Fishing Cross Lake in Kenosha County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Kenosha County, Wisconsin, is where Cross Lake sits. The country round it is rolling bush from end to end. There is roughly 1.4 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. It lies lower than most water we list in Wisconsin. Antioch lies 1.5 miles from the water. Lake Catherine is 2.7 miles and Channel Lake 2.9 miles. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Cross Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. County-wide records name common carp, bluegill, pumpkinseed and brown trout. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Read Cross Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 71°F for July and 19°F for January. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Ice-out usually falls in late March, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Open water usually runs from late March until about mid December. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Cross Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Failing this one, try Voltz Lake, 0.7 miles away. Signs at Cross Lake carry more weight than any list.