Minnesota · Morrison County
Cedar Lake Fishing guide
Cedar Lake is a 236-acre lake in Morrison County, Minnesota, reaching 88 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 17.4 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 27 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Good numbers5.8per gill net19"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 50 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 7 fish
2025Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 15 fish
2024Lengths measured · 5 fish
2023Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 38 fish
2021Largemouth bassGood numbers63.1per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 144 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 17 fish
2025Lengths measured · 8 fish
2023Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 119 fish
2021Lengths measured · 12 fish
2019Northern pikeFair numbers7.7per gill net19"Typical31"Biggest
Lengths measured · 115 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 45 fish
2025Lengths measured · 24 fish
2023Lengths measured · 46 fish
2021Lengths measured · 68 fish
2019BluegillJust a few20.1per trap net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 237 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 18 fish
2025Lengths measured · 38 fish
2023Lengths measured · 181 fish
2021Lengths measured · 57 fish
2019CrappieJust a few0.2per trap net11"Typical14"Biggest
Lengths measured · 104 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 36 fish
2025Lengths measured · 66 fish
2023Lengths measured · 2 fish
2021Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 165 fish
2019Rock bassGood numbers1.2per gill net8"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 15 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2025Lengths measured · 3 fish
2025Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 12 fish
2021Lengths measured · 19 fish
2016Lengths measured · 11 fish
2013Rates 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 17.4 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 88 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 17.4 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 88 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26" | 19" | 31" |
| 2024 | 13" | — | — |
| 2023 | 23" | 18" | 23" |
| 2021 | 26" | 17" | 27" |
| 2019 | 25" | 19" | 28" |
| 2018 | — | 19" | — |
| 2016 | 24" | 16" | 28" |
| 2015 | 23" | 11" | 30" |
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 · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
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 | Tullibee (cisco) | 116 adults |
| 2025 | Walleye | 217 yearlings |
| 2024 | Walleye | 100,000 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 1,314 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 1,440 fingerlings · 20 adults |
| 2019 | Walleye | 3,525 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 1,548 fingerlings · 114 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Cedar Lake (DOW#49-0140-00: Lake Class 23) is a 236 acre lake located near Upsala, Minnesota. A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) owned concrete boat ramp is located on the south shoreline. Cedar Lake has 3.41 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 88 feet. The lake is primarily managed for Walleye and Northern Pike and secondarily for Black Crappie and Largemouth Bass. The lake was initially surveyed in 1959, and 49 sampling surveys or investigations have occurred since.
In this assessment seven standard lake survey trap nets were used to evaluate the Northern Pike regulation. The Northern Pike regulation was modified in 2018 to a 26-inch maximum and a three fish bag limit, due to an increasing abundance of small pike and an apparent decrease in large pike. In the previous survey, the 2023 ice-out catch was low. For the 2025 ice-out survey one additional net was added and all original nets were set three times to have a better chance of capturing more fish. With additional effort the 2025 ice-out survey resulted in a low catch. The low sample size obtained in 2025 suggests caution regarding its accuracy in representing the pike population. It's unlikely the low catch is the product of a reduced pike density. The mean length, mean weight, maximum length, percentage greater than 24 inches, and the percentage over 30 inches were all well below historical levels. Two Pike exceeding 30 inches were observed in the 2025 ice-out assessment, which is the first time since 2015 that any Pike observed exceeding 30 inches. The reasons for the decline in pike size structure characteristics are not well understood, tough the past protection of nearly all pike in the lake under 40 inch appears to have resulted in an increased abundance of small pike. The modification of pike regulations in 2018 to a 26-inch maximum length was designed to protect larger pike while facilitating harvest of smaller pike.
Read the full DNR narrative
Seven Walleye were captured in the 2025 ice-out assessment ranging from 21.7 to 26.5 inches. Mean weight was large at 5.43 pounds which is higher than the typical for these early spring efforts. Gill nets in 2021 captured 5.83 Walleyes per lift, suggesting a favorable population level.
The Black Crappies sample consisted of 36 fish ranging from 5.4 to 14 inches. Mean length was 11 inches; however, the most numerous size group was 11.0-11.49 inches. The larger catches in recent years and the continued presence of crappies in the 14-inch size range are encouraging. Future Black Crappie evaluations will include targeted spring electrofishing. Largemouth Bass and Bluegill were also measured in 2025 with the bass sample comprised of 17 fish from 8.2 to 19.3 inches in length. A total of 18 Bluegills were measured, which ranged in length from 5.8 to 8.8 inches.
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, Hippe (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Cedar Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Pine Lake · 178 ac · 1.2 mi
- Mound Lake · 270 ac · 2.6 mi
- Mary Lake · 129 ac · 3.5 mi
- Buck Lake · 61 ac · 4.7 mi
- Bass Lake · 94 ac · 4.7 mi
- St. Anna Lake · 126 ac · 5.1 mi
- Twin Lake · 121 ac · 5.1 mi
- Moose Lake · 131 ac · 5.7 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Cedar Lake?
Cedar Lake reaches 88 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 39 ft; about 28% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Cedar Lake?
Cedar Lake covers 236 acres with about 3.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Cedar Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Cedar Lake average 17.4 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, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Cedar Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked tullibee (cisco) and walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Cedar Lake have a public access?
Yes. Cedar Lake has one public access site: Cedar Lake, Hippe (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Cedar Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 26"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2015.
When was Cedar Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Cedar Lake in 2025, the most recent of 27 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