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CEDAR LAKE - JACKSON CO.


Lake Information

County: Jackson

Acreage: 1750

Recreational Amenities

Boat Fishing? 10hp

Boat Ramps? Yes

Boat Rental? No

Skiing? No

Swimming? No

Picnicking? No

Camping? No



larger map link Rocky Creek Cove Hollow Highway 21 Access Cedar Creek Dam


    Click on area names for a more detailed map.
    Cove Hollow, Cedar Creek, Dam, Highway 21 Access,
    Rocky Creek

Click on map for expanded view

Maps are not intended for navigation.


There are no zebra mussels in this lake.


Lake Status Summary  ( Full PDF Report )

Click here for a list of all reports.

Species

Rank

Fish Status

BLUEGILL

Average

Despite the high density largemouth bass population, the bluegill population structure can only be described as average. A few bluegill over 8 inches are collected each spring in annual fisheries surveys.

CHANNEL CATFISH

Fair

Four channel catfish (20-22 inches) were collected in the 2023 spring survey. Catfish species have never been collected in great numbers in previous surveys. No channel catfish were stocked in 2023.

CRAPPIE

Excellent

Cedar Lake has an excellent crappie population consisting of both black and white crappie. Of the crappie collected in the 2023 spring survey, 83% were over 9 inches and 65% were over 10 inches. Another 17% of the crappie collected were over 12 inches. The largest crappie collected was a black crappie that measured 15 inches and weighed 1.7 pounds.

FLATHEAD CATFISH

Poor

Flathead catfish are present in Cedar Lake and have been collected in 4 of the last 7 fish surveys. Two flathead catfish (8-18 inches) were collected in the 2023 survey.

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Excellent

Of the largemouth bass collected during the 2023 spring electrofishing sampling , 32% were in the protected slot limit (14-18 inches) and 19% were over 18 inches in length. Anglers are encouraged to keep their daily limit of 5 largemouth bass under 14 inches to help thin out the smaller largemouth bass at Cedar Lake. This will increase growth rates, allow more largemouth bass to reach the protected slot limit, and lead to more trophy-sized fish in the future. Cedar Lake has one of the best largemouth bass populations of any lake in Illinois with respect to the total number of largemouth bass and largemouth bass over 18 inches. The largest bass collected in the 2023 spring survey weighed 6.0 pounds.

REDEAR SUNFISH

Excellent

The redear population is outstanding for a larger lake. Fifty-two percent of the redear sunfish collected during the 2023 spring survey were over 8 inches. Twenty-eight percent were over 9 inches in length.

STRIPED BASS

Average

IDNR stocks striped bass into Cedar Lake when available. A total of 4750 striped bass (3 inches) were stocked in 2023. Anglers have reported catching striped bass in excess of 20 pounds. Cedar Lake offers one of the few opportunities in Illinois to catch striped bass. Striped bass are very difficult to obtain for stocking and may not be stocked again in Cedar for many years. A tagging program was initiated in 2023. If you catch a tagged striped bass at Cedar Lake please call IDNR Fish Biologist Shawn Hirst at 618-559-5009. Please record tag # (5 digits), date, fish length, and whether or not you harvested the fish. Please do not remove tag if releasing the fish.

Location: Cedar Lake is located five miles southwest of Carbondale in Jackson County. The City of Carbondale boat access area is located at the end of Cedar Creek Road off of Old Route 51 South. Another boat access area can be found south of Murphysboro off of State Route 127.

Description: Cedar Lake is 1750 acres in size with a maximum depth of 60 feet. The northern half of the shoreline is owned by the City of Carbondale. The southern half of the shoreline is surrounded by Shawnee National Forest, which is owned by the US Forest Service. There is no marina on Cedar Lake.

Additional Lake Information: With a 10 HP motor limit and no swimming allowed (except at a designated beach), Cedar Lake receives very little recreational boat traffic throughout the year. However, parking at the two boat ramps can be a problem during peak fishing months in the spring and fall. There is no marina on Cedar Lake.

Site Regulations:
Largemouth bass: No possession of bass equal to or greater than 14 inches and less than 18"; 5 fish less than 14" and 1 equal or greater than 18" daily limit
Striped, white or hypbrid bass: 17" minimum length limit; 3 fish daily limit
White, black, hybrid crappie: 25 fish daily limit
2-pole and line fishing only

Fishing Tournaments: Permits for fishing tournaments are required from the City of Carbondale and can be obtained by contacting the City of Carbondale/Lake Manager – Cedar Lake 618-549-8441 beginning on January 1 of each year. No IDNR fish tournament permits will be issued until a City of Carbondale permit is obtained. Tournaments are limited to a 20 boat maximum.

Fish Attractors:Maps of 30 permanent Cedar Lake fish attractor locations can be obtained via email by sending a request to Shawn.Hirst@Illinois.gov

Contact Information:
City of Carbondale - Cedar Lake
618-549-8441
IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Shawn Hirst
618-559-5009

There were 50 tournaments held on this waterbody in 2020.

Species Total Fish Caught
Largemouth Bass 2181

Top 5 Largemouth Bass caught on this waterbody in 2020 tournaments:

1     6.94 lbs
2     6.47 lbs
3     6.42 lbs
4     6.36 lbs
5     6.32 lbs

Top 5 Bag Weights of Largemouth Bass caught on this waterbody in 2020 tournaments:

1 197.06 lbs
2 172.49 lbs
3 164.00 lbs
4 160.00 lbs
5 155.31 lbs


Multiple day tournaments are listed with *end date and

Interested in participating in one of these public tournaments? Contact us with tournament ID for more information.

2020-2021 Approved or Pending Tournaments
Start Date ID Approval Ramp Location Bank/Boat
Hook/Bow
Max Boats Species Youth? Open to Public?
April-0626728ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Yes
April-0726874ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
10Largemouth Bass
No
April-1325942ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
18Largemouth Bass
No
April-1426806ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
15Largemouth Bass
No
April-2026416ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Yes
April-2126420ApprovedPomona City (Boat Dock Rd - 20 boat max) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
April-2126629PendingCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Spotted Bass
No
April-2126714ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Spotted Bass
No
April-2726803ApprovedPomona City (Boat Dock Rd - 20 boat max) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
April-2826471ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
May-1126723ApprovedPomona City (Boat Dock Rd - 20 boat max) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
May-1826635ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Yes
May-1926472ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
May-2526417ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Yes
May-2626724ApprovedPomona City (Boat Dock Rd - 20 boat max) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
May-2926879ApprovedPomona City (Boat Dock Rd - 20 boat max) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Yes
June-0126582ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
40Largemouth Bass
No
June-0526880ApprovedPomona City (Boat Dock Rd - 20 boat max) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Yes
June-0826730ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Yes
June-0926726ApprovedPomona City (Boat Dock Rd - 20 boat max) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
June-1526418ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Yes
June-1526816ApprovedPomona City (Boat Dock Rd - 20 boat max) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
June-1626389ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
June-1926881ApprovedPomona City (Boat Dock Rd - 20 boat max) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Yes
June-3026390ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
June-3026473ApprovedPomona City (Boat Dock Rd - 20 boat max) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
July-0326882ApprovedPomona City (Boat Dock Rd - 20 boat max) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Yes
July-0526729ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Yes
July-1026883ApprovedPomona City (Boat Dock Rd - 20 boat max) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Yes
July-1326875ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
10Largemouth Bass
No
July-20
*July-21
26612ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Spotted Bass
No
July-2426884ApprovedPomona City (Boat Dock Rd - 20 boat max) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Yes
July-27
*July-28
26392ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
July-2826474ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
August-0326630PendingCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Spotted Bass
No
August-0326715ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Spotted Bass
No
August-0326804ApprovedPomona City (Boat Dock Rd - 20 boat max) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
August-17
*August-18
26421ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
August-2526475ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
September-0126631ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Spotted Bass
No
September-0726805ApprovedPomona City (Boat Dock Rd - 20 boat max) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
September-2126613ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Spotted Bass
No
September-2226422ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
September-2926476ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
September-2926807ApprovedPomona City (Boat Dock Rd - 20 boat max) boat
hook
15Largemouth Bass
No
October-0526391ApprovedCarbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No