How to Fish Cedar Lake (2): Best Patterns & Techniques | Omnia Fishing

Fathers Day Promo: Buy Any Reel, Get Omnia PRO Free. Learn More

20% Off Xzone Lures, Through 06/17. Save Now

20% Off All St. Croix Mojo Bass Rods, Through 06/28. Save Now

Buy 4, Get 1 FREE All Zoom, Through 06/10. Save Now

Built to Serve Tee + PRO = $20 Donated Per Order → Shop Now

20% Off Dirty Jigs and Nichols Lures, Through 06/10. Save Now

20% Off Bubba, Through 06/16. Save Now

Save Up To $500 on Select Minn Kota, Through 06/18. Save Now

Buy One, Get One FREE P-Line Tactical Fluorocarbon. Learn More

PRO members get free shipping, rewards & local lake data! Join Today

Markdowns on popular products - See all bargain offers

Cedar Lake (2)

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: May 12, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Cedar Lake (2)

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	48-62	Bass are transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming increasingly active as water temperatures rise Fish are feeding aggressively to build energy reserves for spawning, particularly during warming trends Movement patterns focus on following primary migration routes from deeper winter areas to shallow spawning flats	Rock and boulder transitions near spawning flats Shallow areas with emerging vegetation near spawning zones Docks adjacent to spawning flats serving as staging areas	Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation Spinnerbaits along dock edges and rock transitions Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly around staging areas	Bluegill beginning to move shallow Crawfish becoming more active on rocky areas	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Chartreuse Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	52-62	Crappies are transitioning into pre-spawn patterns, suspending near submerged vegetation in 4-8 foot depth ranges Fish are actively feeding on insects and small baitfish, with a preference for suspended presentations as indicated by bobber fishing success	Submerged vegetation beds in 4-8 foot depths, particularly in protected areas Secondary points with vegetation near spawning bays Shallow coves with emerging vegetation	Bobbers with small jigs suspended above vegetation Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with light jigs around vegetation edges Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly through vegetation gaps	Insects, particularly emerging aquatic insects Small minnows in and around vegetation Zooplankton in vegetation zones	Pink Colors Chartreuse Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	55-65	Bluegills are transitioning from deeper winter areas to shallow pre-spawn locations, actively feeding in preparation for spawning Fish are becoming more aggressive and moving into 2-4 foot depths during warming trends, particularly near emerging vegetation and cover	Shallow bays and coves with emerging vegetation in 2-4 foot depths Areas between docks with submerged wood or vegetation Transition areas between winter deep spots and shallow spawning flats	Bobbers with small jigs suspended 2-3 feet down Live Bait Rigs with tiny leeches or worms Micro Crankbaits worked slowly around cover	Early season aquatic insects and larvae Small crustaceans near vegetation Tiny minnows in warming shallows	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	65-72	Bass actively moving into shallows to spawn, focusing around weed clumps and wood cover. Fish observed both cruising and on beds in low 70°F water temperatures Pre-spawn and spawning behavior varies throughout the day, with some fish still relating to slightly deeper water early and late	Shallow areas with mixed weed clumps and wood cover Protected spawning pockets near shoreline structure Secondary points leading into spawning bays	Wacky Rigs worked slowly around visible beds and cover Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations to spawning areas Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for cruising fish	Bluegill concentrating in spawning areas Small baitfish relating to emerging vegetation	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Pink Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	55-65	Crappies are moving into shallow spawning areas, typically staging in pre-spawn locations near vegetation and gradually transitioning to spawning sites Fish are becoming more active and aggressive as water temperatures rise, with peak feeding periods during morning and evening hours Males will be establishing and guarding nesting areas while females stage slightly deeper until ready to spawn	Shallow vegetation zones in 2-6 foot depth range, especially near harder bottom areas Protected coves and bays with emerging vegetation Transition areas between vegetation and slightly deeper water for staging fish	Bobbers with light jigs suspended at specific depths Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) around vegetation edges Live Bait Rigs with small minnows for finicky fish	Small minnows gathering in warming shallow waters Emerging aquatic insects becoming more active Young-of-year baitfish beginning to appear	Pink Colors Chartreuse Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	65-75	Bluegills moving into shallow spawning areas (2-4 feet) and actively defending nesting sites in protected areas with firm bottom Males becoming increasingly aggressive and territorial, making them more likely to strike at small baits that enter their space	Protected shallow bays with firm bottom and sparse vegetation in 2-4 feet of water Areas between docks where spawning colonies can establish Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water with scattered vegetation	Bobbers with small jigs suspended 2-3 feet down Crappie Dock Shooting for fish holding near dock structures Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') for precise presentation to bedding fish	Small insects and larvae near spawning areas Zooplankton in shallow water columns	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	62-72	Bass transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy Fish are establishing territories around shallow to mid-depth structure, becoming more predictable in their daily movements	Secondary points and rock piles adjacent to spawning areas Shallow docks with nearby vegetation Submerged vegetation edges in 4-6 feet of water	Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through vegetation Spinnerbaits along dock edges and through scattered vegetation Swim Jigs paralleling weed edges	Bluegill gathering in spawning areas Small baitfish relating to newly emerging vegetation	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Dark Neutrals
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	58-68	Post-spawn crappies are actively feeding to recover energy, typically suspending near vegetation edges and gradually moving to slightly deeper water Fish are making frequent transitions between shallow cover and slightly deeper staging areas, with peak activity during morning and evening periods	Edges of submerged vegetation in 4-6 foot depth range Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays in 6-8 foot depth Suspended zones above deeper basins near vegetation	Bobbers with light jigs suspended at specific depth zones Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) around vegetation edges Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) for suspended fish	Small minnows gathering around vegetation edges Emerging aquatic insects in vegetation zones Young-of-year baitfish beginning to school	Pink Colors Chartreuse Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	62-72	Post-spawn bluegills actively feeding in shallow water (2-3 feet) on emerging insects Fish are highly aggressive and territorial, maintaining positions near cover while feeding opportunistically	Laydowns and fallen timber in 2-3 feet of water Shoreline areas with emerging vegetation Dock areas providing shade and cover	Bobbers with small jigs suspended 2-3 feet down Crappie Dock Shooting for fish holding under docks Micro Crankbaits worked slowly around cover	Aquatic insects and emerging larvae Small crustaceans Tiny minnows	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	75-85	Bass are utilizing both shallow and offshore structure, showing typical summer pattern of early/late shallow feeding with midday movements to deeper water Heavy boat traffic is pushing fish tight to cover, particularly during peak recreational hours, making dock and laydown cover especially important	Docks with deep water access, particularly those with additional cover like laydowns Offshore rock piles and boulder fields Laydowns and fallen trees, especially those near deeper water	Structure Jigs worked slowly around docks and laydowns Bladed Jigs worked around shallow rocks, especially early and late Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations around heavy cover	Bluegill - primary forage based on recent reports Juvenile Bass and other small fish utilizing dock shade	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Bold Striped Patterns
Summer	Crappie	68-82	Crappies are actively feeding in and around submerged vegetation, suspending at specific depth zones based on comfort and forage availability Fish are most active during early morning and evening hours, moving shallower during these periods and retreating to slightly deeper vegetation edges during bright midday periods	Thick vegetation beds in 4-6 foot depth range with access to slightly deeper water Outer edges of weed beds where they transition to slightly deeper water Shaded areas under docks near vegetation	Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with light jigs around vegetation edges Bobbers with suspended baits over and around vegetation Crappie Dock Shooting when fish seek shade during bright periods	Small minnows gathering around vegetation Aquatic insects active in the vegetation Young-of-year baitfish emerging in vegetation beds	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Summer	Panfish / Bluegill	68-82	Actively feeding in and around vegetation and dock areas during early morning and evening hours Seeking shade and cooler water during midday, often relating to dock structures and deeper weed edges Exhibiting aggressive feeding behavior on insects and small invertebrates in 2-4 foot depth range during prime periods	Shaded areas under and between docks in 3-6 foot depth range Weed edges adjacent to slightly deeper water (6-8 feet) Submerged wood cover near shoreline areas	Live Bait Rigs with small leeches or worms under slip bobbers Micro Crankbaits worked slowly through vegetation edges Finesse Hair Jigs tipped with plastics around dock posts	Aquatic insects and larvae Small crustaceans and invertebrates Tiny minnows and fish fry	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Dark Neutrals

Fall Fishing Guide for Cedar Lake (2)

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	58-68	Bass are in a transitional feeding pattern, moving between rocky shorelines and deeper structure as they follow baitfish Increased feeding activity during late afternoon and evening hours, actively chasing moving baits	Rocky shorelines with adjacent deeper water Docks and laydowns near transitional areas Points and boulder fields in 4-8 foot depth range	Spinnerbaits worked parallel to rocky banks Structure Jigs flipped to docks and laydowns Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') along rock transitions	Bluegill concentrating near rocky areas Shad schools moving along shoreline areas	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Chartreuse Colors
Fall	Crappie	48-62	Crappies are actively transitioning from shallow vegetation to deeper water, schooling heavily in remaining vegetation areas before winter migration Feeding patterns are becoming more concentrated during daylight hours, with fish suspending near remaining vegetation edges	Submerged vegetation beds, particularly on the north shore of the lake Transition areas between vegetation and deeper water Protected coves with remaining vegetation	Bobbers with small jigs, worked slowly through vegetation Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with small jerkbaits Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') near vegetation edges	Small minnows in and around vegetation Small insects and larvae in remaining vegetation	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Light Neutral Colors
Fall	Panfish / Bluegill	52-65	Transitioning to deeper water (8-12 feet) as water temperatures cool, forming loose schools around key structure Feeding activity increases during stable weather patterns, with peak activity during mid-morning and afternoon hours Actively feeding on remaining insect populations and small crustaceans before winter	Deep edges of weed beds in 8-12 foot range Deeper dock areas with remaining vegetation Submerged wood and brush piles near depth changes	Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') Drop Shot Hover/Mid-Strolling	Late-season aquatic insects Small crustaceans Tiny minnows	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Dark Neutrals

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Crappie	42-48	Crappies are suspending near deep water points and drop-offs, typically holding in loose schools in the 8-12 foot range Feeding activity is concentrated during low-light periods, with fish becoming more active on overcast days	Points adjacent to deeper basins in 8-10 foot range Deep water transitions near remaining vegetation edges Protected coves with sufficient depth	Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') Hover/Mid-Strolling Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)	Small minnows suspended in the water column Juvenile sunfish near remaining vegetation Aquatic insects near bottom structure	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Winter	Panfish / Bluegill	38-45	Schooling in deeper sections of the lake, typically 10-14 feet, with less aggressive feeding patterns due to colder water temperatures Moving between feeding zones and winter holding areas based on light conditions and daily temperature changes	Deep basin areas in 10-14 foot range with proximity to structure Transition areas between shallow flats and deeper water Areas near submerged vegetation that's still viable in winter	Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') Drop Shot Finesse Hair Jigs	Small aquatic insects and larvae Dormant aquatic vegetation Micro invertebrates	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Ice	Crappie	34-39	Crappies are holding on main lake points in 8-10 feet of water, showing increased activity after dark Fish are responding aggressively to vertical presentations, chasing baits upward when properly triggered	Main lake points in 8-10 feet of water Deep basin areas adjacent to points Transition areas between points and basins	Ice Fishing Spoons with aggressive pop-and-pause cadence Ice Fishing Jigs with glow finishes Ice Fishing Tip-Ups set along depth transitions	Small minnows suspended in water column Aquatic insects near bottom structure	Purple Colors Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors
Ice	Panfish / Bluegill	34-39	Bluegills are holding in deeper basins at 10-14 feet, actively feeding on small aquatic insects and zooplankton during stable weather periods Fish are concentrating in areas with good oxygen levels, showing preference for points that provide access to both deeper water and feeding zones	Points in 10-14 foot depth range, particularly where they connect to deeper basins Deep holes near submerged vegetation edges Areas with good oxygen content, typically near inflowing water or springs	Ice Fishing Jigs worked with subtle movements, particularly diamond jigs Ice Fishing Spoons tipped with waxworms or euro larvae Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with small tungsten jigs	Small aquatic insects and larvae Zooplankton Tiny crustaceans	Light Neutral Colors Pink Colors Chartreuse Colors

Key Seasonal Structures in Cedar Lake (2)

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Rock and boulder transitions near spawning flats	Shallow areas with emerging vegetation near spawning zones
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Submerged vegetation beds in 4-8 foot depths, particularly in protected areas	Secondary points with vegetation near spawning bays
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	Shallow bays and coves with emerging vegetation in 2-4 foot depths	Areas between docks with submerged wood or vegetation
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shallow areas with mixed weed clumps and wood cover	Protected spawning pockets near shoreline structure
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Shallow vegetation zones in 2-6 foot depth range, especially near harder bottom areas	Protected coves and bays with emerging vegetation
Spring (Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	Protected shallow bays with firm bottom and sparse vegetation in 2-4 feet of water	Areas between docks where spawning colonies can establish
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Secondary points and rock piles adjacent to spawning areas	Shallow docks with nearby vegetation
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Edges of submerged vegetation in 4-6 foot depth range	Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays in 6-8 foot depth
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	Laydowns and fallen timber in 2-3 feet of water	Shoreline areas with emerging vegetation
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Docks with deep water access, particularly those with additional cover like laydowns	Offshore rock piles and boulder fields
Summer	Crappie	Thick vegetation beds in 4-6 foot depth range with access to slightly deeper water	Outer edges of weed beds where they transition to slightly deeper water
Summer	Panfish / Bluegill	Shaded areas under and between docks in 3-6 foot depth range	Weed edges adjacent to slightly deeper water (6-8 feet)
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Rocky shorelines with adjacent deeper water	Docks and laydowns near transitional areas
Fall	Crappie	Submerged vegetation beds, particularly on the north shore of the lake	Transition areas between vegetation and deeper water
Fall	Panfish / Bluegill	Deep edges of weed beds in 8-12 foot range	Deeper dock areas with remaining vegetation
Winter	Crappie	Points adjacent to deeper basins in 8-10 foot range	Deep water transitions near remaining vegetation edges
Winter	Panfish / Bluegill	Deep basin areas in 10-14 foot range with proximity to structure	Transition areas between shallow flats and deeper water
Ice	Crappie	Main lake points in 8-10 feet of water	Deep basin areas adjacent to points
Ice	Panfish / Bluegill	Points in 10-14 foot depth range, particularly where they connect to deeper basins	Deep holes near submerged vegetation edges

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill beginning to move shallow	Crawfish becoming more active on rocky areas
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Insects, particularly emerging aquatic insects	Small minnows in and around vegetation
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	Early season aquatic insects and larvae	Small crustaceans near vegetation
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill concentrating in spawning areas	Small baitfish relating to emerging vegetation
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Small minnows gathering in warming shallow waters	Emerging aquatic insects becoming more active
Spring (Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	Small insects and larvae near spawning areas	Zooplankton in shallow water columns
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill gathering in spawning areas	Small baitfish relating to newly emerging vegetation
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Small minnows gathering around vegetation edges	Emerging aquatic insects in vegetation zones
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	Aquatic insects and emerging larvae	Small crustaceans
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill - primary forage based on recent reports	Juvenile Bass and other small fish utilizing dock shade
Summer	Crappie	Small minnows gathering around vegetation	Aquatic insects active in the vegetation
Summer	Panfish / Bluegill	Aquatic insects and larvae	Small crustaceans and invertebrates
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill concentrating near rocky areas	Shad schools moving along shoreline areas
Fall	Crappie	Small minnows in and around vegetation	Small insects and larvae in remaining vegetation
Fall	Panfish / Bluegill	Late-season aquatic insects	Small crustaceans
Winter	Crappie	Small minnows suspended in the water column	Juvenile sunfish near remaining vegetation
Winter	Panfish / Bluegill	Small aquatic insects and larvae	Dormant aquatic vegetation
Ice	Crappie	Small minnows suspended in water column	Aquatic insects near bottom structure
Ice	Panfish / Bluegill	Small aquatic insects and larvae	Zooplankton

Bait Colors by Season for Cedar Lake (2)

Season	Species	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Chartreuse Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Pink Colors Chartreuse Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Pink Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Pink Colors Chartreuse Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Dark Neutrals
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Pink Colors Chartreuse Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Panfish / Bluegill	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Bold Striped Patterns
Summer	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Summer	Panfish / Bluegill	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Dark Neutrals
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Bold Striped Patterns Chartreuse Colors
Fall	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Light Neutral Colors
Fall	Panfish / Bluegill	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Dark Neutrals
Winter	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Winter	Panfish / Bluegill	Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors Bold Striped Patterns
Ice	Crappie	Purple Colors Chartreuse Colors Pink Colors
Ice	Panfish / Bluegill	Light Neutral Colors Pink Colors Chartreuse Colors

Enter your email address to get 10% off your first order

Join over 100k anglers who receive our newsletter.
Techniques, tips and tackle breakdowns personalized to your local area.

© 2025 Omnia Fishing Inc. All Rights Reserved

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy