Cross Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Cross Lake is a Crow Wing County water, in Minnesota. It stands 1,224 feet above sea level. It measures some 2.8 sq miles, and wind has room to build across it. Few waters listed in Crow Wing County are bigger. Crosslake lies 0.9 miles from the water. Further out sit Breezy Point (6.7 miles) and Pequot Lakes (9.5 miles). The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Cross Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Records held for Crow Wing County cover largemouth bass, bluegill and yellow perch. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Cross Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 69°F, with January the cold end at about 8°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. The season between ice runs from about mid April to late November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. The season on Cross Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Pleasant Lake, 0.6 miles out. For Cross Lake in particular, ask before you travel.