Living on Clamshell Lake
A small lake with a long, winding shoreline, four islands and a quiet channel to the rest of the Whitefish Chain.
Clamshell Lake does not show itself all at once. From almost any dock you see a point, an island, a bay curving out of sight. For a lake of 211 acres, it holds a surprising amount of shoreline, 6.49 miles of it, and that gives Clamshell an intimate, tucked-away feel even on a summer weekend.
If you are imagining a life on Clamshell, here is what the lake is like, drawn from Minnesota DNR records and many seasons on the chain.
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The lake by the numbers
- Size: 211 acres
- Maximum depth: 44 feet
- Shoreline: 6.49 miles
- Shallow water: 73 percent of the lake is 15 feet deep or less
- Water clarity: about 15.8 feet on average in DNR Secchi readings
The DNR classifies Clamshell as mesotrophic, a middle ground between nutrient-poor and nutrient-rich lakes. That shows up as clear water over lush, healthy plant beds.
Islands, bays and two old basins
The DNR describes Clamshell as roughly triangular, with four islands. The largest, Clamshell Island, covers about 20 acres. Below the surface the lake holds two deep basins, each over 30 feet, separated by shallow water. The DNR notes they are remnants of two original lakes, joined when the chain's water level rose.
A narrow strip of land separates Clamshell's north shore from Whitefish Lake. To get there by boat, you take the navigable channel west to Bertha Lake, then on to Whitefish and the wider chain.
Shoreline and bottom
The bottom is a mix: soft muck and silt in some areas, sand and gravel in others. Native plants are everywhere in the shallows. In the DNR's 2011 survey, vegetation grew at 92 percent of sampled sites out to 25 feet, and about 29 acres of waterlily and emergent beds lined the undeveloped shores, islands and wetlands. A bulrush bed grows along the southeast shoreline.
For an owner, that means two things. The lake is rich with fish, birds and quiet green water. And the experience at the dock varies a lot from lot to lot. Some frontage is firm and open; some sits behind lily pads in a soft-bottomed bay. Both have their admirers.
Most of the shoreline is developed with homes, and the DNR's 2011 report noted two resorts on the lake, along with some large forested tracts on the south side.
Quiet or busy?
Clamshell is calmer than the big open lakes of the chain. Its bays and islands break up the water, and much of the lake is shallow and weedy rather than open for high-speed runs. The public launch brings anglers and visitors, especially on summer weekends, and the channel to Bertha sees steady traffic. Weekday mornings and fall evenings are often still enough to hear a paddle dip on the far side of a bay.
Town and services
Homes on Clamshell are close to Pequot Lakes and Crosslake, which between them offer groceries, hardware, marinas, restaurants, clinics and summer events. Brainerd and Baxter are farther south for larger shopping and the regional hospital.
Water level and the chain
Clamshell has no permanent tributaries. Its water level moves with the rest of the Whitefish Chain, which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulates at the Cross Lake dam. The dam began operating in 1886, and the DNR notes that the chain's lakes were joined after its completion.
Caring for the lake
The DNR found no non-native aquatic plants in its 2011 survey, though Clamshell is now designated as infested with zebra mussels. Keeping native plants along the shore and cleaning boats and lifts help protect the clarity and habitat that make the lake what it is.
Questions
How big is Clamshell Lake?
Clamshell Lake covers 211 acres with 6.49 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 44 feet.
Can you boat from Clamshell Lake to Whitefish Lake?
Yes, by way of Bertha Lake. A navigable channel links Clamshell to Bertha, and Bertha connects to Whitefish Lake to the north.
Does Clamshell Lake have islands?
Yes. The DNR counts four islands. The largest, Clamshell Island, is about 20 acres.
Keep reading
Read the Clamshell fishing guide, the buyer's guide for Clamshell, the full Clamshell Lake guide, or compare all the lakes on the chain.
I am David Olson, a broker with 20+ years of experience and a family cabin on the Whitefish Chain in Crosslake. If Clamshell is calling, call or text 218.513.2677 or email david@whitefishpropertyfinder.com. Buyers can start on the buyer's page.
Sources: MN DNR LakeFinder data, Clamshell Lake; MN DNR aquatic vegetation report, Clamshell Lake; Brainerd Dispatch, Pine River Dam history.