Clear Lake (Spokane County)

Fishing season opens on the fourth Saturday in April and goes through October 31. Spring plants of yearling rainbow, broodstock rainbows, and brown trout should provide good action. Good largemouth bass and black crappie fisheries are available here as well.  The month of October can provide some great brown trout fishing as these fish move in-shore and forage heavily in preparation for their fall spawn timing.

An annual "Kid's Fishing" derby, held the first Saturday in May, introduces youth ages 5 to 14 to sport fishing. See the youth fishing events page for more details.

Two-pole fishing is allowed

Shoreline access: Good - Shoreline fishing access available at the WDFW access and other areas of the lake.

Species you might catch

Lake information

County: Spokane
Acreage: 315.90 ac.
Elevation: 2344 ft.
Center: 47.527339, -117.694776
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Fishing resources

Catchable fish plants
Release Location: CLEAR LK (SPOK)
Stock Date Species Number Released Number of Fish Per Pound Facility
May 13, 2024 Rainbow 2,000 2 SPOKANE HATCHERY
May 13, 2024 Rainbow 650 0.44 SPOKANE HATCHERY
May 10, 2024 Rainbow 6,039 2.5 FORD HATCHERY
Mar 15, 2024 Rainbow 400 0.5 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Mar 11, 2024 Rainbow 7,747 2.5 SPOKANE HATCHERY
May 5, 2023 Rainbow 5,093 3 FORD HATCHERY
May 5, 2023 Rainbow 300 0.33 SPOKANE HATCHERY
May 5, 2023 Rainbow 300 3 FORD HATCHERY
May 5, 2023 Rainbow 1,102 2.5 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Mar 29, 2023 Rainbow 234 0.33 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Visit the Catchable Trout Plants page for a more detailed search of trout plants in other bodies of water. To view and download the source data for this table visit the WDFW Fish Plants dataset on data.wa.gov.

Fishing prospects calendar

Rainbow trout

Fishing success for Rainbow Trout is generally best in the spring when thousands of fish are stocked statewide, but they can be caught year-round in most waters with a little patience and persistence. Success remains high into June and gradually declines as water temperatures increase and fish move offshore to stay cool. Fish that escaped the spring harvest return to the nearshore areas in the fall as waters cool off. Some waters may also be stocked again in the fall further boosting catch rates.
Chart showing fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

Largemouth bass

Fishing improves throughout the spring as waters warm and fish move onshore, peaking during the spawn. Summer is a slight lull though dawn/dusk hours can be very good. Catch improves in Fall as waters cool, vegetation begins to die back, and prey becomes more available. Winter is the hardest time because fish are offshore and slow moving.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

Smallmouth bass

Fishing improves throughout the spring as waters warm and fish move onshore, peaking during the spawn. Summer is a slight lull though dawn/dusk hours can be very good. Catch improves in Fall as waters cool, vegetation begins to die back, and prey becomes more available. Winter is the hardest time because fish are offshore and slow moving.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

Black crappie

Fishing improves throughout the Spring, peaking during the spawn. Summer is a slight lull, while Fall sees an improvement as waters cool, vegetation dies back, and prey becomes more available. During winter, the bite is slower, but anglers can have great success fishing through the ice when conditions are safe.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

Pumpkinseed Sunfish

Pumpkinseed Sunfish are ubiquitous in most lowland lakes and readily caught year-round. Fishing is best in the spring and summer, peaking during the spawn in June. Fish move offshore into deeper waters through the fall as water temperatures cool making it more difficult to target them. Winter is the most difficult season to catch Pumpkinseed, but persistent anglers can find nice-sized schools offshore.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

Brown bullhead

Fishing improves throughout the spring, peaking before the spawning period in May and June. Fishing may pick up in early Fall, followed by a decrease in action as waters cool. Winter is a difficult time to target this species.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

Yellow bullhead

Fishing improves throughout the spring, peaking before the spawning period in May and June. Fishing may pick up in early Fall, followed by a decrease in action as waters cool. Winter is a difficult time to target this species.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

Black bullhead

Fishing improves throughout the spring, peaking before the spawning period in May and June. Fishing may pick up in early Fall, followed by a decrease in action as waters cool. Winter is a difficult time to target this species.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

Photos
Clear Lake
Photo by WDFW