Clear Lake-Lexington

[GrantoftheLake]

I've been reading this forum since November and I don't see alot of posts, if any , about this lake. I live on Clear and fished it a couple times this year with a little success, best being last weekend. 4 perch, 1 crappie, 1 sunny and 2 bass in 2 hours. Not the greatest but fun just to be able to walk out and catch fish. But as I look out my window and count houses, ports and wheelers, 60-70

and it's been this way since the ice firmed up. What kind of luck are people having with all these houses out here?

[BK19]

i have been there twice the first time i caught a few really small sunnies straight out of the landing but tuesday we went there to the right of the landing in between the 2 groups of hosues in 14 foot and took home 4 nice sized sunnies they quit biting at 5:30 PM i got there at 4 or so

[raymondk]

If you were fishing in between the group of houses you were not fishing far enough out get in 16 feet of water away from the other houses also the best fishing has been in the mornings they seem to shut downabout 2 pm and start to bite again about at 4. I have been having really good luck also the sunnies are also nice sizedI haved fished the same area all winter also if you catch a bullhead you are in the same spot as the large sunnies.

[BK19]

i was away from the other houses didnt see the 16 foot where exactly would that be thanks

[slimer]

How do the fish taste out of there? Fished there a few years ago in the summer and ended up throwing all the fish away i cooked after i tried the first one. Havent been back since, drove by there a few times in the summer and the smell alone made me not want to fish it anymore.

[BK19]

they taste fine to me in the winter i have never fished there in the summer

[Team Otter]

If you ever drive by the lake in late or July or August, you'd probably never fish it.

PHEW!

[slimer]

Yeah its nasty. Looks like antifreeze floating in the water.lol

[Scott M]

An FM friend did pretty good out there. Decent bluegills I guess.

[GrantoftheLake]

Yes it does get a little stinky but it has improved the past 3-4 years. The algae bloom does not seem to last as long as it used to. For many years I couldn't even have my windows open when the wind was coming from the SW.

[Bigeye30"]

This wouldn't be Kelly by Chance?

[DTro]

I was out there about a week ago and would've like to get away from the crowd, but that wasn't possible unless you were up fishing on the highway.

I couldn't believe how many houses were out there on a couple hundred acre lake

[GrantoftheLake]

Nope.

[Team Otter]

What's "a lot stinky" if that's a "little stinky"? I swear I had the dry heaves going by there a few times last summer.

[Willy]

Yuck is right. It turns to green paint all summer. They need to stop the runoff and cow [PoorWordUsage] going in there on a constant basis. If it were up to me, they would drain the lake and start over.

There are nice sunfish in there, but those houses seem like they're out there every year whether they're catching them or not.

If I was going to fish out there, I would be on the other side of the lake.

[2 DA GILLS]

I have always thought about trying this lake based on the lake survey data and the stated bluegill size. Sounds like I may just save the gas and skip this lake.

If it has the potential for some real large gills, it may be worth it for strictly catch and release.

Sad thing is that I have not even wet a line so far this hard water season.

[Katoman]

I was at the lake numerous times last summer. It was nasty and probably downright deadly. I have seen some "algae" blooms but this was really bad. The smell was enough to gag you and when I walked down to the water it had the look of green jello. Its a open sewer.

[raymondk]

i have kept a few for 2 small meals so far this year they taste great I will not keep any in the summer time i won't even fish it in the summer . there is some real nice sunnies in there . I have caught them up 3/4 pound .

[GrantoftheLake]

I guess after living there 17+ years you get used to it.

[Katoman]

I understand they redid the sewer from the campground that was virtually dumping unabated. I don't know how long ago that was put in.

[Scott K]

They redid the septic system when the new owners bought the place, must have been 5-7 years ago. The old owners have been known to hook a sump pump into the septic tank and pump it straight into the lake. MMMM! He got busted a few times for it also! But a small fine compared to $15k for a new septic, he choose the small fine!

[Joe28]

Is it just me or does anybody else think this lake cannot stand this much fishing pressure much longer? The amount of people on a lake of that size is ridiculous. I think the sunnies are getting thinned out quickly.

[Team Otter]

Joe2,

I'm guessing that eventually the pressure will take it's toll but who knows when. I've been in this area for ~9 years and it's been like that nearly every year.