Cross Lake Fishing Spot
- County: Onondaga County
- Acreage: 1947
- Mean Depth: 30'
- Max Depth: 60'
- Elevation: 372'
- Last Modified By: kash87 on 03/21/21 07:41 AM
- Ask about Cross Lake in our Fishing Forums
Photos
Fish Species
Comments
-
With pike this size readily available, a lot of guys target 'em. Most suspend large minnows below bobbers, and cast their offerings into coves, the mouths of tributaries, and along drop-offs a few feet beyond boat docks. Cross Lake surrenders some nice trout every year. Folks actually target early-season browns in the mouth of the small stream south of Cross Lake Marina. Casting anglers do pretty well tossing spinnerbaits, Storm ThunderSticks, Rapalas and Smithwick Rogues towards shore and working them back to the boat.
Cross Lake Description
Cross Lake, located on the Seneca River upstream of Baldwinsville, NY has been described as a “widening of the Seneca River”. The Seneca River flows through the extreme southern portion of the lake, with much of the river’s water “short-circuiting” a major portion of the lake, limiting the exchange of incoming river water with a large portion of the lake. The Seneca River constitutes approximately 98 percent of the inflow to the lake and has an average inflow rate of 86 m3/s. Only 4.3 miles long and an average of 1.3 miles wide, Cross is nothing more than a big hole in the Seneca River. It draws every critter in the stream at one time or other, particularly in late spring and early summer. For the rest of this month through mid-June, you'll see massive formations of huge sheeps head cruising the shoreline. Pairs of gar pike, often with one fish twice, even three times the size of its mate, will slip silently under the boat. Panfish of every type occupy the narrow band of weeds ringing the entire lake. And throughout monster northerns will dart out of nowhere looking to pick off mouth-sized prey.Since the lake is the biggest hole around, it boasts the area's greatest concentration of northerns in the 8- to 15-pound range. The most convenient place to launch a boat is at the Cross Lake Marina on Jordan Road. If you want to avoid paying the fee, you can launch for free in Mercer Park, North & Charlotte Streets (off Route 370) in Baldwinsville. However, you'll have to motor upstream about 7 miles to get to the Ditch.
Cross Lake lies on the border of Cayuga and Onondaga Counties in New York. The Seneca River portion of the Erie Canal flows through it from west to east. Cross Lake lies within the boundaries of the traditional Onondaga Indian Nation. The lake is reputed to be the boyhood home of Hiawatha, the great peace maker.