Ice Fishing Clearwater

[WishnIWsFishn]

Finally took a day off of work to do a little ice fishing. I would really like to hit Clearwater. First question is there enough ice out there to bring a wheeler and my one man? Second question... I spent a lot of time on Clearwater last year, but never had a great day. I caught a few fish here and there, but nothing to write home to mom about. Just wondering if someone could maybe give me a direction into finding some decent pannies out there. I will drill 100 holes if I have to, but would really like to start the season drilling 98 or 99. Any info would be great. Either way... I am pumped to get back out there!!

[Ohboytimmy]

I've been out there a few days this week. The ice is solid black around 8-10 inches when I was out there Tuesday. You will be definitely fine with a four wheeler. I drove my Nissan titan that day but I would considered driving out with my compact four door car. I've been targeting walleye and have done decent. I've caught some dandy pike in the summer in the west basin very close to the landing. I wish I could tell you where the Gills are hiding.

[WishnIWsFishn]

Glad to hear the Walleye are at least eating... Might have to switch the strategy up a bit. If you happen to be out tomorrow I will be in the one man clam with the red wheeler and Eskimo auger standing up in the ice. Stop by!!

[mrklean]

Anyone been out to Clearwater lately how is the ice looking? How much snow did the lake get?

[FishSystem]

fishing on East Clearwater later today. Anyone want to say the ice thickness on east or west basins?

[fishTankin]

plenty for a wheeler 8-10 inches last sunday...more than 10 inches by now!

[LeeY]

First time at clearwater and maybe my last. Was hoping to do some pan fishing so drove on ice today in my 1 ton silverado. Checked all the basin all the deep spot west east but just can't manage to find any panfish. I somewhat lost hope when I realize the majority of people are here for walleye. Maybe it's just my luck on not finding them? Or is there no panfish to fish on this lake? Got there at 6am and left at 6pm. I wasn't marking any fish at all beside mini bottom dweller nibbling my line. I have a feeling one might tell me it's a walleye lake? Am I correct?

[g_anoka]

You drove a 1 ton silverado to the east and west basins? If you truely did consider yourself lucky,the narrows are known for having spots of thin ice.

[jskeff]

yep, only walleye in that lake. no panfish. only walleye

[LeeY]

You drove a 1 ton silverado to the east and west basins? If you truely did consider yourself lucky,the narrows are known for having spots of thin ice.

Sorry let me rephrase myself on that. I meant I drove my truck out on the ice following the iceroad and huge ice shack but only venture out 25 yard or so from the visible tracks of trucks and ice shack. Other then that I'll pull the sled by hand after. Sorry for the confusion but yeah I almost [PoorWordUsage] my self. I had navionic on if I do venture too far from the ice road. I realize this lake has a lot of shallow area. I always try to avoid those, but yeah started at the west side of lake following the deep basin then moved on to the east and still no luck, so I left at 6pm.

[KenM1987]

yep, only walleye in that lake. no panfish. only walleye

Yep I would definetly stay away if you like largemouth and bluegills. Nothing but walleyes and bullheads in Clearwater.......

[crappie todd]

[crappie todd]

[crappie todd]

[crappie todd]

Yep, those were the good ol days when there were crappies in Clearwater.

[searching4slabs]

Wheres all the fish on clearwater, how do you eliminate areas to fish on a lake that has so much structure?...besides drilling a thousand holes ive already changed my blade once this year

[fishersofmen]

How is the ice looking out there? I will get there this week sometime.

[LeeY]

How is the ice looking out there? I will get there this week sometime.

The ice are 14-15" almost everywhere but don't take my word for it there might be weak spots.

[Bobberboy]

Fished the east bay Saturday and Sunday and had 16 to 18 inches in several locations.

It is Clearwater though so use common sense!

Fishing was slow for me.

[FishSystem]

Fished on last Saturday on East. Found about 15" everywhere. Had a lot of walleyes come in, but no bites! UGGH! My bro and my neph came out and no luck for them either. We searched for some crappies but none to be had. We haven't seen those monster slabs in 2 yrs. My bro did see some marks 50 ft down in 60+ feet of water, but nope. So I decided to cross the street to Pleasant at about 8pm. Drilled a couple of spots and found nothing! Could have tried a little harder on the Plez but I lost my mojo and went home.

[FishSystem]

I have caught ROCK BASS on East basin before.

[eyeguy 54]

Good memories from Clearwater. 1993, 1680 bucks. Ya Baby!

[eyeguy 54]

hope to chase some gills down there this tuesday.

[gemNeyeJoe]

I take it the narrows are safe to get to the east side now?

[BartmanMN]

I take it the narrows are safe to get to the east side now?

Never use the words "Narrows" and "Safe" in the same sentence.

[crappie todd]

my tourny crappie hot spots were on the east side in the bay out from the private pay access. The one tournamaent we pre fished on the friday and it was 70 dg then came that saturday and it snowed 6 inches heavy and wet stuff. The crappies were doing ok in 12 ft. lots of good fish back then.

[gemNeyeJoe]

Bart- you're correct. Reading that looks ridiculous.

Is there solid ice to access the east side by wheeler or sled through the narrows?

[hydro]

Crossing the narrows, sure you can. Just be careful that you cross where there is sand under whatever you are driving. DO NOT try and cross on the north (wider) side as it never really freezes. Cross the edges of south narrows but do not just drive through the middle.

[fishersofmen]

Just saw on chan 5 news a truck broke through Clearwater. Good thing the temps are going to finally drop back down this weekend.

[JeremyCampbell]

Here's the artical

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S3689459.shtml?cat=12196