Walleye (9.9")
10/5/16 - 18,070 Walleye (4.5")
annual 2015 - 14,031 Walleye (7")
annual 2015 - 22,290 Walleye (8")
05/18/2015 - 10,000 Northern Pike (2.9")
05/13/2015 - 600 Muskellunge (12.3")
04/29/2015 - 16,000,000 Walleye (Fry)

Management

2025 - Vegetation-Treatment: Control American Lotus for access.
2025 - Vegetation-Treatment: Eradication effort targeting Eurasian watermilfoil. Control curly leaf pondweed to improve water quality, access, and fish habitat.
2024 - Vegetation-Treatment: Eurasian watermilfoil treatment subsurface
2024 - Vegetation-Treatment: Eurasian Watermilfoil treatment
2023 - Water Sampling-Dissolved Oxygen: East Aerator
2023 - Water Sampling-Dissolved Oxygen: North of Island
2023 - Water Sampling-Dissolved Oxygen: West Aerator
2023 - Water Sampling-Dissolved Oxygen: Little Lake
2023 - Spillway-Maintenance: Concrete repair on outlet sill structure.
2022 - Water Sampling-Dissolved Oxygen: Little Lake SW of McIntosh Woods ramp
2022 - Water Sampling-Dissolved Oxygen: West side west aerator
2022 - Water Sampling-Dissolved Oxygen: North of Island 10' down
2022 - Water Sampling-Dissolved Oxygen: East aerator sign boundary
2022 - Regulations-Fishing: Walleye regulation was changed from 14 inch minimum to a protected slot where 17-22 inch fish must be released with no Minimum length protection.
2021 - Vegetation-Treatment: Treated vegetation around jetties
2021 - Water Sampling-Dissolved Oxygen: East Shore
2021 - Water Sampling-Dissolved Oxygen: SW of fishermen's Reef
2021 - Water Sampling-Dissolved Oxygen: West side of west aerator.
2021 - Water Sampling-Dissolved Oxygen: Little lake off McIntosh
2021 - Water Sampling-Dissolved Oxygen: Near the outlet
2021 - Water Sampling-Dissolved Oxygen: By the Island 10 feet of water.
2020 - Water Sampling-Dissolved Oxygen: East end sw of aeration hole in 14 foot of water.
2020 - Water Sampling-Dissolved Oxygen: taken north of the Island in 14 foot of water
2020 - Water Sampling-Dissolved Oxygen: taken just west of west aeration grid in 10 foot of water
2020 - Water Sampling-Dissolved Oxygen: taken in little lake sw of McIntosh ramp in 10 foot of water
2019 - Aeration-Maintenance: City project on new restroom and splash pad removed old aeration shed. A temporary shed was used for 2019/2020 winter. Pumps will be relocated to maintenance room in new bathroom. 28E established with the city for aeration operation at this locati
2019 - Aeration-Maintenance: East air line completely separated at the coupler near shore. A repair clamp was placed on separation and made the line functional for 2019/2020 winter.
2017 - Dam-Maintenance: Repaired 2 locations on Clear Lake's outlet where concrete was shaling off. One large area on north side closest to the walk bridge and a smaller area on the SW corner. Used Euco Repair V-100 mortar. Used approximately 10 bags and reinforced with
2017 - Ramp-Construction: Parks replaced all three boat ramps at McIntosh Woods State Park.
2014 - Fish Cleaning Station-Fish Cleaning Station: electricity and freshwater available
2012 - Ramp-Maintenance: boat ramps were extended 12 feet at McIntosh Woods and Ventura Access with concrete mats
2010 - Jetty-Construction: Jetty placed on Ventura Grade for angler access and a future carp capture area.
2009 - Dredging-State-funded: Sediment removal was completed the end of August 2009. 2.4 million cubic yards were removed.

Regulations and Who to Talk To

Motoring Restrictions

Motoring Restrictions: None

Contacts for this Location

Scott Grummer, Fisheries Biologist; 641-357-3517; Scott.Grummer@dnr.iowa.gov
Ben Schlader, Conservation Officer (Cerro Gordo); 641-425-0828; Ben.Schlader@dnr.iowa.gov
Matt Washburn, Conservation Officer (Cerro Gordo); 641-425-0822; Matt.Washburn@dnr.iowa.gov

Fishing Regulations

The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit. Familiarize yourself with the complete Fishing Regulations here: Iowa DNR Fishing Regulations and Laws.

Bigmouth Buffalo

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: none
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other:

Black Crappie

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined black and white crappie, 25 fish
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other: No daily limit on private waters

Bluegill

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other: No daily limit on private waters

Channel Catfish

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 8 fish
Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
Length Limit: none
Other: Except for border lakes

Common Carp

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: none
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.

Flathead Catfish

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 8 fish
Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
Length Limit: none
Other: Except for border lakes

Green Sunfish

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: none
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other:

Largemouth Bass

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 3 fish
Possession Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
Length Limit: 15-inch minimum
Other:

Muskellunge

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined: muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, 1 fish
Possession Limit: combined: muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, 1 fish
Length Limit: 40-inch minimum
Other: except for West Okoboji, East Okoboji, and Spirit Lakes (Dickinson County)

Northern Pike

Season: Continuous, except for boundary lakes
Daily Bag Limit: 3 fish
Possession Limit: 6 fish
Length Limit: none
Other: Except for border lakes

Pumpkinseed

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other: No daily limit on private waters

Walleye

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: 3 fish
Possession Limit: 6 fish
Length Limit: all 17 to 22-inch walleyes must be immediately released alive
Other: No more than one walleye longer than 22 inches may be taken per day

White Bass

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: none
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other:

White Crappie

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: combined black and white crappie, 25 fish
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other: No daily limit on private waters

White Sucker

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: none
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.

Yellow Bass

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: none
Possession Limit: unlimited
Length Limit: none
Other:

Yellow Perch

Season: Continuous
Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
Possession Limit: 50 fish
Length Limit: none
Other:

Fish Iowa - Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs - Clear Lake