How to Fish Cedar Lake: Best Patterns & Techniques | Omnia Fishing

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Cedar Lake

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: Jul 14, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Cedar Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	52-62	Bass are transitioning from winter depths to spawning areas, staging on the first major break lines and near spawning flats Feeding activity increases as water warms, with fish becoming more aggressive but still remaining relatively deep compared to spawning period	Protected areas near spawning flats with 8-10 foot depth transitions Inside edges of emerging weed lines, especially near points or coves Humps and structural elements adjacent to spawning areas	Lipless Crankbaits worked slowly along transition areas Bladed Jigs around emerging vegetation Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for a natural presentation in cooler water	Bluegill concentrating in emerging vegetation Small baitfish schooling in deeper transition areas	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	58-68	Bass transitioning from pre-spawn staging areas to spawning flats, actively searching for and creating nesting sites Males aggressively defending nests while females move between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones Feeding activity increases during warm, stable weather periods, especially during mid-morning hours	Protected shallow bays and coves with firm bottom composition for spawning Inside edges of weed lines in 2-4 foot depths Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water near 10-foot breaklines	Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations to visible beds and shallow cover Soft Jerkbaits for covering water and triggering reaction strikes from guard males Swim Jigs for working through emerging vegetation and along weed edges	Bluegill gathering in shallow spawning areas Small baitfish utilizing emerging vegetation	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Pink Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	62-72	Bass moving to shallower post-spawn recovery areas, actively feeding to regain energy near weed edges and points Most active during early morning and evening hours, utilizing vegetation edges and breaklines as primary feeding zones Transitioning between spawning areas and early summer patterns, showing increased aggression towards prey	Inside edges of weed lines in 5-10 foot range Shallow humps with emerging vegetation Protected coves with developing weed growth	Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around emerging vegetation Swim Jigs parallel to weed edges Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') along breaklines	Bluegill concentrating near developing weed growth Young of year baitfish beginning to emerge Crawfish active in shallow areas	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Bold Striped Patterns

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	74-78	Active feeding during low light periods (dusk) around vegetation edges and breaklines Holding on defined weed edges and depth transitions during daytime, moving shallower to feed during evening Utilizing submerged vegetation and humps as ambush points for bluegill prey	Inside edges of weed lines on steep dropoffs Breaklines around 10 foot depth contours Submerged vegetation adjacent to humps	Grass Jigs worked along weed edges Hard Topwater (Prop) during low light periods Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) in and around vegetation	Bluegill Young of year panfish	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns

Fall Fishing Guide for Cedar Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	55-68	Bass moving to shallower depths (2-8 feet) following cooling trends, actively feeding on bluegill around vegetation edges and points Increased feeding activity during midday as water temperatures cool, with fish relating strongly to remaining vegetation and structural elements	Weed edges and inside turns near deeper water access (8-10 foot breaklines) Shallow vegetation patches adjacent to points and humps Remaining green vegetation in 3-6 foot depth range	Spinnerbaits worked parallel to weed edges with occasional pauses Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) retrieved steadily through vegetation gaps Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked along depth transitions	Bluegill concentrating in remaining vegetation Small baitfish schools moving along weed edges	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Bold Striped Patterns

Key Seasonal Structures in Cedar Lake

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Protected areas near spawning flats with 8-10 foot depth transitions	Inside edges of emerging weed lines, especially near points or coves
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Protected shallow bays and coves with firm bottom composition for spawning	Inside edges of weed lines in 2-4 foot depths
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Inside edges of weed lines in 5-10 foot range	Shallow humps with emerging vegetation
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Inside edges of weed lines on steep dropoffs	Breaklines around 10 foot depth contours
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Weed edges and inside turns near deeper water access (8-10 foot breaklines)	Shallow vegetation patches adjacent to points and humps

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill concentrating in emerging vegetation	Small baitfish schooling in deeper transition areas
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill gathering in shallow spawning areas	Small baitfish utilizing emerging vegetation
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill concentrating near developing weed growth	Young of year baitfish beginning to emerge
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill	Young of year panfish
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill concentrating in remaining vegetation	Small baitfish schools moving along weed edges

Bait Colors by Season for Cedar Lake

Season	Species	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Pink Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Bold Striped Patterns
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Bold Striped Patterns

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