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Fishing Cedar River: what the data says
Cedar Falls to Cedar Rapids The river tops out around 10 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Walleye fishing at Cedar River
Spring walleye on Cedar River hold shallow, usually 3 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. The spot to know is Riffle & run (mile 20.5), a rock pile in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Summer baits: a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Cedar River
Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Riffle & run (mile 20.5): a rock pile around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Channel Catfish fishing at Cedar River
Spring channel catfish on Cedar River hold shallow, usually 3 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8), a creek channel in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in summer. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday |
Flathead Catfish fishing at Cedar River
Start shallow in spring: flathead catfish sit in 3 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8): a creek channel around 8 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | night & dusk | |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | night & dusk | |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday |
Freshwater Drum fishing at Cedar River
Spring freshwater drum on Cedar River hold shallow, usually 3 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8), a creek channel in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for freshwater drum in summer. Plan around the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a jig + crawler combo or a small crankbait (slow) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Jig + curly tail (bounced), Small blade bait |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | Jig + crawler combo, Small crankbait (slow) |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Blade bait (vertical), Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (slow) |
Rock Bass fishing at Cedar River
In spring, rock bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Riffle & run (mile 20.5): a rock pile around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is the evening. Summer baits: a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Notable structure
- Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 4.7): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 6.5): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 11.5): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 13.7): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 18.3): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 23.0): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 25.2): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 27.0): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 28.9): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 32.9): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 34.8): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 39.5): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 41.6): creek channel, around 8 ft
Common questions
How deep is Cedar River?
Cedar River is about 10 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Cedar River?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, channel catfish, flathead catfish, freshwater drum, rock bass on Cedar River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Cedar River?
Riffle & run (mile 20.5) is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Cedar River?
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Rodgers Park Lake · Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake) · Pleasant Creek Lake · Meyers Lake · Harold Getty Lake · Fontana Mill Lake
See how Cedar River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Iowa · best walleye lakes in Iowa · best channel catfish lakes in Iowa · best flathead catfish lakes in Iowa
Browse all Iowa fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.