Cedar

Cedar Lake is an 837-acre lake located two miles east of Annandale in Wright County. Cedar Lake has a maximum depth of 108 feet and a small watershed dominated by agriculture, open water and forest. Two public accesses are located on the north end of the lake: a DNR ramp on the northwest corner with limited parking and a county access within Schroeder Park with ample parking. Cedar Lake is primarily managed for Northern Pike and Walleye and was last surveyed in 2019. Anglers can expect good fishing for Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike and Walleye. Emergent and floating leaf vegetation is common around the lake shore, primarily bulrush, cattail, and waterlily. No submerged plant survey was done in 2024, but coontail and sago pondweed were the dominant species in previous surveys. The lake was listed as infested with Eurasian watermilfoil in 2010 and zebra mussels in 2017. Water clarity is generally good and MPCA data show a summer average Secchi reading of 13 feet over the past ten years. Walleye numbers decreased from 2019 but remain within the range of expected values for similar lakes. Walleye lengths ranged from 12 to 28 inches with an average length and weight of 20 inches and 3 pounds. Eighty-five percent of Walleye sampled were 15 inches or longer and 40%were 20 inches or longer. Walleye ages ranged from 2 to 13 years old with most fish between 3 and 5 years old. Growth was above average compared to the rest of the state, but similar to the average of the Sauk Rapids Area, reaching 17 inches in three years. Walleye fingerlings have been stocked every other year for many years and the lake association has recently stocked fingerlings in years that the DNR does not stock. Cedar Lake has a history of high catch rates of Northern Pike with the population being dominated by small fish. The catch in 2024 and 2019 were well above the range of expected values for similar lakes. Northern Pike lengths in 2024 ranged from 16 to 31 inches with an average length and weight of 24 inches and 3 pounds. While many of the pike in the lake are small, anglers do have a good chance at catching some nicer fish (> 26 inches). Anglers can expect good bass angling for fish of all sizes. Largemouth Bass were sampled by nighttime electrofishing in May 2024 at a rate similar to the management goal for the Sauk Rapids Area (75/hr) with fish up to 20.6 inches sampled. Eighty-eight percent of bass caught were eight inches or longer, with 62% measuring 12 inches or longer and 45% measuring 15 inches or longer. Bluegill numbers were similar to previous surveys and within the range of expected values. Lengths ranged from 2 to 8 inches with an average length of 5 inches. Anglers can expect to have decent success catching Bluegills; however, they may have to sort through a bunch in order to catch a meal. Black Crappie numbers were low and below the range of expected values for the lake class. Lengths ranged from 7 to 11 inches with an average length of 10 inches. Black Crappie catches have always been low, despite having a reputation of being a good crappie lake. The lake has a large amount of deep water, likely making summer netting less effective. Yellow Perch catches in recent surveys have been low, but the catch in 2024 was within the range of expected values for similar lakes although the average size of perch sampled in the survey were small. Yellow Perch abundance is likely limited by high numbers of Northern Pike. Other species captured in low numbers included: Bowfin (Dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Green and Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, and White Sucker. Yellow Bullhead numbers increased from 2019, but remained less than results from 2006.

A targeted Bluegill assessment was conducted on Cedar Lake from May 28-31, 2024. Targeted surveys using trap nets around spawning time can give a more accurate picture of Bluegill size structure than standard surveys conducted later in the summer. A total of 744 Bluegill were sampled, compared to the 960 caught in 2019 with half of the effort. Lengths ranged from 1.7 to 9.3 inches with an average length of 5.7 inches. Fifty-one percent of Bluegill were six inches or longer and 4% were eight inches or longer, which is an improvement from the survey in 2019 where only 16% of Bluegill were six inches or longer. Recent targeted Bluegill surveys in the Sauk Rapids Area have found the % > 6 inches ranged from 34 to 81 and % > 8 inches ranged from 0 to 39. Bluegill growth rates in Cedar Lake were slow compared to the statewide average, but were similar to the average for the Sauk Rapids Area for the first three years of life. For ages 4+, the growth rates were fast for the Sauk Rapids Area and more comparable to the statewide average for fast growing populations, taking 5 years to reach 8 inches. A total of 55 Black Crappie were sampled and ranged in length from 6.2 to 13.1 inches with an average length of 10.0 inches. Eighty-six percent of Black Crappie were eight inches or longer with 64% also being 10 inches or longer. Recent targeted panfish surveys in the Sauk Rapids Area have found the percent of Black Crappie > 8 inches ranged from 65 to 91 and % > 10 inches ranged from 35 to 64. A total of 37 Pumpkinseed were sampled and ranged in length from 3.7 to 9.0 inches and averaged 6.6 inches. Fifty-nine Hybrid Sunfish were also sampled and ranged in length from 3.2 to 8.9 inches and averaged 6.8 inches. The average replacement time for an eight-inch sunfish in the Sauk Rapids area is over 9 years. Therefore, anglers are encouraged to limit their harvest of larger Bluegill, especially the brightly colored adult males during the springtime when they are in the process of spawning and are more easily exploited by anglers. The larger male Bluegills are important to maintaining a healthy size structure because they restrict reproduction of smaller males, allowing the smaller males to put more energy into growth and less into reproduction. Anglers can help to maintain good fishing for Bluegill on Cedar Lake by selectively harvesting medium sized females and releasing larger males.

A targeted Bluegill assessment was conducted on Cedar Lake from May 28-31, 2024. Targeted surveys using trap nets around spawning time can give a more accurate picture of Bluegill size structure than standard surveys conducted later in the summer. A total of 744 Bluegill were sampled, compared to the 960 caught in 2019 with half of the effort. Lengths ranged from 1.7 to 9.3 inches with an average length of 5.7 inches. Fifty-one percent of Bluegill were six inches or longer and 4% were eight inches or longer, which is an improvement from the survey in 2019 where only 16% of Bluegill were six inches or longer. Recent targeted Bluegill surveys in the Sauk Rapids Area have found the % > 6 inches ranged from 34 to 81 and % > 8 inches ranged from 0 to 39. Bluegill growth rates in Cedar Lake were slow compared to the statewide average, but were similar to the average for the Sauk Rapids Area for the first three years of life. For ages 4+, the growth rates were fast for the Sauk Rapids Area and more comparable to the statewide average for fast growing populations, taking 5 years to reach 8 inches. A total of 55 Black Crappie were sampled and ranged in length from 6.2 to 13.1 inches with an average length of 10.0 inches. Eighty-six percent of Black Crappie were eight inches or longer with 64% also being 10 inches or longer. Recent targeted panfish surveys in the Sauk Rapids Area have found the percent of Black Crappie > 8 inches ranged from 65 to 91 and % > 10 inches ranged from 35 to 64. A total of 37 Pumpkinseed were sampled and ranged in length from 3.7 to 9.0 inches and averaged 6.6 inches. Fifty-nine Hybrid Sunfish were also sampled and ranged in length from 3.2 to 8.9 inches and averaged 6.8 inches. The average replacement time for an eight-inch sunfish in the Sauk Rapids area is over 9 years. Therefore, anglers are encouraged to limit their harvest of larger Bluegill, especially the brightly colored adult males during the springtime when they are in the process of spawning and are more easily exploited by anglers. The larger male Bluegills are important to maintaining a healthy size structure because they restrict reproduction of smaller males, allowing the smaller males to put more energy into growth and less into reproduction. Anglers can help to maintain good fishing for Bluegill on Cedar Lake by selectively harvesting medium sized females and releasing larger males.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rock Bass, Walleye, 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 108 feet and a mean depth of 29.5 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Cedar is from 2024.

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