Cedar Lake - Jackson
Info / Jackson County
Family Friendly
Yes
Handicap Access
Yes
Boat Fishing
Yes - 10 hp limit
Boat Ramps
Yes
Boat Rentals
No
Camping
No
Picnicking
No
Skiing
No
Swimming
Yes - Swimming only allowed at designated beach area
Trout Stocking
No
Zebra Mussels
None
Location 1750 acres
Fishing Outlook
Redear Sunfish
Excellent
The redear population is outstanding for a larger lake. Redear sunfish over 9 inches are routinely observed in fisheries surveys.
Striped Bass
Average
Striped Bass are stocked into Cedar Lake when available. A total of 2036 Striped Bass (6-inches) were stocked in 2025. 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. 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.
Crappie spp.
Excellent
Cedar Lake has an excellent crappie population consisting of both black and white crappie. Of the crappie collected in the 2025 spring survey, 74% were over 9 inches and 60% were over 10 inches. Another 15% of the crappie collected were over 12 inches. The largest crappie collected was a black crappie that measured 15 inches and weighed 2.2 pounds.
Flathead Catfish
Poor
Flathead catfish are present in Cedar Lake and have been collected in 4 of the last 5 fish surveys. Three flathead catfish (11-32 inches) were collected in the 2025 survey. The largest flathead catfish weighed 16 pounds.
Largemouth Bass
Excellent
Of the Largemouth Bass collected during the 2025 spring electrofishing sampling , 38% were in the protected slot limit (14-18 inches) and 11% were over 18 inches in length. This lake's bass population is trending toward being a stunted population. 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. The largest bass collected in the 2025 spring survey weighed just under 6 pounds.
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 observed during annual fisheries surveys.
Channel Catfish
Good
Twelve channel catfish (18-26 inches) were collected in the 2025 spring survey. Channel catfish (10,900 5.5-inch fish) were stocked in 2025. Channel catfish are stocked into Cedar Lake when available.
| 2025 | Bluegill | Fingerling (1 - 3") | 34013 |
| 2025 | Channel Catfish | Advanced Fingerling (4 - 7") | 10900 |
| 2025 | Striped Bass | Advanced Fingerling (4 - 7") | 2036 |
| 2024 | Striped Bass | Advanced Fingerling (4 - 7") | 2100 |
| 2023 | Striped Bass | Fingerling (1 - 3") | 4750 |
Contact
618-549-8441
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. Kayak rentals are available at the City of Carbondale boat ramp parking area via a vending machine which requires utilizing a cell phone app. A handicap accessible kayak launch is also located at the City of Carbondale boat ramp parking area. 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 especially on the weekends.Fishery History
Cedar Lake has had an overpopulation of smaller bass (less than 14 inches). Anglers are encouraged to harvest bass less than 14 inches from Cedar Lake. This will increase the number and body condition of bass greater than 14 inches.
Striped Bass are stocked annually when available. If you catch a tagged Striped Bass please call 618-559-5009 with the following information: 5-digit tag number, length of fish, date of catch, and whether or not the fish was released or harvested. Please do not remove the tag if returning the fish to the lake.
Fish Attractors: There is a link for the Cedar Lake fish attractor map at the bottom of this page. There were 18-22 PVC porcupine ball fish attractors placed at each of the 30 locations at Cedar Lake. There are also two Shelbyville Cube style fish attractors at each of the 30 locations.
Site Regulations
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.
Site-Specific Fishing Regulations:
- All Fish: 2 pole and line fishing only and each pole must not have more than 2 hooks or lures attached while fishing; bow fishing is allowed
- Large or Smallmouth Bass: Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of fish greater than or equal to 14 inches and less than 18 inches; 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 fish greater than or equal to 18 inches and 5 fish less than 14 inches
- Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass: 17 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie: 25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Additional Information
Planning to eat your catch? Fish Consumption Advisory information can be found here: Fish Consumption Advisory PageBath Map
Fish Attractor Map
