Big Cedar Lake is a 937 acre fishery with a maximum depth of 105 feet. Its clear waters and depth cause many challenges for fishermen. It contains panfish including bluegill, perch, and crappie. It also has a good bass and northern pike population along with walleye. The DNR does not consider the walleye population to be self-sustaining and as such the walleye present are due the local fishing clubs stocking efforts along with the DNR. Over the past 20 years the Big Cedar Lake Thursday Night Fishing Club has stocked over 20,000 extended length fingerlings in the lake. In addition, the club has begun working with Walleyes for Tomorrow to net, breed, and release walleye fry into the lake. In the past the DNR also released extended length fingerlings during years the Club did not. The current regulations are as follows:
- Panfish: 25 total with 10 of any one species. For example, you can keep 10 bluegill, 10 perch, and 5 crappie or any variation of the species.
- Northern Pike: 2 northern pike not between 25” to 35”
- Bass: 5 total over 14”
- Walleye: 3 total over 18”
For a complete and current list, go to the Wisconsin DNR site -- The Wisconsin Hook and Line Regulations.
It is often asked whether there are sturgeon in the lake. Yes, there are sturgeon in the lake. As the story goes, in the early 1900’s sturgeon were being transported via truck past the lake when it broke down. Instead of allowing this fish to die they were released into the lake. Occasionally they are spotted and even more rarely they are caught. However, they do not appear to be reproducing. Targeting sturgeon on Big Cedar is not allowed.
