Minnesota · Aitkin County
Cedar Lake Fishing guide
Cedar Lake sits in Aitkin County, Minnesota, and covers 1,726 acres, reaching 105 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 10.9 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 20 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers1.6per gill net20"Typical30"Biggest
Lengths measured · 165 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 122 fish
2024Lengths measured · 43 fish
2021Lengths measured · 53 fish
2017Lengths measured · 45 fish
2014Largemouth bassFair numbers34.6per hr (electrofishing)12"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 261 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 165 fish
2024Lengths measured · 96 fish
2021Lengths measured · 75 fish
2017Lengths measured · 28 fish
2014Northern pikeFair numbers7.8per gill net19"Typical31"Biggest
Lengths measured · 324 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 160 fish
2024Lengths measured · 164 fish
2021Lengths measured · 166 fish
2017Lengths measured · 136 fish
2014MuskellungeLast stocked 2025Present, stockedPresent and managed by the DNR.
Present and managed by the DNR.
Lengths measured · 19 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 17 fish
2024Lengths measured · 2 fish
2021Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 20 fish
2017Lengths measured · 1 fish
2014Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
BluegillJust a few8.5per trap net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 439 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 112 fish
2024Lengths measured · 327 fish
2021Lengths measured · 187 fish
2017Lengths measured · 343 fish
2014CrappieJust a few1.2per trap net8"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 455 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 283 fish
2024Lengths measured · 172 fish
2021Lengths measured · 179 fish
2017Lengths measured · 58 fish
2014Rock bassFair numbers0.5per trap net8"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 53 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 10 fish
2024Lengths measured · 43 fish
2021Lengths measured · 16 fish
2017Lengths measured · 22 fish
2014Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Cedar Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 10.9 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure. On a lake that drops to 105 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. At 10.9 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. On a lake that drops to 105 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Walleye | Largemouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 30" | 17" | 31" |
| 2021 | 30" | 17" | 30" |
| 2017 | 30" | 17" | 33" |
| 2014 | 30" | 14" | 30" |
| 2011 | 29" | 17" | 32" |
| 2007 | 30" | 16" | 31" |
| 2002 | 32" | 19" | 30" |
| 1997 | 26" | 17" | 29" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Muskellunge | 429 fingerlings · 81 yearlings |
| 2025 | Walleye | 10,835 fingerlings |
| 2024 | Muskellunge | 405 fingerlings |
| 2024 | Walleye | 581 fingerlings · 9,607 yearlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 6,849 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Muskellunge | 405 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 11,084 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 6,282 fingerlings · 105 adults |
| 2020 | Walleye | 4,584 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Muskellunge | 405 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 9,712 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Muskellunge | 405 fingerlings |
Stocking records before 2018 omitted.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A temperature-dissolved oxygen (TDO) profile was collected from the main basin to measure the amount of habitat available for Tullibee. The main basin represents the area of Cedar Lake most likely to have adequate conditions for Tullibee survival. The TDO3 (temperature at 3 mg/l dissolved oxygen) was determined to be 5.9 degrees C. Overall oxy-thermal habitat in the main basin was good, with favorable conditions from the surface to a depth of 90 feet. Data collected from 2009-2025 indicate that the main basin has had sufficient thermal habitat for Tullibee survival in each year surveyed and provides good habitat compared to other area lakes that are monitored. Because the Aitkin management area is located near the southern edge of Minnesota's Tullibee range, TDO profiles should continue to be collected to monitor the availability of cold-water habitat.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Cedar Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Cedar Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Cedar Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Cedar Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Dogfish Lake · 35 ac · 2.2 mi
- Blue Lake · 54 ac · 2.2 mi
- Four Lake · 37 ac · 2.2 mi
- Hammal Lake · 376 ac · 2.8 mi
- Pickerel Lake · 99 ac · 2.8 mi
- Thornton Lake · 161 ac · 3.1 mi
- Townline Lake · 114 ac · 3.2 mi
- Black Lake · 106 ac · 4.3 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Cedar Lake?
Cedar Lake reaches 105 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 28 ft; about 23% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Cedar Lake?
Cedar Lake covers 1,726 acres with about 27.6 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Cedar Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Cedar Lake average 10.9 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Cedar Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Cedar Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked muskellunge and walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2018.
Does Cedar Lake have a public access?
Yes. Cedar Lake has one public access site: Cedar Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Cedar Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 30"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1997.
When was Cedar Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Cedar Lake in 2025, the most recent of 20 surveys on record.
Page updated .
Featured guide spot
Your guide service here
One featured guide per lake, with your photo, your writeup and a link straight to your booking page. Free through December 31, 2026.
Then $20 a month from January. Cancel any time.
The live map adds today's conditions and ranked spots for Cedar Lake, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open Cedar Lake on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report