Cedar Lake
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Cedar Lake is mapped to a depth of 10 ft on the Michigan DNR survey and covers about 1,113 acres in Alcona County, Michigan.
Measured from the Michigan DNR inland-lake contour survey.
- Deepest sounding
- 10 ft
- Mean depth
- 2.9 ft · estimated
- Surface area
- 1,113 acres
- Estimated volume
- 3,186 acre-ft · 1,038M gal
- Shoreline
- 15.17 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 3% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Boat Launch
Additional depth details9 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–10 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 10 ft, 9 ft, 8 ft, 8 ft, 8 ft, 8 ft
100% of the surface sits over water shallower than 10 ft. Depth, area and volume are estimated from the interpolated survey surface — historical reference, not measurement.
Compare with another lakeProvenance
Sources: MI DNR inland lake contours, USGS 3DEP, USDA NAIP (public domain), OpenStreetMap (ODbL), MI DNR Boat Launches.
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Map details & sources5 sources
All layers registered to one bounding box; positions in WGS 84.
Survey-derived depth contours drape over USGS 3DEP elevation, with a USDA NAIP aerial basemap and OpenStreetMap shoreline. Colour shows surveyed depth; dark lines are the survey's own isobaths.
- Coordinates
- 44.51944, -83.33154
- MI DNR lake ID
- L851
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.4 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-08-21Cedar Lake has a mixed natural and developed setting, notable open-water exposure, substantial nearby higher-volume roads. No special watercraft restriction is identified in the current source.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Mixed | 9.0 of 30 | 48% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (30% forest, 16% wetland; 39% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Mixed | 6.2 of 25 | mean fetch 2,476 m · 1% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · long fetch in some directions |
| Watercraft controls | None identified | 7.5 of 15 | No special watercraft restriction identified in the current DNR source. Motors permitted, subject to general law. |
| Public access | Good | 12.8 of 15 | 1 site with DNR boating-facility records · 1 ramp lane · 15 trailer spaces |
| Road isolation | Modest | 3.2 of 15 | substantial nearby higher-volume roads · 114 MDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 3,131 vehicles/day |
Additional paddling considerations
These describe the lake but are not part of the v1 Paddling Index and do not change the number above.
- Wake sensitivity
- Low — wide enough that wakes disperse over most of the lake
- Aquatic vegetation
- Low — approximately 3% mapped coverage · NAIP aerial imagery (NDVI)
- Observed motorized activity
- Unknown — No lake-level measurement of boat traffic is available. Legal permission to operate motors is not evidence of use.
- Wildlife habitat potential
- Moderate — 30% forest and 16% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Michigan lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from angler catches, DNR surveys & active stocking24 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colours, not photographs (provenance).
Tiger Muskellunge
Northern Pike
Channel Catfish
Walleye
Freshwater Drum
Largemouth Bass
White Sucker
Smallmouth Bass
Brown Bullhead
Black Bullhead
Black CrappieCrappie
Yellow Bullhead
Redear Sunfishstocked
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Rock Bass
Hybrid Sunfish
Pumpkinseed
Bluntnose MinnowMinnow
Tadpole Madtom
Iowa Darter
Johnny DarterFishing rules for this lake Beta
Size and daily limits for the 24 species found here — 23 open to harvest, 1 with a special rule or closed season.
These are hook-and-line size, daily limit and season rules. Gear, spearing and bow fishing, spawning closures and rod limits are set by other Fisheries Orders and are not shown here.
From FO-206.26 (eff. 2026-04-01) / FO-215.23A (eff. 2023-09-15) / FO-254.25 (eff. 2025-10-10), checked against the 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations digest · verified 2026-08-24. Regulations can change — Michigan DNR rules are the controlling source; verify current regulations before fishing. Official regulations
Notable catches
Master Angler program · 1998–2024Trophy-size fish anglers caught here and registered with the DNR — what people have actually caught, distinct from what a survey netted or the state stocked below.
Catch details by species9 species
Biggest on record
Bait: artificial lure (11) · live bait (7) · worm (4)
Method: spincasting (24) · still fishing (14) · trolling (6) · ice fishing (3)
Fishery
surveyed 2011 · DNR SFR 2020-292Gamefish Northern Pike 74 · Walleye 50 · Smallmouth Bass 28 · Largemouth Bass 11
Panfish Bluegill 462 · Rock Bass 347 · Yellow Perch 120
All survey species19 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Bullhead & catfish
Forage & nongame
DNR stocking
state stocking record · 1982–2026Fish the Michigan DNR has planted in this lake — what was added, distinct from what a survey netted above.
Non-native species records
3 recordsMussels & snails
- Zebra Mussel
Plants & algae
- Eurasian Watermilfoil
- Starry Stonewort
What does non-native mean?
USGS records identify non-native species that have been documented for this lake or its shoreline. Non-native does not necessarily mean invasive, and historical records do not confirm current presence.
Source: Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership Conservation Planner; underlying nonindigenous species records from the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database.
At the lake
community-mapped amenities · straight-line distanceBait & tackle nearby
licensed retail bait dealers · straight-line distanceCedar Lake — common questions
How deep is Cedar Lake?
The deepest contour on the Michigan DNR bathymetric survey of Cedar Lake is 10 ft. That is the deepest depth the historical survey map records, which may differ from the deepest point of the lake itself.
How big is Cedar Lake?
Cedar Lake covers about 1,113 acres in Alcona County, Michigan.
What is the average depth of Cedar Lake?
The estimated mean depth of Cedar Lake is 2.9 ft, calculated from the survey contours.
What fish are in Cedar Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include channel catfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, smallmouth bass, tiger muskellunge, walleye. The page lists all 24 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Cedar Lake?
Yes. The Michigan DNR boat-launch data identifies 1 public access site on Cedar Lake, including Cedar Lake.
