Cedar

Cedar Lake (DOW # 29-0312-00) is located ten miles north of Park Rapids, on the border of Becker and Hubbard Counties. Cedar Lake has a surface area of 103 acres and a maximum depth of 26 feet. There is a state-owned public access on the south shore of the lake, off County Road 41. Most of Cedar Lake shoreline is owned by either state or county leaving it mostly undeveloped. Cedar Lake provides fishing opportunities for Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Black Crappie. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Cedar Lake is in Lake Class 29. Lake Class 29 lakes generally have a high percentage of littoral area (depths less than 15 feet) with a regularly shaped shoreline. Other Lake Class 29 lakes in the Park Rapids area include: Horseshoe (Mirage), Island (Ham), Mow, Palmer, Spirit and Tenth Crow Wing. Northern Pike were sampled in comparable numbers to similar lakes. Northern Pike ranged from 18 inches to 30 inches in length, with an average size of 26 inches and 3.6 pounds, which is higher than similar lakes in the area. Largemouth Bass Spring electrofishing numbers were low compared to the previous surveys, but summer sampling showed increased numbers. The average size was 14.3 inches, with fish sampled up to 20 inches. Angling opportunities for panfish include Bluegill, Pumpkinseed and Black Crappie. Bluegill catch rates were comparable when compared to similar lakes, with an average size of 5.3 inches. Black Crappie catch rates were also average compared to similar lakes, with an average size of 7.2 inches. Most crappies were smaller than what anglers generally prefer. Yellow Perch are an important forage for Northern Pike, and numbers in 2025 were high compared to past surveys and similar lakes, with an average size of 6.4 inches. Currently no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Cedar Lake. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access.

Cedar Lake is located ten miles north of Park Rapids, on the border of Becker and Hubbard Counties. Cedar has a surface area of 103 acres and a maximum depth of 26 feet. There is a state owned access on the south shore of the lake, off of County Road 41. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Cedar is in lake class 29. Class 29 lakes generally have a high percentage of littoral area (depths less than 15 feet) with a regularly shaped shoreline. Other class 29 lakes in the Park Rapids area include: Little Island, Mirage, Mow, Palmer, Spirit and Tenth Crow Wing. Northern Pike were sampled in comparable numbers to similar lakes, and the high end of past surveys in Cedar Lake. Pike ranged from 15 inches to 37 inches in length, with a large average size of 23 inches and 3 pounds. Largemouth Bass were first sampled in Cedar Lake in 1988. In 2015 they were sampled by spring electrofishing in low numbers compared to the previous survey in 2003. The average size was good at 14.4 inches, with fish sampled up to 16 inches. Angling opportunities for panfish include Bluegill, Pumpkinseed and Black Crappies. Bluegills were sampled in average numbers compared to similar lakes and past surveys, but had a small average size of 4.6 inches. Pumpkinseeds were sampled in high numbers compared to similar lakes and average size of 5.6 inches. Black Crappies were sampled in good numbers, with most fish 6-9 inches. Yellow Perch are important forage for Northern Pike, and numbers in 2015 were high compared to past surveys and similar lakes. Perch covered all sizes, with an average size of 6.9 inches. The largest fish approached 10 inches, with a fair number of fish 8-10 inches. Currently no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Cedar. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access.

Cedar Lake is located ten miles north of Park Rapids on the Hubbard and Becker county line. Cedar Lake has a surface area of 97 acres and a maximum depth of 26 feet. There is a state-owned public access on the south shore of the lake. Cedar Lake provides fishing opportunities for northern pike, largemouth bass, and panfish.The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based on physical and chemical characteristics. Cedar Lake is in lake class 29. Other area lakes in this same classification include Tenth Crow Wing, Little Island, Mirage, Mow, Palmer, and Spirit.Anglers can expect to find a low to moderate northern pike population composed of medium to quality sized fish. Sampled northern pike ranged in length from 24.2 to 31.0 inches and had an average weight of 4.4 pounds. Cedar Lake supports an abundant panfish population dominated by small, slow growing, "stunted" fish. Bluegill and pumpkinseed in the 5 - 6 inch range are common with a few fish over 7 inches. Black crappie numbers are also very high with the population dominated by crappie in the 6-inch range. The black crappie population in Cedar is limited by very slow growth rates. Age analysis found that black crappie growth rates were some of the slowest in the area and statewide. Cedar Lake supports a healthy largemouth bass population. Spring electrofishing was conducted for the first time in 2003 and good numbers of largemouth bass were sampled (68 bass/hour). Sampled largemouth bass had an average length of 12.0 inches with bass measured up to 18.9 inches. The numbers of largemouth bass sampled over 15.0 inches was good when compared to other area lakes. Good water quality, aquatic vegetation cover, and spawning substrate provide excellent habitat for largemouth bass in Cedar Lake. Other species sampled included yellow perch, black and brown bullhead, and golden shiner.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Pumpkinseed, and Hybrid Sunfish in Cedar. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Cedar. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Cedar has a maximum depth of 26 feet and a mean depth of 14 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Cedar is from 2025.

No invasive species are on record for Cedar in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.