Clearwater Lake
About Clearwater Lake
Clearwater Lake is a 999-acre lake near Leonard in Beltrami County, Minnesota. It reaches 65 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 8.6 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 5.8 feet.
Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 13 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, and pumpkinseed. The DNR has stocking records for the lake, so check the stocking report for the most recent species and year classes. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2025.
There is one public boat launch (concrete surface) managed by the Minnesota DNR. Ice typically goes out around April 22, based on 10 years of DNR ice-out records.
Plan Your Visit to Clearwater Lake
- 999 acres, up to 65 feet deep, near Leonard
- 1 public boat launch (concrete) — managed by the Minnesota DNR
- Game fish on the DNR survey: walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, and pumpkinseed
- Average water clarity around 5.8 feet
Access & Fees
- Public access
- 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- Launch fee
- Free at DNR accesses
- Managed by
- Minnesota DNR
Conditions
- Surface area
- 999 acres
- Max depth
- 65 ft
- Shoreline
- 8.6 mi
- Water clarity
- 5.8 ft
- Shallows (under 15 ft)
- 339 acres
Rules & Regulations
- A Minnesota fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older
- Drain plugs must be out and all water drained before leaving any access; remove aquatic plants from boats and trailers
- Children under 10 must wear a life jacket on a boat that is underway
Facilities
- 1 public boat launch (concrete)
Best For
- Walleye fishing
- Ice fishing
- Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake
Angler's Report
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder- Species on survey
- 13
- Game fish
- 9
- Stocked
- Yes
- Last DNR survey
- 2025
- Special regulations
- No
- Fishing pier
- No
- Ice fishing
- Yes
- Boat launch
- Yes
Fishing data: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Regulations change — confirm with the current DNR fishing regulations.
Ice-Out History
- Median ice-out
- April 22
- Years of record
- 10
- Earliest
- April 12, 2024
- Latest
- May 7, 2022
- Most recent
- April 12, 2024
See every lake on the ice-out tracker. Ice-out data: Minnesota DNR State Climatology Office.
Activities
Amenities
Fish Species
Plan your trip to Clearwater Lake
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Nearby Lakes
Myrtle Lake
27 out of 100 Lake ScoreBeltrami · Debs118 acres
2.2 miles away
Bagley Lake
54 out of 100 Lake ScoreClearwater · Leonard97 acres
2.9 miles away
Moose Lake
48 out of 100 Lake ScoreBeltrami · Debs132 acres
4.5 miles away
Sylvia Lake
11 out of 100 Lake ScoreBeltrami · Debs181 acres
4.8 miles away
Sandy Lake
58 out of 100 Lake ScoreBeltrami · Debs103 acres
5 miles away
Balm Lake
60 out of 100 Lake ScoreBeltrami · Solway537 acres
5.2 miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Clearwater Lake?
Clearwater Lake is in Beltrami County, Minnesota, near Leonard. It covers 999 acres and reaches 65 feet deep.
How big and how deep is Clearwater Lake?
Clearwater Lake covers 999 acres with about 8.6 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 65 feet.
What fish can you catch at Clearwater Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys list Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Tullibee (Cisco), and Rock Bass and other species. A Minnesota fishing license is required for anyone 16 and older.
Is there a public boat launch on Clearwater Lake?
Yes. Clearwater Lake has 1 public boat launch (concrete), managed by the Minnesota DNR. DNR public water accesses are free to use.
Can you swim at Clearwater Lake?
There is no mapped public swim beach at Clearwater Lake. Minnesota's public waters are open to swimming where you have legal access, but there are no lifeguards or water-quality monitoring away from designated beaches.
Is Clearwater Lake stocked?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR has stocking records for Clearwater Lake; species and numbers vary by year, so see the stocking report on DNR LakeFinder.
When does the ice go out on Clearwater Lake?
The median ice-out date is April 22, from 10 years of Minnesota DNR records. The earliest on record is April 12, 2024 and the latest is May 7, 2022.