Cedar Lake Fishing near Faribault, Minnesota

• Overview

  Cedar Lake sits in Rice County, out in Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,053 feet. At some 954 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. Shoreline length is close to 9.9 miles, and each section fishes a little differently. Few waters listed in Rice County are bigger. Nearest town is Faribault, 7.9 miles off. After that come Waterville at 8.6 miles and Medford at 12 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Cedar Lake

  Depth records show about 48 feet at the bottom of the basin. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name common carp, bluegill and largemouth bass. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Work Cedar Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 11°F in January up to 71°F in July. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early April. The water is typically free of ice between early April and late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. The season on Cedar Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. There is a campsite half a mile from the water. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. The nearest alternative is Willing Lake, 1.4 miles out. Treat Cedar Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.