CEDAR LAKE STATUS REPORT SUMMARY

LARGEMOUTH BASS: CEDAR LAKE - Cedar Lake is located five miles southwest of the City of Carbondale in Jackson County off of Route 51 South. Largemouth bass are very abundant in Cedar Lake. The change to a 14" 18" protected slot length limit has not yet started to show improvements in the condition of the bass. Exploitation is low and harvest of bass less than 14 inches appears to also be almost non existent. The daily creel limit on this lake was changed from two bass under 14 inches and two bass over 18 inches to five bass under 14 inches and one bass over 18 inches.

Bass anglers are encouraged to harvest the bass under 14 inches to improve the overall condition of the bass population. Thinning out the smaller bass will increase bass growth rates and body condition which should result in a faster growing bass population. During the 2003 sample, largemouth bass were collected at a rate of 160 per hour which is by far the highest rate on record. The percentage of bass collected that were in the 14 18 inch protected slot was also the highest on record. The percentage of bass over 18 inches remained low but should improve in the next 3 5 years. There is a 10 HP motor limit on this lake.

STRIPED BASS AND HYBRID: Cedar Lake is located five miles southwest of the City of Carbondale in Jackson County off of Route 51 South. There is a 17 inch minimum length limit and 3 fish daily creel limit on this lake. There is also a 10 HP motor limit on this lake. Little information is available on the striped bass population of this lake. An attempt will be made during 2006 to sample the stripers during the spring. Most information is from anglers catches which range from 5-23 pounds.

Stocking History (since 1990)

YEAR	NUMBER	SIZE
1990	17,500	1.0"
1992	10,000	1.5"
1993	8,750	1.5"
1994	8,000	1.5"
1996	8,750	2.5"
1997	8,750	1.5"
2002	6,000	2.0"
2005	14,542	1.5"

 

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