How to Fish Cedar Lake

Cedar Lake fishing FAQ

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Cedar Lake in Spring (Pre-Spawn)?

Water temp 52-62°F. Bass are in pre-spawn transition, actively feeding while moving from winter areas to spawning locations Fish are utilizing brush piles and other cover as staging areas, aggressively feeding on bluegill Key locations: Brush piles in pre-spawn staging areas; Deep weed edges near potential spawning flats; Secondary points with available cover. Best techniques: Bladed Jigs worked around cover, Lipless Crankbaits parallel to staging areas, Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) in and around brush piles. Primary forage: Bluegill, Crawfish becoming active with warming water. Best bait colors: Dark Neutrals, Vibrant Craw Colors, Chartreuse Colors.

How do you catch Crappie on Cedar Lake in Spring (Pre-Spawn)?

Water temp 48-58°F. Moving from winter locations to warmer, shallow transition areas, staging for spawn. Becoming more active with warming water Feeding activity increasing but still structure-oriented, relating heavily to vegetation edges Key locations: Shallow vegetation edges in 4-8 foot depth range, especially near deeper water access; Protected coves and points with emerging vegetation; Transition areas between winter and spawning locations. Best techniques: Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling), Bobbers, Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium). Primary forage: Small baitfish concentrating in warming shallows, Emerging aquatic insects near vegetation, Young of year panfish starting to emerge. Best bait colors: Purple Colors, Chartreuse Colors, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Cedar Lake in Spring (Spawn)?

Water temp 58-68°F. Bass are moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly in protected coves and near shallow cover where they'll create and guard nests Males will be aggressive in defending nests while females stage nearby, moving between spawning flats and slightly deeper water Key locations: Protected shallow coves with firm bottom and available cover like submerged vegetation; Secondary points leading into spawning bays; Shallow dock areas providing overhead cover for spawning. Best techniques: Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and visible beds, Wacky Rigs worked slowly near spawning areas, Bladed Jigs along edges of spawning flats. Primary forage: Spawning Bluegill in similar shallow areas, Active Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy, Small baitfish moving shallow with warming water. Best bait colors: Dark Neutrals, Vibrant Craw Colors, Purple Colors.

How do you catch Crappie on Cedar Lake in Spring (Spawn)?

Water temp 58-68°F. Crappie are in spawning mode, moving between staging areas and spawning zones near ledges at 65°F Fish are actively feeding in the shallower zones due to turbid water conditions (2.3ft visibility) Concentrating around vegetation edges and ledges during pre-spawn and spawn phases Key locations: Ledges adjacent to spawning flats (confirmed by recent fishing reports); Vegetation edges in 8-12 foot depth range; Shallow coves and points created by the moderately complex shoreline. Best techniques: Bobbers (validated by recent successful fishing reports), Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling), Live Bait Rigs. Primary forage: Other Crappie (confirmed by fishing reports as forage), Young of year panfish in shallow vegetation. Best bait colors: Purple Colors, Chartreuse Colors.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Cedar Lake in Spring (Post-Spawn)?

Water temp 65-75°F. Post-spawn bass are actively recovering and beginning to feed aggressively, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns Fish are utilizing the diverse cover options (weedlines, docks, brush piles) as rest and feeding stations during their transition Key locations: Outside edges of shallow weed growth in 8-12 foot range where available; Secondary points and creek channels leading from spawning flats to deeper water; Brush piles and dock structures adjacent to spawning areas. Best techniques: Bladed Jigs worked along weed edges and through scattered vegetation, Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water and locating active fish, Texas Rigs (Worming) for a slower presentation around brush and docks. Primary forage: Bluegill concentrated around shallow cover and vegetation, Young of year baitfish beginning to emerge in scattered schools. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Dark Neutrals, Chartreuse Colors.

How do you catch Crappie on Cedar Lake in Spring (Post-Spawn)?

Water temp 68-75°F. Post-spawn crappie transitioning to early summer patterns, suspending near submerged vegetation edges and actively feeding to recover energy Fish becoming more active during morning and evening periods, with less predictable movement during midday Key locations: Outer edges of submerged vegetation in 8-12 foot zones; Shallow coves with abundant vegetation; Points and transitions where vegetation meets slightly deeper water. Best techniques: Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) along weedline edges, Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) near vegetation points, Hover/Mid-Strolling in areas between vegetation patches. Primary forage: Young-of-year baitfish beginning to emerge, Aquatic insects around vegetation, Small bluegill and perch fry. Best bait colors: Chartreuse Colors, Purple Colors, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Cedar Lake in Summer?

Water temp 75-82°F. Bass are holding on outside weedlines in 8-12 foot depth range, utilizing these areas as primary feeding zones during summer heat Fish are actively feeding but showing preference for bottom-contact presentations, suggesting a more methodical feeding pattern typical of warm summer conditions Key locations: Outside weedlines in 8-12 foot depth range, particularly where vegetation meets deeper water; Docks providing shade and ambush points, especially those near deep water access; Deeper pockets within the generally shallow system where fish can find thermal refuge. Best techniques: Ned Rigs worked slowly along bottom, especially effective on weedline edges, Neko Rigs presented near cover and along weedlines, Wacky Rigs worked in open water areas and around docks. Primary forage: Bluegill concentrating around weed edges, Juvenile crawfish active in and around vegetation, Small baitfish utilizing weed edges as cover. Best bait colors: Dark Neutrals, Vibrant Craw Colors, Bold Striped Patterns.

How do you catch Crappie on Cedar Lake in Summer?

Water temp 72-85°F. Crappie are holding along weed edges at 8-12 feet, feeding actively during early morning and evening hours Fish are suspending near the outer vegetation edges, moving shallower to feed on small baitfish and insects Key locations: Weedline edges at 8-12 feet where vegetation meets open water; Pockets and lanes within submerged vegetation; Points and coves with established vegetation. Best techniques: Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) along weedline edges, Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) in vegetation pockets, Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') for suspended fish. Primary forage: Small baitfish relating to vegetation, Aquatic insects, Young-of-year panfish. Best bait colors: Chartreuse Colors, Purple Colors, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Cedar Lake in Fall?

Water temp 55-68°F. Actively feeding and following baitfish movements to build energy reserves for winter, particularly around remaining weed edges and structure Transitioning to slightly deeper water areas (8-12 foot range) as surface temperatures cool, while making periodic shallow water feeding runs Key locations: Outside weedlines in 8-12 foot depth range where vegetation is still healthy; Brush piles adjacent to deeper water access; Protected coves and points that concentrate baitfish. Best techniques: Bladed Jigs worked along weed edges and through dying vegetation, Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) to match fleeing baitfish schools, Lipless Crankbaits for covering water and targeting actively feeding fish. Primary forage: Bluegill congregating in remaining vegetation, Small baitfish schools in open water and around structure. Best bait colors: Dark Neutrals, Vibrant Craw Colors, Bold Striped Patterns.

How do you catch Crappie on Cedar Lake in Fall?

Water temp 52-68°F. Fall crappie transitioning from summer weedline patterns into tighter schools, following baitfish movements in this shallow, turbid lake Feeding activity increases during low-light periods as fish prepare for winter, with schools staying relatively shallow due to limited water depth Key locations: Remaining green weedlines at 8-12 foot depths, particularly near points or cove entrances; Deeper pockets adjacent to dying vegetation where baitfish schools concentrate; Protected coves with remaining vegetation that offer wind protection and concentrated baitfish. Best techniques: Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) along weedline edges to locate active schools, Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') once schools are located, especially during prime feeding periods, Crappie Spider Rigging along vegetation edges during tough bite periods. Primary forage: Young-of-year baitfish congregating near remaining vegetation, Small bluegills and juvenile sunfish, Remaining aquatic insects near vegetation. Best bait colors: Chartreuse Colors, Purple Colors, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Crappie on Cedar Lake in Winter?

Water temp 38-48°F. Crappie schooling near deeper pockets adjacent to remaining vegetation edges, typically suspending at mid-depths Feeding activity concentrated during low-light periods with brief active periods during stable weather Key locations: Deeper pockets adjacent to dying vegetation edges in 6-8 foot range; Shallow coves with remaining vegetation, especially on wind-protected sides; Points and transitions where vegetation meets slightly deeper water. Best techniques: Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9'), Hover/Mid-Strolling, Small Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium). Primary forage: Small baitfish concentrating in remaining vegetation, Juvenile bluegill in vegetation edges, Small invertebrates among dying vegetation. Best bait colors: Dark Neutrals, Chartreuse Colors, Purple Colors.

How do you catch Crappie on Cedar Lake in Ice?

Water temp 33-39°F. Crappie are schooling near submerged vegetation edges under the ice, with likely suspended positioning above the vegetation Feeding periods are most active during dawn and dusk, with fish becoming more sluggish during bright midday periods Key locations: Submerged vegetation beds in 3-8 foot depth range; Edge transitions where vegetation meets slightly deeper water; Protected coves with remaining green vegetation. Best techniques: Ice Fishing Jigs worked with subtle movements just above vegetation, Ice Fishing Spoons for more aggressive reaction strikes, Ice Fishing Tip-Ups set at varying depths to pattern suspended fish. Primary forage: Small invertebrates in vegetation, Juvenile panfish, Zooplankton concentrations. Best bait colors: Chartreuse Colors, Purple Colors, Dark Neutrals.