Ice, Grit, And the Glory of the Kaby Lake Pike
The weather is a relentless challenge and the fish are the ultimate reward.
By Alyx Parks
Cedar Lake Skies
Cedar Lake Lodge in Sunset Country is home to big muskie fishing.
Cedar Lake is located in Northwest Ontario, Canada, in Perrault Falls, approximately 150 miles north of International Falls, MN. This horseshoe-shaped lake is 16 miles long, encompassing 6,500 acres, and is loaded with muskies.
I have fished Cedar Lake several times, and each time I arrive, I am filled with excitement. This lake has many muskies to keep you focused and filled with action, but it also has some giants. What’s also amazing about this water is that it is like fishing in three different lakes. There are a variety of watercolours with the west section being clear, the center of the lake a bloom colour, and the eastern end tea-stained.
Last fall, when we arrived to film an episode of The Musky Hunter Television Show, we had great conditions the first afternoon and evening, then were hit with a major cold front with big northwest winds and clear skies. Fortunately, we were on Cedar Lake. We fished the entire lake and were able to initially find muskies on classic weed and rock spots as the front approached. Once the skies cleared and the wind started blowing, we had to get into the bays and sift through the weeds. The muskies were tucked into the thick cover, and we were able to coax them out with bucktails and topwater and make them bite with a well-executed figure 8. Plus, every evening we assured a bite right before dark!
Being horseshoe-shaped Cedar really makes it fishable in almost any condition. It is probably only about 1 mile across at the widest part. We were able to find bays tucked out of the wind, or have subtle wind, which allowed the surface temperatures to be slightly warmer in the bays than in the main lake. Each afternoon, as the bays heated up, so did the muskies. This movement to shallow cover in early fall is a classic fall musky situation.
We stayed at Cedar Lake Lodge, which is an island camp with all the amenities you could imagine. It’s heavily focused on musky anglers with an incredible dock system, electric, gas, and of course really nice accommodations. Plus, the camp has its own boat ramp and it's less than a mile from the Island Camp. You can launch, unload your gear, and be musky fishing in no time!
A beautiful fall morning from the deck of the cabin at Cedar Lake Lodge.
If you are looking for an incredible Ontario musky lake that is manageable in almost any size boat, and has lots of muskies with 54 inches swimming as well, Cedar Lake is for you. There are several lodges on the lake, but there is no question that the lodge for Musky Hunters is Cedar Lake Lodge, and they can show you where to catch them.
Contact Information
Cedar Lake Lodge
Perrault Falls, ON P0V 2K0
PH: (807) 529-3271
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