Cedar

Cedar Lake is a 902-acre lake located in Rice County west of Faribault. A DNR-maintained public access is located on the north end of the lake. The lake has a maximum depth of 42 feet. Cedar Lake is considered eutrophic with generally poor water clarity and frequent algae blooms caused by elevated nutrient levels. There are four islands located on Cedar Lake with the southern two maintained as public land. Although portions of Cedar Lake shoreline have been altered for residential development, the lake still offers quality fish habitat, including diverse aquatic vegetation, woody debris, and overhanging limbs. Cedar Lake is designated as an infested water body due to the presence of Eurasian Watermilfoil since 2001. Cedar Lake is primarily managed for Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Largemouth Bass and secondarily for Northern Pike and Walleye. The management plan calls for stocking Walleye fry in odd years. Cedar Lake is designated as an Area tier-1 Lake and will be surveyed as part of a regularly scheduled monitoring program at a frequency of every 3 years. The 2025 survey was completed the week of July 28, 2025, using 8 gill nets, 12 trap nets, and 66 minutes of boat electrofishing. Water quality parameters were also measured. Black Crappies were among the most abundant fish in the 2025 survey with a total of 133 sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 16.6/net. Black Crappie ranged from 0.9 inches to 10.1 inches with an average of 8.0 inches. Black Crappie were also sampled in trap nets with a catch rate of 9.3/net with lengths ranging from 4.1 inches to 13.4 inches. Black Crappie from both gears ranged from age-1 to age-5 with 5 year-classes present. Black Crappie growth was relatively slow. Black Crappie recruitment remains high and consistent in Cedar Lake, but growth and size structure are poor. Bluegills were the most abundant fish sampled with the trap nets with a total of 429 and a catch rate of 35.8/net. Bluegill ranged from 0.6 to 8.0 inches with an average of 5.2 inches. Bluegills were also common in the gill net sample with a catch rate of 24.1/net and lengths ranging from 3.9 to 8.0 inches. Bluegills ranged from age-1 to age-6 with 6 year-classes present. Age-2 to age-4 groups were all well represented, indicating strong and consistent recruitment. Bluegills are a draw to Cedar Lake for anglers looking for a meal of fish. A total of 54 Largemouth Bass were sampled using targeted boat electrofishing during the spring of 2025 for a catch rate of 48.9/hour. Largemouth Bass catch rates rebounded in 2025 after steadily dropping in 5 previous samples from a high of 56.0/hour in 2004. Largemouth Bass ranged from 3.2 inches to 20.6 inches with an average of just 10.0 inches. Fish ranged from age-1 to age-6 with 6 year-classes represented suggesting recruitment was consistent year to year. Cedar Lake continues to support a strong Largemouth Bass fishery due to plentiful high-quality habitat and prey. A total of 22 Northern Pike were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 2.8/net, down from 4.7/net in 2022. Catch rates have varied from 0.2/net to 11.2/net with an average of 3.2/net since 1996. Northern Pike ranged from 19.8 inches to 34.8 inches with an average of 24.3 inches. Although Northern Pike numbers may be lower than previous surveys, the quality size of these fish should draw anglers. Walleye numbers remained low in 2025 with a catch rate of 1.0/net. Walleye ranged from 21.0 inches to 28.6 inches with an average of 24.0 inches. All Walleye were from the 2014 year class (age-11). Although Walleye numbers are low in Cedar Lake, there are some quality fish available to catch. Very few Yellow Perch were sampled in 2025 with a trap net catch rate of 0.1/net and a gill net catch rate of1.8/net. Yellow Perch are an important prey species for predator fish, and their scarcity may be partially responsible for the ongoing struggles to improve the Cedar Lake Walleye fishery. Yellow Bullhead were the most common of the bullhead species in 2025 (14.8/gill net) and Black Bullhead present at a rate of 0.3/ gill net. Yellow Bullheads averaged 11.9 inches with a maximum of 15.9 inches. Cedar Lake offers an excellent opportunity for those targeting large bullheads, if such an angler exists. No Common Carp were sampled with gill nets and only 6 were sampled with trap nets in 2025. Catch ratches have remained low with an average of just 1.1/net since 1996. Negative impacts to lake habitat and water quality are likely negligible at such low levels but their presence remains a concern. Other species sampled in 2025 include Bigmouth Buffalo, Bowfin (dogfish), Freshwater Drum (sheepshead), Golden Shiner, Pumpkinseed, White Bass, and White Crappie. Water clarity was poor with a secchi depth of just 2.0 feet. Dissolved oxygen and water temperature readings ranged from 10.5 ppm and 80.1 degrees Fahrenheit at the surface to 0.1 ppm and 63.7 degrees Fahrenheit at 27 feet. A thermocline was detected around 15 feet. Anglers can play an important role in maintaining or improving a fish population by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest allows for the harvest of smaller fish for consumption, while encouraging the release of medium to large fish that may contribute to natural reproduction. This practice helps maintain balance in the fish populations and provides anglers the opportunity to catch more and larger fish in the future. Additionally, smaller fish often taste better and have fewer contaminants than larger, older fish from the same water body. Shoreline property owners also play an important role in the overall health of an aquatic ecosystem, including the fish population. Natural shorelines, including vegetation, woody debris, and bottom substrates, provide valuable habitat for fish and wildlife, help maintain water quality, and reduce bank erosion. Cattails and bulrushes are particularly beneficial for fish spawning, rearing, and feeding. By leaving natural shorelines unaltered or restoring them to natural conditions, shoreline property owners are doing their part to maintain or improve a healthy ecosystem in the lake and protect the resource for future generations. -Tyler Fellows, fisheries specialist

Cedar Lake is a 902-acre lake located in Rice County west of Faribault. A DNR-maintained public access is located on the north end of the lake. The lake has a maximum depth of 42 feet with approximately 75% less than 15 feet deep. Cedar Lake has poor water clarity and frequent algae blooms caused by high nutrient levels. There are four islands located on Cedar Lake with the southern two maintained as public land. Although portions of Cedar Lake shoreline have been altered for residential development, the lake still offers quality fish habitat, including diverse aquatic vegetation, woody debris, and overhanging limbs. Cedar Lake is similar to other Waterville Area lakes such as Clear Lake (Waseca County), Frances Lake (Le Sueur County), and Madison Lake (Blue Earth County). Cedar Lake is designated as an infested water body due to the presence of Eurasian Watermilfoil since 2001. Cedar Lake is primarily managed for Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Largemouth Bass and secondarily for Northern Pike and Walleye. The management plan calls for stocking 100,000 Northern Pike fry in odd years and 673,000 Walleye fry in even years. Northern Pike fry are also stocked in even years when consecutive gill net catch rates fall below 6 fish/net. Cedar Lake is designated as a Tier-1 Lake and will be surveyed as part of a regularly scheduled monitoring program at a frequency of every 3 years. The 2022 standard survey was completed the week of August 1, 2022, using 10 gill nets, 10 trap nets, and 133 minutes of boat electrofishing. A standard survey is used for sampling a wide range of fish species during the summer months using standard methods (i.e., standard time of year, set sampling stations, taking water clarity readings and oxygen/temperature profiles, etc.) and gears (i.e., lake survey gillnets, trap nets, and spring electrofishing for Largemouth Bass). Black Crappie were one of the most abundant fish in the 2022 survey with a total of 717 sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 71.7/net. Since 1996, gill net catch rates have ranged from 3.2/net to 109.6/net with an average of 52.4/net. The previous survey in 2019 yielded 86.6/net. Black Crappie ranged from 4.5 inches to 11.7 inches with an average of 7.0 inches. Very few Black Crappie over 10 inches were sampled. Black Crappie were also abundant in the trap net sample with a catch rate of 23.5/net and lengths ranging from 5.7 inches to 13.0 inches. Black Crappie were up to 8 years old with most 2 to 3 years old. Black Crappie growth was relatively slow with an average length at 4 years old of 8.1 inches. Black Crappie numbers remain strong, yet growth and size structure could be improved upon. Bluegills were the most abundant fish sampled with the trap nets with a total of 596 and a catch rate of 59.6/net. In six surveys since 1996, catch rates have been consistently high with a low of 35.8/net and an average of 60.8/net. The previous survey in 2019 sampled 45.7/net. Bluegill lengths in 2022 ranged from 4.0 inches to 8.4 inches with an average of 6.4 inches. Most Bluegills were over 6 inches but only about 5% were over 8 inches. Bluegills were also common in the gill net sample with a catch rate of 39.4/net and lengths ranging from 4.0 inches to 9.1 inches. Ages ranged from 2 to 10 years old with 9 year-classes present. Three- to six-year-old fish were well represented, indicating strong and consistent recruitment. Like in 2019, growth was slow with fish exceeding 6 inches around year 5 and 8 inches around year 8. A total of 68 Largemouth Bass were sampled using targeted boat electrofishing during the spring of 2022 for a catch rate of 30.6/hour. Catch rates have steadily dropped in 5 samples from a high of 56.0/net in 2004. The catch rate in 2019 was 35.4/net. Largemouth Bass ranged from 3.5 inches to 18.8 inches with an average of 10 inches. Largemouth Bass were 1 to 12 years old with 12 year-classes represented suggesting recruitment was consistent year to year. The preferred length of 15 inches was attained by around year 6. Cedar Lake continues to support a strong Largemouth Bass fishery due to plentiful high-quality habitat and forage. A total of 47 Northern Pike were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 4.7/net, up from 3.3/net in 2019. Since 1996, catch rates have varied from 0.2/net to 11.2/net with an average of 3.3/net. Northern Pike catch rates increased to an average of 6.2/net in four surveys since 2008 after averaging less than 1.0/net from 1996 to 2008. Northern Pike in 2022 ranged from 18.3 inches to 39.5 inches with an average of 24.8 inches. Approximately 45% of the Northern Pike sampled were over the minimum legal length limit of 24 inches. Most Northern Pike were young 2- to 4-year-old fish. Northern Pike growth was fast, with the 24-inch threshold exceeded by year 4. Walleye numbers remained low in 2022 with a catch rate of 2.3/net and about equal to the 2019 catch rate of 2.4/net. Since 1996, catch rates have averaged just 2.6/net and exceeded 3.0/net just two times in 1996 and 2016. Walleye ranged from 20.5 inches to 28.4 inches with an average of 23.1 inches. A vast majority of the sample was 8 years old with a few 11- and 12-year-old Walley also present. The 8-year-old group comes from 2014 when fry were stocked. Unfortunately, no Walleye were sampled from 2016 and 2018 when fry were also stocked. Walleye remain a difficult species to manage in Cedar Lake. Very few Yellow Perch were sampled in 2022 with trap and gill net catch rates of less than 1.0/net. Only once since 1996 has the gill net catch rate exceeded 10.0/net. Yellow Perch are an important prey species for predator fish and their scarcity may be partially responsible for the ongoing struggles to improve the Cedar Lake Walleye fishery. Of the three native bullhead species, the Yellow Bullhead was the most common in 2022 (14.7/gill net) followed by Brown Bullhead (2.5/gill net) and Black Bullhead (0.6/ gill net). Yellow Bullheads averaged 12.4 inches with a maximum of 17.2 inches. Brown Bullheads averaged 14.8 inches with a maximum of 16.9 inches. Cedar Lake offers an excellent opportunity for those targeting large bullheads, if such an angler exists. No Common Carp were sampled with gill nets and only 11 were sampled with trap nets in 2022. Since 1996, catch ratches have remained low with an average of just 1.1/net. Negative impacts to lake habitat and water quality are likely negligible at such low levels but their presence remains a concern. Other species sampled in 2022 include Bigmouth Buffalo, Bowfin (dogfish), Freshwater Drum, Golden Shiner, Pumpkinseed, White Bass, White Crappie, and hybrid sunfish. Water clarity was poor with a secchi depth of just 2.0 feet. Dissolved oxygen and water temperature readings ranged from 6.5 ppm and 75.6 degrees Fahrenheit at the surface to 0.1 ppm and 70.9 degrees Fahrenheit at 28 feet. A thermocline was detected around 25 feet. Anglers can play an important role in maintaining or improving a fish population by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest allows for the harvest of smaller fish for consumption, while encouraging the release of medium to large fish that may contribute to natural reproduction. This practice helps maintain balance in the fish populations and provides anglers the opportunity to catch more and larger fish in the future. Additionally, smaller fish often taste better and have fewer contaminants than larger, older fish from the same water body. Shoreline property owners also play an important role in the overall health of an aquatic ecosystem, including the fish population. Natural shorelines, including vegetation, woody debris, and bottom substrates, provide valuable habitat for fish and wildlife, help maintain water quality, and reduce bank erosion. Cattails and bulrushes are particularly beneficial for fish spawning, rearing, and feeding. By leaving natural shorelines unaltered or restoring them to natural conditions, shoreline property owners are doing their part to maintain or improve a healthy ecosystem in the lake and protect the resource for future generations. - Sky Wigen, fisheries specialist

Cedar Lake is a 902-acre lake located in Rice County west of Faribault. A DNR-maintained public access is located on the north end of the lake. The lake has a maximum depth of 42 feet with approximately 75% less than 15 feet deep. Cedar Lake has poor water clarity and frequent algae blooms caused by high nutrient levels. There are four islands located on Cedar Lake with the southern two maintained as public land. Although portions of Cedar Lake shoreline have been altered for residential development, the lake still offers quality fish habitat, including diverse aquatic vegetation, woody debris, and overhanging limbs. Cedar Lake is designated as an infested water body due to the presence of Eurasian Watermilfoil since 2001. The lake is primarily managed for Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Largemouth Bass and secondarily for Northern Pike and Walleye. The management plan calls for stocking 100,000 Northern Pike fry in odd years and 673,000 Walleye fry in even years. Northern Pike fry are also stocked in even years when consecutive gill net catch rates fall below 6 fish/net. Cedar Lake is designated as a Tier-1 Lake and will be surveyed as part of a regularly scheduled monitoring program at a frequency of every 3 years. The 2019 standard survey was completed the week of July 29, 2019 using 10 gill nets, 12 trap nets, and 71 minutes of boat electrofishing. A standard survey is used for sampling a wide range of fish species during the summer months using standard methods (i.e. standard time of year, set sampling stations, taking water clarity readings and oxygen/temperature profiles, etc.) and gears (i.e. lake survey gillnets, trap nets, and spring electrofishing for Largemouth Bass). Black Crappie was the most abundant fish surveyed in 2019. A total of 866 were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 86.6/net, indicating high numbers were present. Since 1996, gill net catch rates have varied from 3.2/net to 109.6/net with an average of 50.0/net. The catch rate in the previous survey in 2016 was 47.5/net. Lengths in 2019 ranged from 4.1 to 11.9 inches with an average of 7.3 inches. Black Crappies were also abundant in trap nets with a catch rate of 20.8/net and lengths ranging from 4.3 to 15.6 inches. Fish from both gears ranged from 1 to 7 years old with 7 year classes present. The 2014 year class was particularly abundant and averaged 9.6 inches at capture. Overall, growth was moderate with fish exceeding 8 inches during their third year. Cedar Lake continues to be a top tier Black Crappie fishery with a consistently abundant population and trophy fish potential. A total of 548 Bluegills were sampled with trap nets in 2019 for a catch rate of 45.7/net, which indicated moderate to high numbers were present. In five trap net samples since 1996, catch rates have ranged from 35.8/net to 86.1/net with an average of 61.0/net. The catch rate in 2016 was 79.7/net. Fish were mostly small in 2019 with a range of 3.5 to 8.6 inches and an average of 6.3 inches. An additional 135 fish ranging from 4.7 to 8.7 inches were sampled with gill nets. Fish ranged from 2 to 9 years old with 8 year classes present. No single year class dominated the sample and the age-frequency distribution showed consistent annual recruitment. Growth was slow with fish exceeding 6 inches in their fifth year. Largemouth Bass numbers remained similar to the 2016 sample with an electrofishing catch rate of 35.4/hour. Since 2001, catch rates have varied from 56.0/hour to 35.4/hour with an average of 42.8/hour. Lengths ranged from 3.0 to 21.1 inches with an average of 12.9 inches. Size structure was good with many fish over 15 inches. Fish were 2 to more than 15 years old with 13 year classes present. On average, fish attained quality length of 12 inches by their fifth year and preferred length of 15 inches by their seventh year. The 2019 survey results reflected the abundant high quality habitat for Largemouth Bass in Cedar Lake. A total of 33 Northern Pike were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 3.3/net, indicating low to moderate numbers were present. Catch rates have decreased from an all-time high of 11.2/net in 2012 to 5.4/net in 2016 to 3.3/net in 2019. Since 1996, catch rates have averaged 3.1/net. Lengths in 2019 ranged from 20.9 to 30.4 inches with an average of 25.6 inches. The length-frequency distribution indicated good size structure with over half the sampled population exceeding the legal minimum length of 24 inches. Six more Northern Pike ranging from 16.1 to 26.9 inches were sampled with trap nets. Fish from both gears were 1 to 7 years old with 72% either 3 or 4 years old. Growth was fast with fish reaching 21 inches by age-3. Cedar Lake is located in the Southern Northern Pike management zone. In order to harvest a Northern Pike the fish must be over 24.0 inches in length. The daily bag limit in this zone is 2 Northern Pike per day. Walleye numbers dropped from an all-time high of 5.8/net in 2016 to 2.4/net in 2019, which indicated low to moderate numbers were present. Since 1996, catch rates have mostly been low with a range of 0.6/net to 5.8/net and an average of 2.6/net. Lengths ranged from 18.6 to 27.6 inches with an average of 21.9 inches. Most of the fish were over 20 inches. Ages ranged from 5 to more than 15 years old with just 4 year classes present. The 2014 year class accounted for more than 89% of the sample. The same year class made up 91% of the 2016 sample. Although not certain, this year class was most likely the result of fry stocked that year. The 2016 and 2019 surveys sampled zero fish from the fry stocked 2012 and 2016 year class. Cedar Lake remains a difficult lake to manage for Walleyes. Yellow Perch were sampled at a rate of 4.7/gill net, indicating low to moderate abundance. Since 1996, catch rates have ranged from 0.1 to 40.3/net with an average of 7.5/net. The 2012 catch rate of 40.3/net represents the highest on record and the only time a sample has exceeded 6.0/net. Lengths in 2019 ranged from 4.5 to 7.8 inches with an average of 6.1 inches. Fish were 1 to 6 years old with 6 year classes present. Growth was slow with 5 inches reached in the third year of growth. Cedar Lake does not support a fishable Yellow Perch population but it remains an important part of the fishery, especially concerning Walleye management. Only one Black Bullhead was sampled in 2019 and the mean catch rate was just 0.8/net in five surveys since 2006. Conversely, Yellow Bullheads were the third most sampled fish in gill nets in 2019 with a catch rate of 12.3/net, indicating high abundance. After a mean catch rate of 0.7 from 1996 to 2008, numbers have increased to 14.5/net in three surveys since. The mean length in 2019 was 12.9 inches. Typically, Yellow Bullheads are more common than Black Bullheads in more stable and less degraded lakes. A third species, the Brown Bullhead, was also sampled in 2019 in low numbers. Just eight Common Carp ranging from 16.2 to 27.8 inches long were sampled with trap nets for a catch rate of 0.7/net. No Common Carp were sampled with gill nets. Overall, Common Carp numbers have remained low in recent years with a likely negligible impact on the fishery. Efforts should be made to keep it this way. Other species sampled in 2019 include Bigmouth Buffalo, Bowfin (dogfish), Freshwater Drum (sheepshead), Pumpkinseed, and hybrid sunfish. Water clarity was poor with a secchi depth of just 2.0 feet. Dissolved oxygen and water temperature readings ranged from 7.3 ppm and 76.5 degrees Fahrenheit at the surface to 0.0 ppm and 61.3 degrees Fahrenheit at 31 feet. A thermocline was detected between 19 and 22 feet. Anglers can play an important role in maintaining or improving a fish population by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest allows for the harvest of smaller fish for consumption, while encouraging the release of medium to large fish that may contribute to natural reproduction. This practice helps maintain balance in the fish populations and provides anglers the opportunity to catch more and larger fish in the future. Additionally, smaller fish often taste better and have fewer contaminants than larger, older fish from the same water body. Shoreline property owners also play an important role in the overall health of an aquatic ecosystem, including the fish population. Natural shorelines, including vegetation, woody debris, and bottom substrates, provide valuable habitat for fish and wildlife, help maintain water quality, and reduce bank erosion. Cattails and bulrushes are particularly beneficial for fish spawning, rearing, and feeding. By leaving natural shorelines unaltered or restoring them to natural conditions, shoreline property owners are doing their part to maintain or improve a healthy ecosystem in the lake and protect the resource for future generations. - Sky Wigen, Fisheries Specialist

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Hybrid Sunfish, and Black Crappie 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 42 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

Yes — Cedar has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.