Clearwater Lake Fishing
A 1,635-acre Missouri reservoir in Reynolds County and Wayne County.
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Sizing up Clearwater Lake
In Reynolds County and Wayne County, Clearwater Lake measures 1,635 acres on the conservation department map. Piedmont is the nearest town, some 5 miles off. MDC manages it within the MDC Southeast Region.
MDC habitat work left 21 attractor points here. The Army Corps lists 3 recreation areas on its shores.
MDC Managed Public Waterbody outlines (GIS acres, region, managing area) on gisblue.mdc.mo.gov, Census 2023 places, retrieved October 27, 2026. MDC office phone: 573-290-5730.
Structure placed in Clearwater Lake
The MDC attractor layer shows 21 points at Clearwater Lake, placed between 2002 and 2024.
| Material | Points | Years placed |
|---|---|---|
| HabitatCove | 17 | 2002 to 2024 |
| Hardwood | 4 | 2015 |
MDC Fishing Interactive Map, fish attractors layer (material and year placed as mapped), retrieved October 27, 2026.
Every mapped access at Clearwater Lake
Without a mapped ramp at Clearwater Lake, carry a small boat in or use a nearby access.
Corps parks on Clearwater Lake
Bluff View, Piedmont Park and Webb Creek.
Accesses a quick trailer haul from Clearwater Lake
- Miller Community LakeMiller Community Lake, 10 miles southwest
MDC boat ramp/access, dock and jetty layers; USACE Little Rock District ramps and USACE recreation areas; retrieved October 27, 2026.
How full Clearwater Lake is running
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Clearwater Lake Near Piedmont, Mo | 494.55 ft lake elevation | Oct 28 6:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 28, 2026 7:34 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
USACE Little Rock District, Clearwater Dam; reading for October 27, 2026, retrieved October 27, 2026. Provisional; Corps water control page.
Check the caption for when the Clearwater Lake reading was taken.
Daily limits on Clearwater Lake
| Species | Daily limit and length | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky) | 6 a day | All year |
| Channel catfish | 10 a day | All year |
| Blue catfish | 5 a day | All year |
| Flathead catfish | 5 a day | All year |
| Crappie (black and white) | 30 a day | All year |
| Goggle-eye (Ozark, rock, and shadow bass) and warmouth | 15 a day; 7" minimum | All year |
| Muskellunge | 1 (daily limit is 1 muskellunge or 1 northern pike); 36" minimum | All year |
| Northern pike | 1 (daily limit is 1 muskellunge or 1 northern pike) | All year |
| Paddlefish (spoonbill) | 2 a day; 32" minimum (eye to fork of tail) | March 15–April 30 |
| Pickerel (chain and grass) | 6 a day | All year |
| Shovelnose sturgeon | 10 a day; 30" maximum (snout to fork of tail) | All year |
| Trout (rainbow and brown) | 4 a day; Rainbow: none; Brown: 15" minimum in streams | All year |
| Walleye and sauger | 4 a day; 15" minimum | All year |
| White, yellow, and striped bass and their hybrids | 15 a day; No more than 4 longer than 18" | All year |
The statewide rows set the baseline at Clearwater Lake.
Limits and seasons as printed in A Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations 2026 (MDC, effective March 1, 2026), page 20 (booklet PDF); retrieved October 27, 2026.
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By MDC acreage, Wappapello Lake tops the neighbours at 7,680 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Attractors | Species named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearwater Lake | 1,635 | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
| Miller Community Lake | 10 miles southwest | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wappapello Lake | 28 miles southeast | 7,680 | 0 | 100 | 10 |
| Ripley Lake | 36 miles south | 18 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Fourche Lake | 39 miles southwest | 48 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Fredericktown City Lake | 39 miles northeast | 81 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
MDC waterbody outlines, ramp and attractor layers, 2026 prospects; retrieved October 27, 2026.
Next stops near Clearwater Lake
Other still water near Clearwater Lake
- Miller Community Lake10 miles southwest
- Wappapello Lake28 miles southeast
- Ripley Lake36 miles south
- Fourche Lake39 miles southwest
- Fredericktown City Lake39 miles northeast
Bait counters that serve Clearwater Lake
- Webb Creek Marinamarina, Ellington, 2 miles
- Clearwater Marinamarina, Piedmont, 5 miles
- Millers. Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Piedmont, 5 miles
- Chaonia Landingmarina, Williamsville, 18 miles
Show-Me towns a drive from Clearwater Lake
- Piedmont5 miles
- Ironton31 miles
- Poplar Bluff34 miles
The Missouri counties Clearwater Lake reaches into
- Reynolds Countyseat: Centerville
- Wayne Countyseat: Greenville
Piscifun tackle a Missouri angler might take to Clearwater Lake
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Hollows, bluffs and lakes by Clearwater Lake, in photos
Photo: mostateparks, Public domain
Photo: Wikipedian Kbh3rd, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Melbr00ks, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: 16porkchops, CC BY-SA 4.0
Things Show-Me visitors wonder about Clearwater Lake
Which MDC region covers Clearwater Lake?
You will find it in Reynolds County and Wayne County, the MDC Southeast Region, about 5 miles from Piedmont.
What surface area does MDC give Clearwater Lake?
Some 1,635 acres.
Where does a Show-Me boater launch on Clearwater Lake?
No mapped ramp; use a nearby access.
What fish does MDC report at Clearwater Lake?
The MDC sources here name no species.
Does Clearwater Lake have special fishing rules?
Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky): 6 a day; All year.
Is a trout permit needed at Clearwater Lake?
Missouri anglers 16 through 64 carry a fishing permit: $14 a year for residents, $57 for nonresidents, or $9 for a daily permit.
Does MDC allow gas motors on Clearwater Lake?
Posted rules at the access apply; none is on file here.
Who sells minnows and crawdads near Clearwater Lake?
Drive about 2 miles to Webb Creek Marina.
How full is Clearwater Lake?
USGS reports it; the figure is above.
Does Clearwater Lake have fish attractors?
MDC lists 21 points of placed cover.
Pick a date for Clearwater Lake
Check the daily limit before a fish goes in the livewell.