Clearwater Lake Fishing Reports & Info - Annandale

[20lbSloughShark]

no body had fished near slow moving creek mouths?

[thats all i do]

has any buddy got an update on clear water on whats biting . eyes or bass or pike thanks going out this weekend .

[Rick G]

I will be out there too this weekend. 'eyes are going at low light, bass and pike can be caught durring the day, and the panfish are also biting pretty good.

[thats all i do]

thanks for the info see you there

[perry p]

I am fascinated by this lake. I'm just scared to tear off the lower unit on my outboard. I just need to put this lake on my priority list. I fish every other lake in the area.

[Rick G]

Perry, this lake should be on your "to do" list, it can be incredible or a most humbling experience, depending on the day. Just go slow with the boat until you learn this underwater mountain range

[hydro]

Perry, As far as driving your boat on Clearwater, you have two speeds - idle and wide open. Because of the acres of 3' deep water, the last thing you want to do is drive at 1/2 throttle, plowing water. That puts your prop way down in the water and you will likely dig up some bottom. At speed, your prop is up high and you will clear almost all shallow bottom.

Watch out for points, the wide side (north) of the narrows, and obviously the areas of reeds, and you should be fine. Now as far as fishing goes, just be prepared to be adept at boat control:)

[thats all i do]

tough lake to fish boat control is key

[mattpaumen]

You should definitely learn the lake! It's a fun lake as the options are endless. I've been fishing the lake for a number of years and feel I know it well, but there is still a lot of water that I haven't fished. I was there today with my youngins and we struggled. Kinda expected to actually because we got a late start (noon) and came off the water around 5:00. I've had good days there during the middle of the day, but most often when the wind is blowing a bit.

[Brad B]

You should definitely learn the lake! It's a fun lake as the options are endless. I've been fishing the lake for a number of years and feel I know it well, but there is still a lot of water that I haven't fished. I was there today with my youngins and we struggled. Kinda expected to actually because we got a late start (noon) and came off the water around 5:00. I've had good days there during the middle of the day, but most often when the wind is blowing a bit.

I know what you mean about struggling out there. After talking to you I had to wait for all those league guys to get in. after that I tried a few different areas and only ended up catching two nice gills, one small bass, & a very small rock bass. I can't believe how much algae was floating in the channel going into Augusta and out on the main lake. I took a ride and went up into grass lake. the one thing I noticed out there is the water was a lot clearer and cleaner then on Clearwater it self. I also went over to black pool from the main lake and let's just say that mess the bog made when it broke free is major. you can't even tell there is a access there. I talked to one other person out there and they heard the DNR won't do anything about it until sometime in July.

[mattpaumen]

It was nice meeting you yesterday, Brad! It was a humbling day to say the least, but it sure was nice out and it was a perfect day hanging out with the kids!

[pikerliker]

I drove by yesterday afternoon on my way to my daughters soccer game in St. Cloud and noticed the "army" of boats waiting to get off just out from the landing. I was wondering why so many on a Thursday afternoon but the league thing would explain it.

[hydro]

I spent most of my adult fishing time out there and learned to work that lake when I was just a kid. I'm kind of lost on a dishpan structure lake these days.

On the bog subject, my family owned the Narrows Resort and in 1983 the lake flooded, coming up at least 8 feet in just a couple of days. When the water rose, LOTS of cattail bogs floated free and moved downstream to the bridge at Grass Lake. They acted like a giant cork and plugged up the outlet of the lake, preventing the water from draining. There was a mat of bog probably 5 acres or more. The lake association contracted a dragline and truck to dig out the bog as it floated in, and it took a couple of months to get it un-clogged.

[terrible_fisherman]

Plus one to full speed or idle. You are better off getting the boat leveled out in most areas. If you are going half speed or full speed you will still wreck something if you hit. Higher up your prop is the better you will be if it is moving. Just stay away from the shallow side of the narrows...hitting some silt isn't too bad but if you hit rock or gravel.....

[smalliehunter]

Spent the morning on clearwater, fished a ton of deep structure funding only walleyes. We saw hundreds on the camera. Where do bass live in the lake? Is flipping reeds the best choice? Or is it best to go into one of the connecting lakes?

[hardcore365]

Flippin weeds, main lake humps with potential (rocks with weeds, transitions, wind blown points) all good starts. I like to start shallow and then move deep. Example starting with top water then goin to crankbait/spinnerbait then finishing off the spot with a jig or texas/Carolina rig of some sort. If u fish it a lot obviously u know there is tons of structure so dont be afraid to try a lot of things. Had some luck on Tuesday fishing the south shoreline weeds with a 3/16 oz worm weight on a 7" powerbait, with motor oil / red flake and pumpkinseed colors catching all but a couple. Others came on a brownish terminator spinner bait slow rollin trough weeds. Good luck

[Larry3760]

I was thinking about fishing clearwater tomorrow for walleye, can anyone give me some insight on whats working well out there and where some better spots are on the lake, thanks for any help

[dfv87]

What is up with the poor water clarity on Augusta?!?!??! Normally it is similar to clearwater but this year it is HORRIBLE! Anybody know what is going on?

[Dylan33]

Augusta was horrible mid summer last year as well. I think the algae bloom is to blame.

[dfv87]

This is way worse than last year IMO... maybe this is the new normal.

[mwal]

Augusta has a long history of horrible algae blooms. in the 80's till the late 90's they had aerator running year round trying to provide oxygen to the depths to burn up the nutrients that run into the system from farm runoff. Now that CRP is disappearing and with the rains fertilizer runoff is becoming a problem again.

Mwal

[BartmanMN]

If it is like other watershed lakes, the heavy rains have brought in excess phosphorus and other chemicals from fields this year. Many lakes will be bad as the year progresses from this.

[dfv87]

makes sense... since flooding 2 years ago the lake has not gotten "clean" again. Sad to say it but true. Fishing is still good but kids are fans of swimming as much right now... slime was forming on my line while fishing on sunday... was not good.

[Hester]

I have been on August a few times the last 2 weeks.

The first time I went in, I saw the water clarity and turned around and left.

The next 2 times I went in and found what I was looking for.

I think its a lot of broken down weeds from from last year or something.

[hydro]

Don't despair. That green algae in the water is just a sign on the overall nutrient level in the lake, and the more nutrient, the more fish the lake can support. Plus, it only goes down a couple of feet or so and the fish don't care. Keep fishing right through the green layer and the fish will be found!

[Hester]

Don't despair. That green algae in the water is just a sign on the overall nutrient level in the lake, and the more nutrient, the more fish the lake can support. Plus, it only goes down a couple of feet or so and the fish don't care. Keep fishing right through the green layer and the fish will be found!

I agree with you hydro but the stuff in that lake is a little different.

I put the camera down in several spots and its the same in 20 fow as it is at the surface. Just a lot of broken down particles of something.Looks like weeds went through a wood chipper or something like that.

[bassNspear]

I was out there on wed and it was starting to get bad. y'all are right, there is green clumps that are floating all over, and it does go down all the way to the bottom. Its believe its a bloom that we have in this lake again, and I hope that the fishing doesn't suffer from it. I haven't seen it this bad in a long time, and imo the fishing was tough!