Cedar Creek on Columbus Day

I hate to say this but....it's all about money these days. Money off the marina, admission to the "beach". I knew that talk of a "trophy" fishing lake was a wonderful idea, but somehow that "idea" was led astray. Too bad.

I forgot about the beach and marina. Next thing you know they will let jetskis out there. If they want it to be a trophy lake it had the potential. It just has to be managed that way with enforcement of the regulations.
I don't have an issue with the pontoons. Everyone that I saw on the lake was tied up fishing for crappie and bream. But I have seen runabouts just sitting in the middle of the lake doing nothing but getting a suntan. If someone is not fishing they should'nt be on the water.
But like someone else said it must be all about the money. Just a shame, I had high hopes for CC.

1.horse power restriction was lifted. size restriction still exists
2.still no jetskis nor skiing
3.awful stench is the dying grass and residual debris from the water dropping i am told
4.management folks are aware of the short fish issue and have asked the dnr to try to patrol more aggressively. there was a lot of complaints about people fishing off the ramps and courtesy docks so they started writing tickets on the spot for this - no questions asked.
5.i fish out of a pontoon (unfort) and have a trolling motor etc. so the boat type does not matter as long as you are following the rules of the lake. i always pass boaters when close by no waking and saying hello.
6.the beach i think is an attempt to keep the bank fisherman in one area and appeal to the community to use the resource also. while i am not a fan of it, the community in the area does have the right to enjoy the lake also.
7.i have caught more and bigger largemouths at 3 trips to cedar ck this year than i have on my "home lake" of cumberland. had one day this where i caught 5 largemouths all over 4#. never weighed in a sack in a tourney this big. this lake will get better with time and big fish will be caught.
8.caught, harvested and ate several good bluegills.
9.shellcrackers still small
10.crappie still small
11.marina - all about money for sure. now if i lived closer and this was the only lake i was going to fish i would definitely keep my boat there.

I am heading out to the Creek tomorrow morning. Does anyone else have any pointers to give to someone who has fished the lake 1 time. I am taking an old friend who would like to have some fun catching. Any help appreciated. Is the lake a good jigging lake?

>1.horse power restriction was lifted.
>size restriction still exists
>2.still no jetskis nor skiing
>3.awful stench is the dying grass
>and residual debris from the
>water dropping i am told
>
>4.management folks are aware of the
>short fish issue and have
>asked the dnr to try
>to patrol more aggressively.
>there was a lot of
>complaints about people fishing off
>the ramps and courtesy docks
>so they started writing tickets
>on the spot for this
>- no questions asked.
>5.i fish out of a pontoon
>(unfort) and have a trolling
>motor etc. so the boat
>type does not matter as
>long as you are following
>the rules of the lake.
> i always pass boaters
>when close by no waking
>and saying hello.
>6.the beach i think is an
>attempt to keep the bank
>fisherman in one area and
>appeal to the community to
>use the resource also.
>while i am not a
>fan of it, the community
>in the area does have
>the right to enjoy the
>lake also.
>7.i have caught more and bigger
>largemouths at 3 trips to
>cedar ck this year than
>i have on my "home
>lake" of cumberland. had
>one day this where i
>caught 5 largemouths all over
>4#. never weighed in
>a sack in a tourney
>this big. this lake
>will get better with time
>and big fish will be
>caught.
>8.caught, harvested and ate several good
>bluegills.
>9.shellcrackers still small
>10.crappie still small
>11.marina - all about money for
>sure. now if i
>lived closer and this was
>the only lake i was
>going to fish i would
>definitely keep my boat there.
>


What the heck does fishing at the ramps or docks have to do with short fish? I guess you're only allowed to fish if you have a boat???

Furthermore, that beach is going to take away a good portion of the best shore fishing. That's what makes me the maddest. Again, I guess you have to have a boat to be able to fish.

I don't think he meant that fishing off the ramp and Courtesy docks were causing a problem w/people taking short fish. I believe the problem with people fishing there is they are in the way of people trying to launch there boats. Never been there not sure if that is the case but sounds like it.

Maybe so, but the poster lumped it together with the short fish comment.

You hit the nail on the head. A friend told me he went to put in and the courtesy dock had 3 fisherman with chairs and a grill and a cooler on it and acted upset when he tied the boat off there.

maybe my post was not clear. it seems that there are several concerns about cedar ck and my point was that the management IS working to address the fishing community's concerns. yes having access to the ramps is different than short fish but the point is that the folks overseeing the lake are trying to improve it overall. i talked with another person involved in the management today and directed him to this board and the concerns raised. he actually stated that the DNR "asked" that the beach area be put in - NOT the folks who envisioned it as a trophy fishing lake. he also told me that the short fish issue has been brought to the DNR attention several times. he also assured me that the lake is going to STAY FISHING ONLY. no jetski and no skiing.

the lake will be down for prob another month while the beach goes in.
the marina will not start until next year tentatively, and the lake level should not drop. the person told me - we want the water up and stable so to have a good spawn for the bass (imagine that someone concerned about the spawn)
i think this reiterates the management folks dedication to making this a trophy fishery.

as i already said, the best largemouths i have caught (ok short of lake fork and guntersville) have come from cedar ck and it will only get better.

btw fishgurl - i also fish off the bank at times and i told the official that that "beach area" is where i have caught most of my big bass (BUMMER!!!)

i hope this is more clear for everyone. great to see a good post with everyone interested in a great community resource.

if the day is overcast -> sammy or zara spook in front of the residual grass lines and along the creek "edges". consider a buzzbait but i threw one for an hour and could not get a look on monday.

after the sun comes up or if the day is not overcast -> i would work the same "edges" with texas rigged worm / tube or jig.

spinnerbait just did not get bit for me earlier this week but should be good this time of year with the water temp as it is.

if you can drop shot i would also bet this to be effective in the same areas. unfort i did not pack my drop shot stuff for this last trip - expected more of power fishing with the overcast skies.

good luck and post results (good or bad)

What is a sammy or zona spook. I am unfamilar with these baits?

>What is a sammy or zona
>spook. I am unfamilar
>with these baits?


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