Cedar

Cedar Lake is 793-acres (793 littoral acres) with a maximum depth of 13 feet. Cedar is located northeast of New Prague in southern Scott County. Cedar is managed for Walleye, Bluegill, and Black Crappie, but also supports catchable populations of Largemouth Bass and Yellow Perch. Public water access is provided by DNR Parks and Trails at two locations on Cedar Lake. The eastern launch off of MN Hwy 13 provides two concrete ramps and parking spaces for 30 vehicle/trailers; while the northwestern launch off of county road 64 provides one concrete ramp and 4 vehicle/trailer parking spaces. A Standard Survey (11 trap nets/4 gill nets) was conducted on Cedar Lake during the week of 8/2/2021 to assess the fishery. During the 2021 survey, Cedar was highly productive (green stained water), with poor water clarity, measured at 1.5 feet during the time of this survey. Despite these factors, dissolved oxygen remained above 4 parts per million (ppm) at an 11 foot depth during the survey period. Walleye in Cedar Lake are maintained through fingerling stocking in odd numbered years. During the 2021 survey Walleye were captured at high numbers (12/net), well above the expected catch rate of similar lakes in the area. There were 48 Walleye sampled in gill nets, with an average size of 13.2 inches and the largest measured at 25.6 inches. Size indices show a population currently skewed toward smaller Walleye. Growth rates were very fast compared to the statewide average, with an average length of 12.8 inches by age 2. While the current Walleye population is small in size, high abundances and fast growth should help contribute to plenty of angling opportunity in the coming years. High numbers of Bluegill were sampled with trap nets (22.8/net), above the expected catch rate of similar lakes in the area. There were 251 Bluegill sampled in trap nets during the 2021 survey, with an average length of 7.3 inches and the largest measured at 10.1 inches. Bluegill size indices describe a balanced population (an intermediate between high numbers of small fish and few numbers of large fish). Bluegill growth was fast compared to similar lakes across the metro with an average length of 6.2 inches by age 2. Cedar Lake provides one of the few opportunities in the metro area where anglers may see Bluegill greater than 9 inches. Extremely high numbers of Black Crappie were sampled with gill nets (120.8/net) and trap nets (66.6/net). Despite high numbers, the 2021 catch rates were similar to previous surveys on Cedar. There were 863 Black Crappie sampled during the 2021 survey, with an average length of 8.8 inches and the largest measured at 12.9 inches. Despite high numbers, size indices reveal a population mainly composed of catchable sized (8+ inches) individuals. Age analysis reveals surprising results with 97% of fish corresponding to one age group, the 2014 year class. The vast majority of Black Crappie in Cedar Lake were 7 years old, averaged 8.8 inches and exhibited slow growth. While Black Crappie fishing on Cedar Lake is currently excellent, having the vast majority of fish correspond to a single year class will likely leave a large void when those fish finally move through the system, that is until a new year class can replace them. Largemouth Bass are present in Cedar Lake, although targeted boat-electrofishing did not occur during the 2021 survey. Incidental capture with trap and gill nets caught 6 Largemouth Bass, with an average length of 13.6 inches and the largest measured at 20.5 inches. Yellow Perch were sampled with gill nets (15/net) near the expected catch rate of similar lakes. Average size of Yellow Perch in the 2021 survey was 9.8 inches, with the largest measured at 14.2 inches, both extremely high values compared to other metro lakes. Yellow Perch rarely provide good angling opportunity in the metro due to high abundances and small sizes, however, Cedar Lake is one of the few exceptions. Other fish species sampled in low abundances were Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Golden Shiner, Pumpkinseed, and Yellow Bullhead.

Cedar Lake is a shallow, productive, 780-acre, Class 41 lake located north of New Prague in south-central Scott County. The lake is primarily managed for Bluegill and Walleye and secondarily managed for Tiger Muskellunge and Black Crappie. A Standard Survey, consisting of gill nets and trap nets, was conducted on Cedar Lake in 2015 to characterize the gamefish populations. Bluegill were moderately abundant in 2015. The catch rate of 11.0 fish per trap net was between the median and 75th percentile for this this Lake Class. Thirty-five percent of the fish exceeded 7 inches, and 8% exceeded 8 inches. The average size of Bluegill was 6.6 inches and 0.25 pounds. The largest fish measured 9.1 inches and 0.69 pounds. Walleye abundance was low in 2015, and the fish tended to be large. The catch rate of 2.6 fish per gill net was below the 25th percentile for this Lake Class. The average size of Walleye was 19.1 inches and 2.39 pounds. All of the fish exceeded 15 inches, and 22% exceeded 20 inches. All of the Walleye sampled were age 6, originating from the 2009 year class. This was the last class of fish to be stocked as fingerlings or yearlings. Since 2011, Walleye have been stocked as fry on an annual basis. An overwhelming abundance of small-sized Black Crappie was present in 2015. The catch rate of 374.9 fish per gill net is more than 33 times the 75th percentile for this Lake Class. The average size of Black Crappie is 5.5 inches and 0.09 pounds. Only 1% of the sampled fish exceeded 8 inches, and 1 fish among the 2,624 gill-netted crappie exceeded 10 inches. The population of Black Crappie is dominated by a very strong 2014 year class (age 1). A highly abundant population of Yellow Perch was also revealed in the 2015 gill nets. The catch rate of 104.6 fish per net greatly exceeded the 75th percentile for this Lake Class (22.5 fish per net). Eighteen percent of the fish exceeded 8 inches, and the average size was 7.5 inches and 0.20 pounds. The Yellow Perch population is dominated by a very strong 2014 year class (age 1). Although Largemouth Bass are not typically vulnerable to passive sampling gears such as gill nets and trap nets, many were sampled in 2015. The gill net catch rate of 21.6 fish per net greatly exceeds the 75th percentile for this Lake Class (1.77 per gill net). Of the 151 gill-netted bass, only two fish exceeded 12 inches. Average size was 9.6 inches and 0.49 pounds, and the largest fish was 15.9 inches and 2.43 pounds. Yellow Bullhead and Golden Shiner were highly abundant in the 2015 gill nets. The Yellow Bullhead catch rate of 43.1 fish per gill net greatly exceeded the 75th percentile for this Lake Class (3.6 fish per gill net). Sixty-six percent of the bullheads exceeded 9 inches, and the average size was 10.4 inches and 0.75 pounds. The Golden Shiner catch rate of 9.9 fish per gill net also greatly exceeded the 75th percentile for this Lake Class (0.68 fish per gill net). Average size of Golden Shiner was 7.2 inches and 0.17 pounds. Other fishes caught in low abundance include Black Bullhead, hybrid sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Tiger Muskellunge, White Sucker, and Common Carp.

Cedar Lake is a shallow, productive 780-acre Class 41 lake located north of New Prague in south-central Scott County. Maximum depth is 13 ft. Stabilized water levels and winter aeration have enabled fisheries staff to manage Cedar as a recreational fishery. The lake is primarily managed for bluegill and walleye and secondarily for tiger muskellunge, although the fish community also includes black crappie, largemouth bass, northern pike, and yellow perch. A special assessment was conducted on September 19, 2012 to assess the largemouth bass population and the survival of stocked walleye fry. In 2 hours and 24 minutes of nighttime boat electrofishing (6 transects), 57 largemouth bass and 36 walleye were sampled. On all fish, scale samples were taken along with length and weight measurements. Largemouth bass were sampled at a rate of 23.7 per hour of on-time. Size structure was balanced with PSD = 45 and RSD-P = 14. Bass length ranged from 3.9 to 19.6 inches, averaging 8.4 inches. Weight ranged from 0.3 to 4.44 lbs, averaging 0.56 lbs. Ages ranged from 1 to 9. The majority (56%) of the bass sampled were age 1 or 2. The high productivity and shallow nature of the lake puts it at risk for both winter and summerkills. A summerkill of walleye and hybrid muskellunge was observed in 2007 and subsequent surveys in 2008 and 2010 revealed a walleye population that had not yet recovered despite continued fingerling stocking. Beginning in the spring of 2011, the walleye stocking regime on Cedar Lake changed from fingerlings every other year to fry annually. This management strategy of stocking walleye fry instead of fingerlings is low risk with potential high rewards. By using fry, the total number of fish stocked is increased by over 20 times, and the cost of stocking is much lower as these fish come directly from the hatchery to the lake. Research has shown that a major bottleneck in the recruitment of walleye is in the first summer of life. The purpose of electrofishing for young-of-the-year walleye in the fall of 2012 was to look for fry that had made it through this bottleneck and were most likely to establish a year class. Thirty-six walleye were sampled at a rate of 15.0 fish per hour of on-time. Average length and weight were 10.7 inches and 0.41 lbs. Total length ranged from 8.9 to 12.5 inches. Growth was below the statewide average. Walleye were in good condition. Relative weight averaged 92 and ranged from 77 to 103. All 36 walleye sampled were from the 2009 year class. In 2009, fingerlings (n = 26, 454) and in 2010, yearlings (n = 670) were stocked into Cedar Lake. All correspond to the 2009 year class. We were not able to sample any walleye from the 2011 or 2012 year classes that were stocked as fry. This assessment did not give us any positive data on the survival of stocked fry; however, in lakes in the West Metro Area where fry survival has been confirmed we are still unable to document this with fall electrofishing. Future gill net assessments should be scheduled when the stocked fry will begin to be vulnerable to gill nets (2014). If, over time, gill net assessments are unable to document fry survival, a decision must be made whether to resume fingerling stocking or cease walleye stocking in Cedar Lake.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, 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 13 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Cedar is from 2021.

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