East Clearwater

[FishSystem]

Hope to be out there on Saturday. I would think there is over 12" of ice by now. Want to take out the Dakota. Anyone got any ice reports for this lake? I sure appriciate it. thank you.

[hydro]

Since there is not really a public access point on east Clearwater this site gets very little chatter. I grew up there and would be very cautious driving out even with a likely 12" of ice.

[FishSystem]

14+ inches of ice everywheree i drilled. pretty cosistant. eyes were all under 14 last night. they all went back.

[kaparzo]

14 inches everywhere for me too. Saw someone blazing a trail in a half ton Chevy across most of the east basin. On Clearwater, I wouldn't even do it in a buddy's truck...

[FishSystem]

crazy drivers! going again on monday evning. you? green dodge dakota. come say hi. Adam.

[Naturboy]

Is there a way to get on the east side?

[noodlerod]

yes private access with permission or drive threw the narrows BUT !!! I WOULD STRONGLY NOT RECOMEND THE LATTER !!!!!!

[hydro]

Please, Please, DO NOT try driving through the Narrows, on either side. I do not want to hear of more people who have died trying that.

[kaparzo]

I have always gone by foot out on Clearwater but have a friend that wants to get on the east side with his wheeler and two place trailer. Without any first hand experience on the narrows, is it possible to make it through / around on a wheeler? Or is the pay access off 24 (east end) open? Thanks.

[JwP1]

The pay access off of 24 is closed. He was gona stake up the snowtry fence after we pulled the boat out this fall. I sure would like to find a way on the east side myself. Dont get me wrong ive caught plenty of fish on the west end but i love trying new places. Plus from what i know there is alot less traffic on the east side. We sure caught alot of walleyes and some nice crappies this fall. So they cant be far.

[hydro]

I was out with my snowmobile on the east side yesterday afternoon, and came over from the west access. The south side of the narrows (the deep side) has a pass over the shore on the south side, so access with an ATV or snowmobile is possible there. There will be truck traffic over at that point as well, but use caution if you decide to try. Do not try to drive through the center!

The north side has ice heaves with open water underneath.

There is about 16” of ice in most areas.

[Naturboy]

Thanks for the report, did you do any good out there? From the narrows I might be able to walk.

[Bigslugger]

There is an access to the east side where 24 comes to a T when coming around Pleasant Lake. It is marked with snowmobile markers but it does lead to the lake

[FishSystem]

PLEASE PEOPLE!! If you do find a LEGAL way to access this side of the lake, please be curtious to the land. Don't litter, or rip up the area in your quads or trucks, and don't go parking in a way as to block traffic or cause any problems. The access will surely be shut down by DNR or State if this happens, I've seen it before. One guy litters, then another, and then you show up and are denied access. That sucks. Take care of the situation, and we can all enjoy it. I have access elsewhere, but don't want to see trouble for anyone else.

[Bigslugger]

PLEASE PEOPLE!! If you do find a LEGAL way to access this side of the lake, please be curtious to the land. Don't litter, or rip up the area in your quads or trucks, and don't go parking in a way as to block traffic or cause any problems. The access will surely be shut down by DNR or State if this happens, I've seen it before. One guy litters, then another, and then you show up and are denied access. That sucks. Take care of the situation, and we can all enjoy it. I have access elsewhere, but don't want to see trouble for anyone else.

I second that!

I take it that the trail is a legal access? I have never ventured on it, only driven past it

[paper mouth]

There is not a legal access on east clearwater. The road that goes to the lake people get kicked out of there all the time. The people around there have been keeping a good eye on that spot and making people turn around. The only way is threw the narrows and i my self would never try that even on a good winter. Later in the year the guy from bj's will plow a road over there but you wont catch me on it.

[chrishalvy]

So...

Is it safe to go anywhere on the north end?

Just stay away from the narrows?

I've never fished Clearwater in the winter. So it will all be new to me. I had intended on going out of BJ's.

Any suggestions for the north side?

[FishSystem]

if it's your first winter fishing on clearwater, AVOID the narrows! I do believe that EVERY winter someone goes in the drink there. Even on a sled or quad, it isn't safe at all. There are some dangerous areas around the islands on the west, but if you go and talk to BJ's...they won't steer you wrong. Good place. Good walley action on both halves of clearwater, and crappies too (on the East atleast).

[fishersofmen]

I've been out on the west side and yesterday I did see some open water in areas by the cat tails. Fishing was good after only getting 1 the previous 2 nights.

[g_anoka]

Areas by the cat tails? That doesn't really narrow it down much.

[terrible_fisherman]

Lol a good plan would be to be careful no matter where you go and not trust any ice out there. Ask at the bait shop and they will help you but do not explore on clearwater.

[kaparzo]

After all the rain and warm temps the past few days, what is the ice like? Am I better off bringing my hockey skates than trying to walk out there?

[fishersofmen]

Areas by the cat tails? That doesn't really narrow it down much.

Cat tails mid lake area. For me to narrow it down any more than that I would have to give gps coordinates which I don't have. If you have ever fished out there you know what I'm talking about.......there are cat tails everywhere and its over 3,000 acres. I was more or less just confirming what others have said, which is be careful.

[g_anoka]

Thanks for the reply. I am aware of the many cat tails on Clearwater. The main point I guess is stay away from the cat tails and reeds while out on the lake.

[FishSystem]

It never hurts to avoid driving by any vegitation sticking up through the ice. Some spots on East can be good breaks to fish, and they're so steep that you end up very close to some cattails, but you can park 30 yds away and walk up to that area to fish it. That sunlight really can warm up the brush and thin the ice in that area, and live vegitation under that ice creates oxygen, could thin the ice some.

[jigginjim]

fishermen should ask dnr to put in an access on the east side of the lake.

[fishersofmen]

As much as we would like that to happen Jim there would be a ton of opposition from home owners on the lake and probably some others as well.

[grizrunner]

May be wrong but I don't think there is any land available for a public access.

[kaparzo]

Fished the East Basin yesterday afternoon. The ice was quite slippery with just a dusting of snow left on the top. Marked a lot of fish but only caught a handful of walleye. The fish that did eat were hitting aggressively. Size was generally small but managed a few keepers. They overwhelmingly preferred the set line to jigging. Gold was our best color. Shiners or fats didn't seem to make a difference.

[panolo]

Doubt an east side access ever happens unless the folks with the pay access decide to sell and that would still probably meet much resistance. I have had a key for the homeowner access on 24 for for years and still get interrogated almost every time I use it.