Clear
A 145-acre lake near Buyck in St. Louis County — best known for pike and panfish. Last surveyed 2008.
Fish Species (7)
Below-normal numbers · large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2008
Last surveyed 2008 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net · typical 3–9 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 14, 2008 | 0.50 | 26.7" | 7.57 lbs |
Typical numbers · small fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2008
Last surveyed 2008 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 15.3 per gill net · typical 3.3–18.3 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 14, 2008 | 6.50 | 5.1" | - |
| Jul 14, 2008 | 15.33 | 5.1" | 0.07 lbs |
Small fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2008
Last surveyed 2008 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.25 per trap net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 14, 2008 | 0.25 | 4.4" | - |
| Jul 14, 2008 | 4.00 | 4.4" | 0.08 lbs |
Other species in this lake (4)
Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.
Above-normal numbers · small fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2008
Last surveyed 2008 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 16.5 per gill net · typical 0.4–1.6 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 14, 2008 | 16.50 | 5.2" | 0.07 lbs |
Large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2008
Last surveyed 2008 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 5.2 per gill net · typical 198 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 14, 2008 | 5.17 | 7.2" | 0.26 lbs |
Below-normal numbers · small fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2008
Last surveyed 2008 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 2.8 per gill net · typical 5.3–22.1 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 14, 2008 | 2.83 | 12.9" | 1.15 lbs |
Small fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2008
Last surveyed 2008 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.33 per gill net · typical 0.3 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 14, 2008 | 0.33 | 7.5" | 0.29 lbs |
Fishing Regulations
Statewide limits
Standard statewide Minnesota limits for the species in this lake.
Northern Pike
Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027
Northeast zone
Angling: 2 (not more than 1 over 40" in possession. All from 30-40" must be immediatley released).
Sunfish
20 combined total
Perch
20 daily and 40 in possession
More statewide rules (spearing, rough fish)
Northern Pike
Season: Nov 15, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027
Northeast zone
Darkhouse spearing: 2 (Not more than 1 over 26").
Bowfin, buffalo, carp, carpsuckers, freshwater drum, goldeneye, redhorse, and suckers
no limit
Bullhead
100
Biologist Notes
July 14, 2008Clear Lake is located 10 miles northwest of Orr, MN. To conduct the survey, access to the lake was gained by crossing a combination of public and priv…
Clear Lake is located 10 miles northwest of Orr, MN. To conduct the survey, access to the lake was gained by crossing a combination of public and private lands located near the west end of Kjostad Lake. Clear lake is small and shallow. Seven species were captured during the survey. However, sport-fish species were generally rare and sizes were small (with the exception of one very large northern pike). Forage fish were generally abundant. Gill-net abundance was 0.33 fish/set for black bullhead and 5.17 fish/set for brown bullhead. Mean length was 8.2 for black bullhead and 7.8 for brown bullhead. Golden shiner gill-net abundance was 16.5 fish/set. Length ranged from 5.4 to 6.7 inches. Abundance of northern pike was 0.5 fish/set, which was very low for the International Falls Management Area. Length ranged from 20.6 to 39.6 inches and the mean was 27.1. Growth seemed to be exceptional, based on the very few northern pike that were captured. Pumpkinseed gill-net abundance was 4.0 fish/set. Mean length in gill nets was 4.8 inches with a range from 3.9 to 5.3. White sucker gill-net abundance was 2.83 fish/set. Length ranged from 9.5 to 17.4 inches with a mean of 13.3. Yellow perch gill-net abundance was 15.33 fish/set. Mean length in gill nets was 5.5 inches with a range from 4.0 to 6.6. Growth was similar to the area mean. Five year-classes were present and age ranged from 1-5 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fish can you catch in Clear?
Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and Pumpkinseed in Clear. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.
Is there public access at Clear?
We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Clear. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.
How deep is Clear?
Clear has a maximum depth of 5.7 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.
When were the main sport fish in Clear last surveyed?
The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Clear is from 2008. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.
Does Clear have any invasive species?
No invasive species are on record for Clear in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.
Are there special fishing regulations on Clear?
No — Clear has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide perch limit is: 20 daily and 40 in possession. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.
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Lake Details
- Surface Area
- 145.32 acres
- Max Depth
- 5.7 ft
- Shoreline
- 2.71 mi
- Public Access
- Not confirmed