Cedar Lake Fishing in Jefferson County, Missouri

• Overview

  The Jefferson County entry here is Cedar Lake, in Missouri. Everything around it is rolling hill. It covers about 3 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is a small entry by Jefferson County standards. 3.3 miles away sits Pevely, the nearest town. Riverside is 4.1 miles away, with Herculaneum at 4.3 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Cedar Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Jefferson County records list orangethroat darter, longear sunfish and rainbow darter among the fish reported. The county list is broader than any single water. On Cedar Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 78°F and January at 30°F. Fishing continues through most of the calendar, with quiet spells rather than closures. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. On Cedar Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Lake Louise sits 2.2 miles off and takes the overflow. None of that is settled for Cedar Lake in what we hold.