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CEDAR LAKE - JACKSON CO.
Lake Information
County: Jackson
Acreage: 1750
Average Depth: 0.00 feet
Recreational Amenities
Boat Fishing? 10hp
Boat Ramps? Yes
Boat Rental? No
Skiing? No
Swimming? No
Picnicking? No
Camping? No
Click on area names for a more detailed map.
Cove Hollow,
Cedar Creek,
Dam,
Highway 21 Access,
Rocky Creek
Maps are not intended for navigation.
There are no zebra mussels in this lake.
Fish Stocking | |||
Year |
Species |
Size |
Count |
2023 |
Striped Bass |
Fingerling 1 - 3" |
4750 |
Additional information for stocking on Cedar Lake - Jackson
Fishing Outlook ( Full PDF Report )
Click here for a list of all reports.
Species |
Rank |
Fish Status |
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. | |
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. | |
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. | |
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. | |
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. | |
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. | |
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. Follow Boat Dock Road to this ramp.
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.
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:There is a link for the Cedar Lake fish attractor map at the top 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 2 Shelbyville Cube style fish attractors at each of the 30 locations.
Contact Information: City of Carbondale - Cedar Lake 618-549-8441IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Shawn Hirst618-559-5009
Multiple day tournaments are listed with * end date.
Interested in participating in one of these public tournaments? Contact us with tournament ID for more information.
| 2024–2025 Approved or Pending Tournaments | ||||||||
| Start Date | ID | Approval | Ramp Location | Bank/Boat Hook/Bow |
Max Boats | Species | Youth? | Open to Public? |
| April-27 | 28242 | Pending | Carbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| May-04 | 27840 | Pending | Carbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| June-15 | 28243 | Pending | Carbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| July-26 | 27860 | Pending | Carbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| August-23 | 28244 | Pending | Carbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| September-07 | 27855 | Pending | Carbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| October-18 | 27858 | Pending | Carbondale City (Cedar Creek Rd - 20 boat max)) | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
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