Crossways Lake in Anoka County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Crossways Lake falls in Anoka County, part of Minnesota. It lies 869 feet above sea level. At some 355 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The perimeter runs near 3.3 miles, so plan the walk before you start. It ranks high for size among our Anoka County listings. For a base, Columbus sits 2.7 miles out. Beyond it, Centerville at 4.5 miles and Lino Lakes at 4.8 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Crossways Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Public occurrence data for Anoka County names bluegill, common carp, black crappie, largemouth bass and pumpkinseed. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Crossways Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 12°F in January and 72°F in July. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early April. From about early April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. The season on Crossways Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. For a change of water, Rondeau Lake is 1.2 miles distant. Nothing here settles the position at Crossways Lake for certain.