The Lake
Clear
Lake is a spring-fed lake formed by
glacial action some 14,000 years ago. It has a surface area of about
3,600 acres and measures seven miles long and two and one-half miles
wide. The elevation of the lake is 1,247 feet above sea level and
it is nearly 100 feet above the surrounding countryside, giving it the
appearance of an inverted saucer setting above the area around it. Its
elevation is actually higher than the top of the tallest building in
the neighboring community of Mason City.
Fishing
If you happen to land a nice northern pike
at Clear Lake this summer, next
summer, or even several seasons down the road, you might want to send your
thank you's to the Clear Lake Fishing Club.
For more than 12 years, fishing club members have been assisting Iowa Department
of Natural Resources fisheries personnel to provide better fishing in North
Central Iowa's largest natural lake.
Early each spring, the DNR provides the club with bags of day-old pike fry
produced at the Mississippi River's Guttenberg State Fish Hatchery. The club
then places the fry into a private rearing pond. From there, the pike are
fed and nurtured until they are large enough to be recaptured and stocked
as advance fingerlings. The project began in 1987, and since then the club's
efforts have been entirely directed toward the betterment of fishing at Clear
Lake. Use of the rearing pond and minnows needed to grow the northerns were
donated to the club. By the third week in May, the fry will have typically
become five to six-inch fingerlings ready for stocking. Club members recapture
the pike in wire live traps. The growth of the young northerns is amazing.
Often, they'll hit five inches or more after being in the pond for only six
weeks.
The project is a benefit to everyone, say DNR officials, noting natural reproduction
of northern pike is very limited in Clear Lake. The fishing club supplies
a higher quality, better surviving fish than what was going into the lake
before. By the time a fish hits the size and quality of these pike, they are
able to avoid a lot of predators that would normally take a toll.
Tagged Walleyes
The Clear Lake Fishing Club and local merchants have joined forces to tag
a walleye worth $1,000 to some lucky angler.
"Wally" was released in May 2006, immediately following the weigh-in of the
Walleye Classic in Clear Lake. The fish may be caught through the end of the
Walleye Classic in May 2007. At that time, a new $1,000 fish will be released.
Fifty $25 tagged fish are also swimming in Clear Lake. The fish are tagged
with a number, and if that number matches the merchants' number when caught,
the merchant will give the fisherman $25 in cash or merchandise. Contact the
Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce for tag information, 641-357-2159.
Fishing License Fees (2007)
Resident Fishing Season
(Age
16 &
over)...................................................................................................................
|
$17.50
|
Non-resident Season
(Age
16 &
over)...................................................................................................................
|
$39.50
|
7-Day Fishing
(Resident).............................................................................................................................
(Non-Resident).....................................................................................................................
|
$12.00
$30.50
|
3-Day Fishing
(Non-Resident).....................................................................................................................
|
$16.00
|
1-Day Fishing
(Resident).............................................................................................................................
(Non-Resident).....................................................................................................................
|
$8.00
$9.00
|
Lifetime Fishing
(age
65 &
over)....................................................................................................................
|
$51.00
|
Trout Fee
(Resident)..............................................................................................................................
(Non-Resident)......................................................................................................................
|
$11.00
$13.50
|
Fishing
Licenses can be purchased at The Crazy Minnow Col, 504 Highway 18 East,
(641) 357-BAIT; Kramer Hardware, 580 Highway 18 East, (641) 357-7080;
Department of Natural Resources, 1203 North Shore Drive, (641)
357-3517; and South Shore Bait & Tackle, 1205 South Shore Drive,
(641) 357-7350.
|
Boat, Watercraft Rental/Sales & Service
Clear Lake Boats
Sales Office: 1604 South Shore Drive, 641-357-5571
Marina: 15296 Raney Dr. - PM Park, 641-357-0961
Clear Lake Boats rents several types of boats for summertime enjoyment.
Ski boats, pontoons and personal watercraft are all available.
It is recommended to call early to reserve equipment, especially for
weekend use.
Crystal Pierz Marine
14 Plaza Drive, 641-357-4740
Crystal Pierz Marine sells, services and stores watercraft.
High-Flyers Wave Runner Rentals
1611 South Shore Drive, 641-357-1660
High Flyers rents personal watercraft
by the half hour or hour. Must be age 15 or older.
Sailing
Clear Lake is considered to be one of the top
sailing lakes in the Midwest, thanks to an elevation nearly 100-feet
above the surrounding countryside. Winds are typically present on even
the calmest of days. The 3,685 acre lake measures approximately 7 miles
long and 2 1/2 miles wide.
Clear Lake Yacht Club
The Clear Lake Yacht Club, over 65 years in existence, is as proud
of its past as it is excited about its future. The Club holds
races from Memorial Day through Labor Day every Saturday and Sunday.
The CLYC hosts regattas for the various fleets, bringing in sailors mostly
from other lakes in the Midwest, but occasionally sailors from all over the
country.
Wind Venture
4497 190th Street, Clear Lake, 641-357-3528
Wind Venture Captain Gary Thomsen, 1992 Hobie 21 National Champion, offers
Catamaran rides (up to 12 people) on beautiful Clear Lake. Lessons and sailboat
rentals also available.
Golf Courses & Driving Ranges
All-Vets Golf Club
2000 North Shore Drive, Clear Lake 641-357-4457
All-Vets is a nice nine hole, par 36 course open to public. Weekend tee times
available, complete golf shop, golf cart rental, snack bar and 19th hole.
Arrowhead Golf Course
14719 Finch Ave., Clear Lake, 641-357-7519
Arrowhead is Clear Lake's newest golf course. The 33 par is open to the public,
offers memberships, concessions and pull cart rental.
Oak Hills Golf Course
518 27th Ave. S., Clear Lake, 641-357-2216
Oak Hills is an executive par 30. This course is open to the public, offers
lessons, private parties, concessions and pull cart rental.
North Iowa Golf
Highway 122 West, Mason City
North Iowa Golf, located on Highway 122 between Clear Lake and Mason City,
features a driving range with 20 tees on grass, 10 on mats and seven covered
tee stations. The range has distance markers of 100, 200, and 300 yards and
a maximum of 350 yards for the long ball hitter. The facility also offers
a pro shop, private and group lessons for all ages from a golf professional,
and clinics and mini courses are offered at various times of the season.
Miniature Golf
Pla-Mor Miniature Golf
5801 South Shore Drive, Clear Lake, 641-357-3580
Eighteen holes await the golfer who is ready to have some fun. Pla-Mor opens
in the spring and stays open into the fall, as the weather dictates. Play
seven days a week. No set hours.
North Iowa Golf
Highway 122 West, Mason City
North Iowa Golf, located on Highway 122 between Clear Lake and Mason City
offers an 18-hole miniature golf course. Open seven days a week. The center
also has two lighted batting cages with pitching machines for fast pitch baseball
and slow pitch softball. Hunting
Public Hunting Areas
The Iowa
Department of Natural Resources provides information detailing public
wildlife areas in Cerro Gordo County. These areas are managed to provide food,
winter cover and secure nesting habitat for resident and migratory wildlife
species, and to provide public hunting opportunities.Although hunting and
trapping are the primary recreational activities available on these areas,
bird watching, hiking, mushrooming and nature study are allowed, preferably
when hunting and trapping seasons are closed. Contact the Iowa DNR
at 641-357-3570 for additional information.
Hunting License Fees (2007)
Resident Hunting...............................................................................................................
|
$17.50
|
Plus Habitat Fee................................................................................................................
|
$8.50
|
Non-Resident Hunting
(Under age
18)....................................................................................................................
|
$30.50
|
Non-Resident Hunting
(Over age
18)......................................................................................................................
|
$80.50
|
Plus Habitat Fee................................................................................................................
|
$8.50
|
Lifetime Hunting
(Age 65 and over)...............................................................................................................
|
$51.00
|
Fur Harvester
(Under age
16)....................................................................................................................
|
$6.00
|
Fur Harvester
(Over age
16)......................................................................................................................
|
$21.00
|
Migratory Game Bird Fee................................................................................................
|
$8.50
|
Trout Fee
(Non-resident).....................................................................................................................
|
$13.50
|
Trout Fee
(Resident)............................................................................................................................
|
$11.00
|
| Hunting Licenses can be purchased at The Crazy Minnow Col, 504 Highway
18 East, (641) 357-BAIT; Kramer Hardware, 580 Highway 18 East, (641)
357-7080; Department of Natural Resources, 1203 North Shore Drive,
(641) 357-3517; and South Shore Bait & Tackle, 1205 South Shore
Drive, (641) 357-7350. |
Pheasant Country Inn
The Pheasant Country Inn, owned by Gary Thomsen,
offers guided hunting trips for wild upland game and waterfowl on
private and public lands in the Clear Lake area. Dogs are available, or
hunters may provide their own. Year-round lodging includes a pheasant
dinner one night during the stay and pheasant hors' deouvres nightly.
Game cleaning shed/freezer available. Accommodations for dogs
available. Hunters must purchase their own hunting licenses.
Ventura Gun Club
Hwy. 18 West, Ventura
(641) 829-3364
The Ventura Gun Club offers hunters a place to practice their sport
April 1 (weather permitting) through September 15. The club is open
Thursday evenings for the public
to shoot trap and alternating Tuesdays for skeet or five stand.
Interested persons only need to bring their own gun. Ammunition is
available on site, although shooters may bring their own. Membership is
not required to shoot. An adult league of trap shooters is open to men
and women. In addition, a young shooters leaue helps those ages eight
and up develop their skills while having fun. Memberships (which
entitle holders to a reduced price on rounds of clay birds) are
available.
Swimming
Clear Lake Aquatic Center
1420 2nd Avenue South, Clear Lake
641-357-2007
The City of Clear Lake opened a new
aquatic center in June, 2007. The $1.75 million project
includes a 7,800 square foot pool and bathhouse facility. It features
zero depth entry, eight competition swimming lanes, floatables, geysers
and spray fixtures, one and three-meter diving boards, a 42-inch open
flume slide and a 32-inch closed tube slide.
The pool is operated by the City's Parks & Recreation Department.
2007 Aquatic Center Schedule
|
6:30-7:30 a.m.
|
10:00 a.m.-Noon
|
Noon-1:00 p.m.
|
1:00-5:00 p.m.
|
5:00-6:00 p.m.
|
6:00-7:00 p.m.
|
7:00-8:00 p.m.
|
Mon.-Thurs.
|
Lap Swim
(Mon., Wed., Fri.)
|
Lessons (Mon.-Thurs.)
|
Lap Swim
Water Aerobics
|
Open Swim
1:00-5:00 p.m.
|
Lessons
Lap Swim
Water Aerobics (Mon.-Thurs.)
|
Open Swim
6:00-8:00 p.m.
|
Open Swim
6:00-8:00 p.m. |
Fridays
|
Lap Swim
(Mon., Wed., Fri.) |
Make Up Lessons
|
Lap Swim
|
Open Swim
1:00-5:00 p.m.
|
Make Up Lessons
|
Friday Night Special
|
Private Pool Parties
(1 hour) |
Sat. & Sun.
|
|
Private Pool Parties
(1 or 1 1/2 hours)
|
|
Open Swim
1:00-7:00 p.m.
|
Open Swim
1:00-7:00 p.m. |
Open Swim
1:00-7:00 p.m. |
Private Pool Parties
(1 hour)
|
Clear Lake Aquatic Center Daily Admission
Individual: $3.00 (Ages 3 years and up)
Non-Swimmer Fee: $2.00
Lap Swim Fee: $2.00
Infants 2 years and under: Free (Must wear swim diapers)
**Children must be at least 8 years of age to enter the pool on their own. Those younger must be accompanied by an adult.
Clear Lake Aquatic Center Season Tickets
Individual: $60.00
Family: $100.00
Coupon Books: $30 for 11 coupons
Boyer Pool
Opportunity Village
1200 N. 9th St. W., Clear Lake
641-355-1240
Opportunity Village in Clear Lake provides the public with a beautiful indoor
swimming pool for use year-round. The pool is staffed with lifeguards from 6
a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. weekdays (except Tuesday evenings) and 1-5 p.m.
weekends. Red Cross swimming lessons are available periodically, and aqua
exercise groups are ongoing. Memberships for the pool are available at various
levels (single, family, senior citizen and youth, full or half-year), but are
not required for use. Non-members can use the pool for $2.00 a day. The pool
can be rented by groups for $30 an hour on a reserved basis.
Clear Lake City Beach
Clear Lake Parks and Recreation Department
641-357-7010
Clear Lake's City Beach, located near the
downtown water tower, is maintained by the Clear Lake Parks and
Recreation Department. From June through mid-August, the beach is
staffed by Red Cross certified life guards from noon to 5 p.m. After
hours, swim at your own risk. Swimming lessons are held at the beach.
Contact the Parks and Recreation Department for more information.
Ice Skating
Marian Park Ice Rink
2nd Ave. North and 2nd Ave. NE.
As soon as weather permits (approximatedly Dec. 1), Clear Lake's Marian Park is transformed into a public
ice rink. The rink features a designated area for hockey play. Warming house hours
are: 1-5 p.m. Saturday and Sundays, and all evenings 6:30-9 p.m.
Outdoor Courts
Public Courts
North 20th St., across from Clear Lake High School
Six tennis courts and two basketball courts are equipped with nets from Spring
to Fall. In the Spring, high school teams use the facility for practices and
meets. Public use is encouraged when students are not using the courts. The
courts are lighted for evening play.
Lions Field Basketball Courts
North 8th St. and 10th Ave. N.
Two basketball courts are available for use spring through fall.
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