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267-acre lake in Kenora District, Ontario. The lake tops out around 79 ft. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1980 (a transect sounding survey). Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Cross Lake maps at 268 acres behind 6.2 miles of shoreline — 3 islands included. A development index of 2.7 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. Roughly 23% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Figure 1.3 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.9 mi at the beam. Kenora District claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Plum Lake, is 4 mi to the south.
When the water first warms, lake trout slide up into 10 to 40 ft. Summer is a 24 to 79 ft game here, winter a 20 to 79 ft one. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 77 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run early morning. Keep a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (18 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 24 to 79 ft | dawn | Deep basin (77 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (18 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 79 ft | dawn | Deep basin (77 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Start shallow in spring: cisco (lake herring) sit in 10 to 40 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 24 to 79 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 60 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 77 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (77 ft) | Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white) |
| Summer | 24 to 79 ft | dawn | Deep basin (77 ft) | Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | open water | Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Break off the point (47 ft) | Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: yellow perch in 3 to 12 ft. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 30 ft, wintering in 15 to 35 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 3 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Back-bay flat (11 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (77 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (77 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Come spring, look for muskellunge tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 8 to 25 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 3 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is the evening and early morning. A double-10 bucktail or a topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Smaller bucktail (#8 blades), 6" glide bait |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (18 ft) | Double-10 bucktail, Topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | Main-lake point (18 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), 10"+ glide bait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (77 ft) | Large rubber, crawled slow |
Cross Lake carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 77 ft down.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Ontario waters are set by the Ontario fishing regulations (FMZ summary) — and special regulations can apply to Cross Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Ontario fishing regulations →
Cross Lake is about 79 ft (24 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Ontario MNRF survey of 1980 (a transect sounding survey).
Anglers target lake trout, cisco (lake herring), yellow perch, muskellunge on Cross Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 77 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For lake trout, the summer bite is best in early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Cross Lake is regulated by the Ontario fishing regulations (FMZ summary). Check the official Ontario regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Plum Lake 4 mi · Old Man Lake 5 mi · Silver Lake 7 mi · Tom Lake 9 mi · Black Sturgeon Lakes 9 mi · Herb Lake 9 mi · Delaney Lake 12 mi · Lount Lake 15 mi · Daniel Lake 17 mi · Linklater Lake 18 mi · VF43-20, L. 18 mi · Little Joe Lake 19 mi
See how Cross Lake stacks up: best muskellunge lakes in Ontario · best yellow perch lakes in Ontario · best lake trout lakes in Ontario · best cisco (lake herring) lakes in Ontario
More water nearby: Kenora District fishing maps (1173 charts). Browse all Ontario fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.