Cross Lake Fishing
A 8,576-acre Louisiana reservoir in Caddo Parish.
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Cross Lake at a glance for Louisiana anglers
Cross Lake spans 8,576 acres of reservoir water in Caddo Parish, by the LDWF figure. Its average depth is about 7.7 feet, per LDWF. A run of about 6 miles reaches Shreveport, the closest town.
The LDWF launch inventory lists 4 launches, 2 of them public. There are 2 pier and bank sites as well. Anglers can fish 1 LDWF reef sites. Read 1 water-body exception before keeping fish. Questions go to LDWF District 1.
LDWF Inland Waterbodies with Management Plans layer (Size, average depth, popular species, cover, access and tips text), Census 2023 places, retrieved October 28, 2026. LDWF office: District 1; 9961 Hwy 80, Minden, LA 71055; 318-371-5216.
Bass, sac-a-lait and catfish on Cross Lake
Popular species on the LDWF record for Cross Lake: Excellent for largemouth bass, channel catfish; good for black and white crappie; fair for bream, hybrid striped bass.
Seasonal patterns LDWF gives for Cross Lake
Bass: square-billed crankbaits, soft plastics, jigs, topwaters, lipless crankbaits in bream or shad patterns; crappie: in feeder creeks and canals off lake in winter and early spring; catfish: drift fishing with catalpa worms in middle of lake (no cover)
Stumps, grass and timber in Cross Lake
Cypress trees in west end and upper coves, docks throughout lake
LDWF Inland Waterbodies with Management Plans text (popular species, fishing tips, cover; not a full species census), LOWA records and LDWF stocking; retrieved October 28, 2026.
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LDWF reef crews left 1 site at Cross Lake; each row gives depth, material and target fish.
| Reef | Deployed | Depth | Material | Target fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross Lake #1 | 2003-2004 | 10-12 ft | Feed pallet trees | Crappie, catfish |
LDWF Freshwater Artificial Reefs layer (deployment, depth, material and target species as published), retrieved October 28, 2026.
Backing a trailer down at Cross Lake
- Barron's Landing on Cross Lake1-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Johnson's Ramp on Cross Lake1-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Richard Fleming Park on Cross Lake2-lane concrete ramp, public
- South Lakeshore Ramp on Cross Lake4-lane concrete ramp, public
Fishing Cross Lake on foot
- Cross Lake Municipal Pierfishing pier, Pier, restrooms
- Ford Park (Cross Lake) on Cross Lakefishing pier, Pier, bank access, restrooms
Bank access, in the LDWF words: Cross Lake Municipal Pier near hatchery; Fleming, South Lakeshore, and Ford Park facilities
More LDWF launches a short tow from Cross Lake
- Stoner Ramp on Red River Pool 5Red River Pool 5, 10 miles east
- Cash Point on Red RiverRed River, 10 miles northeast
- Teague Parkway on Red River Pool 5Red River Pool 5, 10 miles east
- Soda Lake WMA on Twelvemile BayouTwelvemile Bayou, 13 miles north
- Parks Road Ramp on Black Bayou ReservoirBlack Bayou Reservoir, 14 miles northeast
- Mooringsport Ramp on Caddo LakeCaddo Lake, 14 miles north
LDWF boat launch inventory (BoatRamps05152025) and LDWF Banks and Piers layer, retrieved October 28, 2026.
Pool stage on Cross Lake
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Cross Lake At Shreveport, La | 169.93 ft gage height, 169.93 ft lake elevation | Oct 31 5:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 31, 2026 6:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Every Cross Lake reading names its agency and date.
The LDWF stocking file for Cross Lake
Releases LDWF lists for Cross Lake:
- Florida BassFlorida Bass, 114,100 fingerlings, 2025 (Stocked January-June 2025.)
- Florida BassFlorida Bass, 99,000 fingerlings, 2024 (Stocked January-June 2024.)
- Florida BassFlorida Bass, 7,100 fingerlings, 2024 (Stocked January-June 2024. Surplus stocking (* in table).)
LDWF hatchery stocking releases (spring 2024 and 2025 per-water tables, single stockings to 2026); LDWF publishes no per-row dates; retrieved October 28, 2026.
Louisiana freshwater limits on Cross Lake
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Black bass (largemouth and spotted) | 10 daily | Open year-round |
| Striped or hybrid striped bass (or any combination thereof) | 5 daily; no more than two over 30" total length | Open year-round |
| White bass | 50 daily | Open year-round |
| Yellow bass | 50 daily | Open year-round |
| Sunfish (bream) | No daily limit | Open year-round |
| Crappie (black and white) | 50 daily; 100 fish possession limit | Open year-round |
| Bowfin (choupique) | No daily limit; 16" MLL | Open year-round |
| Buffalo fish (or their hybrids) | 25 daily; 16" MLL | Open year-round |
| Catfish (blue, channel and flathead) | 100 daily in the aggregate. An angler may possess up to 25 undersized catfish of the three species combined.; Blue Catfish: 12" MLL; Channel Catfish: 11" MLL; Flathead Catfish: 14" MLL | Open year-round |
| Freshwater drum (gaspergou) | 25 daily; 12" MLL | Open year-round |
| Paddlefish | 2 daily (fish cannot be retained alive & cannot be harvested by snagging methods); 30" max lower jaw fork length | Open year-round |
| Shad | 50 pounds daily | Open year-round |
| Sturgeon | No legal harvest or possession | Closed (no legal harvest or possession) |
| Other freshwater fish (all species of bream and garfish) | No daily limit | Open year-round |
| Crawfish | 150 pounds daily | Open year-round |
| Rainbow trout (Get Out & Fish! community ponds) | five fish per person (daily limit) | Stocked mid-January to early February, pending a decrease in water temperatures |
The statewide rows are the default on Cross Lake, with any listed exception on top.
Water-body rules LDWF prints for Cross Lake
| Water as printed | Where | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Anacoco Lake, Lake Vernon and the portion of Anacoco Bayou between the lakes, Lake Bartholomew, Lake Bistineau | Whole water | No fish seines, gill nets, hoop nets or trammel nets. |
Rules as printed in the 2026 Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations (LDWF pamphlet, updated September 21, 2026), pages 18 to 21 (pamphlet PDF); second read on the LDWF freshwater page October 28, 2026.
Louisiana anglers 18 and older carry a Basic Fishing License: $17 a year for residents and $68 for nonresidents.
Limits and seasons as printed in the 2026 Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations (LDWF pamphlet, updated September 21, 2026), page 19 (pamphlet PDF); confirmed on the LDWF freshwater finfish page October 28, 2026.
Competitive fishing at Cross Lake
For Cross Lake schedules and winners, open the tournament page.
Comparing Cross Lake with nearby Louisiana lakes
The biggest lake in the table is Caddo Lake with 26,800 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Average depth | Launches | LDWF reefs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross Lake | 8,576 | 7.7 ft | 4 | 1 | |
| Black Bayou Reservoir | 14 miles northeast | 620 | 9.9 ft | 1 | 0 |
| Red River Pool 5 | 15 miles southeast | 10,800 | 10 ft | 4 | 0 |
| Wallace Lake (De Soto Parish) | 15 miles southeast | 2,300 | 3.4 ft | 3 | 0 |
| Cypress Bayou Reservoir | 17 miles northeast | 3,100 | 8.3 ft | 3 | 0 |
| Caddo Lake | 19 miles northwest | 26,800 | 4.8 ft | 6 | 0 |
LDWF Inland Waterbodies with Management Plans, launch inventory and reef layers; retrieved October 28, 2026.
The parish country around Cross Lake
Louisiana lakes a short drive from Cross Lake
- Black Bayou Reservoir14 miles northeast
- Red River Pool 515 miles southeast
- Wallace Lake (De Soto Parish)15 miles southeast
- Cypress Bayou Reservoir17 miles northeast
- Caddo Lake19 miles northwest
Louisiana tackle counters close to Cross Lake
- Gator Bait Incbait and tackle shop, Shreveport, 5 miles
- Northwood Bait & Tackle Cobait and tackle shop, Shreveport, 7 miles
- Bacon's Tacklebait and tackle shop, Shreveport, 7 miles
- Bass Pro Shops Bossier Citysporting goods store, Bossier City, 8 miles
- Lorant's Sports Center Incbait and tackle shop, Shreveport, 8 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Bossier Citysporting goods store, Bossier City, 10 miles
Places to sleep near Cross Lake
- Shreveport6 miles
- Blanchard6 miles
- Greenwood8 miles
Parish guides covering Cross Lake
- Caddo Parishseat: Shreveport
A Piscifun outfit to take down to Cross Lake
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Pictures of fishing water by Cross Lake
Photo: William L. Farr, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: Clotee Pridgen Alloc…, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: Timothy Holdiness, CC BY-SA 4.0
Questions people ask LDWF about Cross Lake, answered here
How do I spot Cross Lake on a parish map?
Look in Caddo Parish, about 6 miles from Shreveport.
How big is Cross Lake by the LDWF figure?
8,576 acres by the LDWF size field.
Is there a public launch on Cross Lake?
4 launches in the LDWF inventory; try Richard Fleming Park on Cross Lake.
What does LDWF say anglers catch at Cross Lake?
largemouth bass, channel catfish, white crappie, bluegill and hybrid striped bass, by LDWF and the records.
Which pamphlet rules reach Cross Lake?
Black bass (largemouth and spotted): 10 daily; Open year-round. The pamphlet also prints an exception for this water; see the limits band.
Which LDWF license do I carry on Cross Lake?
Louisiana anglers 18 and older carry a Basic Fishing License: $17 a year for residents and $68 for nonresidents.
Is Cross Lake a shallow lake?
Average about 7.7 feet; LDWF prints no deepest point.
Which tackle counter on our Louisiana list sits nearest Cross Lake?
Gator Bait Inc is the nearest tackle stop we list, about 5 miles away.
Where did LDWF put reefs in Cross Lake?
The reef band maps 1 site.
What is the pool stage on Cross Lake today?
USGS reports it; the figure is in the level band.
What has LDWF stocked in Cross Lake?
Hatchery rows include Florida Bass, 114,100 fingerlings, 2025.
Take the back roads to Cross Lake
Every Louisiana fee and creel limit is one click away.