Cedar Lake

How big is Cedar Lake?

How deep is Cedar Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Cedar Lake?

What are the closest cities to Cedar Lake?

Are there boat launches on Cedar Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Cedar Lake?

Cedar Lake is a 90 acre lake located 3.5 miles northeast of Melrose in Stearns County. It has an average depth of 8.1 feet, and a maximum depth of 36 feet. Cedar Lake supports a diverse aquatic vegetation community, and much of the shoreline is protected by emergent plants. Principal game fish species include northern pike, largemouth bass, and panfish. A public access is located on the east side, but fishing pressure appears to be low. Cedar Lake has relatively good water quality and is largely undeveloped due to extensive cattail stands and large areas of shallow wetland.

The catch rate of northern pike in 2010 (6.7/gill net) was consistent with lakes of similar characteristics. Northern pike ranged in length from 10 to 30.5 inches, with an average length and weight of 22 inches and three pounds. Seven year classes of northern pike were sampled, however, most of the pike were age 5 or younger. Growth rates for both male and female pike were faster than statewide averages. Forty-five percent of northern pike sampled in gill nets were greater than 24 inches in length.

A local sportsman's club stocked walleye fingerlings in Cedar Lake (1,000 fingerlings in both 2004 and 2005, and 2,200 fingerlings in 2008). The success of these stocking efforts appears limited as no walleye were caught during this survey.

The catch rate of yellow perch in 2010 (2.7/ gill net) was similar to previous surveys and remained below the expected range. Yellow perch averaged about six inches in length and growth rates were consistent with statewide averages.

Largemouth bass sampled in Cedar Lake were mostly small and grew slowly. The catch rate was about half the average for the Montrose management area. Largemouth bass ranged in length from 5 to 20 inches and averaged 11 inches in length. One 18 inch largemouth bass was determined to be 11 years old. Even though the catch rate of largemouth bass in Cedar Lake was less than other lakes in the area, previous electrofishing performed at night have yielded high catch rates. Given their small size and relatively slow growth rates it is thought that largemouth bass are still abundant in Cedar Lake.

Bluegill were the most abundant species caught in the survey. The catch rate was within the expected range for this lake type. The average size (6.5 inches and one quarter pound) was near the expected, and a few large bluegill (over eight inches) were captured as well. Bluegill grew relatively slow, taking between seven and eight years to reach six inches in length.

As in previous surveys, few black crappie were caught; but the average size (ten inches) was high. The largest crappie sampled was eleven inches long.

Only one yellow and one black bullhead were sampled by gill nets in 2010 compared to relatively higher catches in the past. Similar declines in bullhead catches were also seen in trap nets.

Other species sampled in low numbers included brown bullheads, bowfin, hybrid sunfish, and pumpkinseed sunfish.

Anglers can help to preserve the fishery in Cedar Lake by selectively harvesting smaller gamefish and releasing larger ones. Harvesting smaller fish may allow the others to grow faster; and larger predators help prevent the smaller fish from overpopulating the lake and becoming stunted.

What is the average air temp for Cedar Lake?

Are there any state parks near Cedar Lake?