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Cedar Falls to Cedar Rapids The river tops out around 10 ft. The contours come from a model of the real basin shape and its known max depth. Read them as probabilities, not soundings, and keep them out of navigation decisions. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
On the chart, Cedar River draws 5,402 acres inside 170.2 miles of shoreline — 15 islands included. The 16.5 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. All of it is shallow-zone water — under ~15 ft across the entire basin, so the food chain has the run of the place. Figure 56.1 mi of water from one end to the other, 7.6 mi at the beam. The water lies in Benton County. For a second option, Rodgers Park Lake lies 4 mi south.
Come spring, look for walleye tight to the bank in 3 to 10 ft. Through summer count on 3 to 10 ft; the winter hold is 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 and early morning. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 20.5) (4 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Current seam (mile 0.6) (6 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & night | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8) (8 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8) (8 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 10 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 3 to 10 ft covers summer, 3 to 10 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Riffle & run (mile 20.5), a rock pile in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 20.5) (4 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 20.5) (4 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Current seam (mile 0.6) (6 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 0.6) (6 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: channel catfish in 3 to 10 ft. The depth story barely changes: 3 to 10 ft through summer, 3 to 10 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8), a creek channel in the 8 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8) (8 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8) (8 ft) | |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8) (8 ft) | |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8) (8 ft) |
Spring puts flathead catfish in skinny water — 3 to 10 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. Summer flathead catfish concentrate at Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8), a prime-rated creek channel around 8 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8) (8 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8) (8 ft) | |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8) (8 ft) | |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8) (8 ft) |
In spring, freshwater drum run shallow here, mostly 3 to 10 ft. Summer keeps them at 3 to 10 ft, and they winter in 3 to 10 ft. Summer freshwater drum concentrate at Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8), a prime-rated creek channel around 8 ft. Fish it in the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a jig + crawler combo or a small crankbait (slow) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8) (8 ft) | Jig + curly tail (bounced), Small blade bait |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8) (8 ft) | Jig + crawler combo, Small crankbait (slow) |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8) (8 ft) | Blade bait (vertical), Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8) (8 ft) | Jigging spoon (slow) |
Early season rock bass use the shallows, holding in 2 to 10 ft. Even in summer they hold at 3 to 10 ft; winter keeps them in 3 to 10 ft. Put Riffle & run (mile 20.5) first on the milk run — a rock pile near 4 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening. Tie on a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 20.5) (4 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | Riffle & run (mile 20.5) (4 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Riffle & run (mile 20.5) (4 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Riffle & run (mile 20.5) (4 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
The chart marks 38 structure features on Cedar River; the deepest is Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8) at about 8 ft.
Access data: Iowa DNR — Boat Ramps. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Iowa waters are set by the Iowa DNR — and special regulations can apply to Cedar River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Iowa fishing regulations →
Cedar River is about 10 ft (3 m) deep 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.
Anglers target walleye, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, freshwater drum, rock bass 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.
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.
Fishing on Cedar River is regulated by the Iowa DNR. Check the official Iowa regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Rodgers Park Lake 4 mi · Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake) 13 mi · Pleasant Creek Lake 15 mi · Meyers Lake 19 mi · Harold Getty Lake 20 mi · Green Belt Lake 23 mi · Wapsipinicon River 24 mi · Fontana Mill Lake 25 mi · South Prairie Lake 26 mi · George Wyth Lake 26 mi · Hannen Lake 27 mi · Otter Creek Lake 28 mi
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 see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.