Clear Lake Property Owners Association Clear Lake Property Owners Association
Fishing in Clear Lake

A variety of species of fish can be found in Clear Lake. However we are currently experiencing an excess of Rock Bass and Pike. The Pike tend to eat the smaller fish that are beneficial to the lake. Although we normally promote catch & release, please do not release the Pike or Rock Bass into the lake.

The lake was stocked with 1800 Rainbow Trout in the fall of 2009. More details can be found in the Bracebridge Area Stocking List, 2005-2009, 74Kb. We are on the second page, listed under "Torrance (Clear)".

Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth Bass One of the largest of the Sunfish family (second only to the largemouth bass). The body shape is only slightly longer than deep and slightly thicker than the other Sunfish. They vary in colour depending on water clarity but are usually golden brown to olive green with 8-15 vertical bars on the sides. Smallmouths may be confused with Largemouth bass but offer the following distinctive differences. Smallmouths have vertical bars on the sides, dark bars radiating from the eyes and the mouth reaches only as far back as the middle of the eye.
Rainbow Trout Rainbow Trout

Three forms of rainbow are common (rainbow, steelhead and kamloops) and often discussed and confused but it is important to note that these forms are simply variations of the same species.

Rainbow trout This name is typically reserved for the dark-coloured with bright, intense markings that inhabit small streams and rivers year round. The typical colouration includes black spots on the body, and tail with a pink lateral stripe.
Kamloops trout A lake inhabiting trout that is bright and silvery. This is what we have in our lake.
Steelhead The sea and Great Lakes inhabiting fish that returns to rivers to spawn. Typical colouration is silvery with dark spots on the body and tail.

Walleye Walleye Walleye (also known as yellow pickerel or wall-eyed pike) have an elongated body shape. They have large teeth, and are characterized by there �glassy� opaque eyes. The sides of walleye are olive green to gold, with black patterns. The bottom tip of the tail is white.
Northern Pike Northern Pike Pike have a very elongated body, with a very long head. They have large eyes, near the top of their head. Pike have very large teeth, which hook backwards into their mouth, which helps keep prey from escaping. They generally have 5 pores under each side of their lower jaw. Pike are dark green to olive green, with white mainly oval spots. The dorsal fin on the pike is set well back on the body. Pike and muskellunge are similar and often inhabit the same waterbodies so make certain that you can spot the differences in the two because regulations and seasons often are quite different. DO NOT release a Pike if caught in our lake! They are a major predatory fish that eat other fish.
Pike stomach contents
Pumpkinseed Pumpkinseed The body is deep and compressed. The pumpkinseed is very brightly coloured with a green to olive back and often a bright red to red orange belly. The sides also have bright orange spots. Pumpkinseeds can be easily confused with bluegills. The distinguishing feature is that the pumpkinseed has a well-defined red spot on the tip of the gill plate.
Rock Bass Rock Bass Body is slightly more elongated than bluegill or pumpkinseed. Rock bass have greenish or brownish sides with horizontal rows of black spots. Colour can vary considerably with environment. The distinguishing feature of a rock bass is their very large red to orange-red eyes.

All fish drawings for this site are reproduced courtesy Curtis Atwater