Jump to content

  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Cedar Lake Muskie

fishinlarry
 Share

Recommended Posts

palisade1kid Mentor

palisade1kid

Posted
Posted

I don't do Cedar anymore,but I thought you'd like to see what the DNR says...

Status of the Fishery (as of 08/12/2002)

Cedar Lake is a large, dark water lake located in western Aitkin County approximately 3 miles west of Aitkin. Cedar Lake is comprised of seven basins that vary in size from several hundred acres to less than forty acres. Much of the shoreline has a sharp drop-off with the maximum depth of the basins varying from 28 feet to 106 feet. With the exception of the main basin, none of the basins have oxygen below the thermocline.

The primary species sought by anglers in Cedar Lake are walleye, northern pike, black crappie, largemouth bass and muskellunge. Muskellunge are the newest member of the fish community and have proved to be very popular with many anglers. Although Cedar Lake is connected to the Mississippi River, which is native muskellunge water, via a relatively short stream, muskellunge had never been sampled in Cedar Lake. Muskellunge were introduced in 1994 and have been stocked annually since. Two of the first three stockings included fish that were 2 to 4 years of age and weighed up to 4 pounds. Fish from these first stockings are now of legal length with the largest know muskellunge sampled was a 45 inch female captured during a spring trap net assessment in April of 2000.

Walleye fishing is a very popular activity on Cedar Lake with both the local residents and non-resident anglers staying at one of the several resorts on the lake. Cedar Lake's walleye population has a wide size distribution, including some real trophys, as documented by the 32-inch walleye caught in this survey. The sharp drop-offs and the many shallow reefs and gravel bars will provide the walleye angler a host of areas to fish for Minnesota's state fish.

Northern pike angling traditionally has been good on Cedar Lake and is likely to get better. There are two notable changes in the northern pike population observed since the last survey. First, the northern pike have decreased in abundance and second, the northern pike length frequency distribution has shown a shift toward larger fish. For many years Cedar Lake, like many lakes throughout central Minnesota, had an over abundant northern pike population that was dominated by small "hammer handle" northern pike. In 1997 only twenty-five percent of the northern pike sampled were 20 inches long or longer. In 2002 almost one-half of the northern pike sampled were 20 inches or greater in length.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
knoppers Mentor

knoppers

Posted
Posted

dark water lake?????

that lake is one of the clearest in the area. I did get a 48 inch musky two years ago there. and will be fishing it again this weekend.

walleyes? I am not sure there are any in there smirk.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Matt Breuer Veteran

Matt Breuer

Posted
Posted

Nope, no 'eyes in Cedar for sure! smirk.gif

As for dark water... hmm... you'd have to hit the 80+ foot holes in the middle before the water gets dark. It's crystal clear!

I lived on Cedar for many years, and I saw and caught numerous muskies. Only made it back once last year, raised one hot fish is all...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
palisade1kid Mentor

palisade1kid

Posted
Posted

They do not call the west side of the lake THE GOLD COAST for nothing. wink.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Matt Breuer Veteran

Matt Breuer

Posted
Posted

Actually I lived on the gold coast, which is a small section of the East shoreline, and the walleye fishing isn't that great there. I caught some with lighted bobbers from the dock on occasion while having a campfire, but during daylight they don't concentrate on that shoreline much. It's a big lake, with a ton of structure, and the midlake stuff is much better...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
palisade1kid Mentor

palisade1kid

Posted
Posted

Quote:

They do not call the west side of the lake THE GOLD COAST for nothing.
wink.gif

My bad ,your right .The east side is closest to Aitkin.

When my Dad grew up in the Cerdarbrook area back in the 40's & 50's they lived off of those eyes.Hence the name Goldcoast,because of the gold color of the walleye.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Matt Breuer Veteran

Matt Breuer

Posted
Posted

fishinlarry, since this too has turned into something other than what it started as, I thought I'd drop in with additional info...

If you head out onto Cedar work the various bays, as well as some of the rocky areas around the islands. Muskies hold in these areas all year long. There are a ton of 'skis out there, and they're usually on the prowl. Good luck, and let us know how you do!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 1 month later...
solocam Collaborator

solocam

Posted
Posted

CK,

The kid and I started fishing for Muskie this year and he caught one 33" northern and a 41" muskie the first 3 hours that we were on the lake. They are on the move.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
palisade1kid Mentor

palisade1kid

Posted
Posted

WTG,a ton of guys will fish for days without and you guys tagged one right away. WAHOOOOOOO!

Keep on looking & you'll see some in the 50" range.Man do they give a guy a tussle!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
solocam Collaborator

solocam

Posted
Posted

Have you been on Round? If They are still on I might take a trip up there this week. 10 and 12 lakes has been slow.

later,

Dale

Link to comment
Share on other sites
palisade1kid Mentor

palisade1kid

Posted
Posted

Caught a mess of 8 inchers before the cold front slowed the bite.

I go to another lake for bass or pike until the fall. If you are looking to eat Esquagamah is giving up crappies all over the place.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
solocam Collaborator

solocam

Posted
Posted

Not looking to eat. Just catch. I will look you up if I wonder up that way. Wilkens should be doing ok.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      Big Kandiyohi

      By mulefarm · Posted

      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      Big Traverse Ice Free

      By LakeofthewoodsMN · Posted

      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      St Cloud Fishing Reports

      By leech~~ · Posted

      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      St Cloud Fishing Reports

      By Rick G · Posted

      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By smurfy · Posted

      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

  I accept