Cross Lake Fishing
A 1,999-acre New York lake in Onondaga County and Cayuga County.
Pick for smallmouth bassPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo of Skaneateles Lake: John Menard, CC BY-SA 2.0
A first visit to Cross Lake
Measured from its NHD outline, Cross Lake covers roughly 1,999 acres of Onondaga County and Cayuga County. The DEC record gives Private as owner. About 4 miles separates the water from Meridian. Fisheries staff for Central New York look after it.
The DEC species column lists smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, black crappie and tiger muskellunge. Launch type, per DEC: trailer improved. For hard water, DEC notes ice fishing permitted. The DEC lists record 13 stocking years since 2011.
NYS Hydrography (NHD) outline, DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds, Census places, retrieved October 24, 2026.
For the smallmouth bass herePiscifun AlinoX 300 low profile baitcaster34% OFFSale $104.99 Species DEC records at Cross Lake
This fish list for Cross Lake draws on DEC listings and stocking files, not a netting survey.
DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds species column, DEC stocking lists and state records, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Launch ramps serving Cross Lake
No launch on Cross Lake shows in the DEC data, so the closest mapped ones follow.
Ramps in the neighborhood of Cross Lake
- Public Launch on Seneca River near JordanSeneca River, 4 miles southwest
- Public Launch on Seneca River near Port ByronSeneca River, 9 miles west
- Public Launch on Seneca River near Seneca KnollsSeneca River, 11 miles east
- Lock Island ParkOswego River, 11 miles northeast
- Public Launch on Seneca River near Savannah (north)Seneca River, 12 miles west
- Public Launch on Oneida RiverOneida River, 12 miles northeast
DEC boat launch and fishing access layers, retrieved October 24, 2026.
The take-home rules for Cross Lake
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Lake trout | 3; minimum 21" | Apr 1 – Oct 15 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30) | 5; minimum 12" | Jun 15 – Nov 30 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Dec 1 to Jun 14) | No harvest; Catch and release only | Dec 1 – Jun 14 |
| Muskellunge | 1; minimum 40" | Jun 1 – Nov 30 |
| Tiger muskellunge | 1; minimum 30" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Northern pike | 5; minimum 18" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Chain pickerel | 5; minimum 15" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Walleye | 5; minimum 15" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Black and white crappie | 25; minimum 10" | All year |
| Yellow perch | 50 | All year |
| Sunfish | 25 | All year |
| American eel | 25; minimum 9" | All year |
Statewide seasons and sizes set the baseline at Cross Lake.
Local rules for Cross Lake
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season | Listed under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Pike | 5; minimum 22" | May 1 – Mar 15 | Onondaga County |
| Walleye | 3; minimum 18" | May 1 – Mar 15 | Onondaga County |
2026 DEC freshwater fishing regulations (statewide table effective April 1, 2026); county special regulations from the DEC region pages; retrieved October 24, 2026, figures checked against the DEC pages October 25, 2026.
Latest stocking years at Cross Lake
From 2023 through 2023, DEC logged 2 releases into Cross Lake, with walleye the main fish.
| Year | Species | Type | Entries | Fish | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Walleye | stocked | 1 | 43,500 | 1.2 in |
| 2023 | Tiger Muskellunge | stocked | 1 | 10,900 | 9.1 in |
DEC Fish Stocking Lists (Actual), 2023 to 2025, and DEC Current Season Spring Trout Stocking, 2026 (data.ny.gov), retrieved October 24, 2026. New York stocking.
Cross Lake and the lakes that ring it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | DEC species | Stocked 2023-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross Lake | 1,999 | 0 | 10 | yes | |
| Duck Lake, Cayuga County | 11 miles west | 219 | 0 | 7 | yes |
| Onondaga Lake | 14 miles east | 2,976 | 1 | 8 | |
| Skaneateles Lake | 20 miles south | 8,777 | 1 | 7 | yes |
| Otisco Lake | 20 miles southeast | 2,266 | 1 | 9 | yes |
| Owasco Lake | 21 miles south | 6,752 | 1 | 10 | yes |
NYS Hydrography, DEC launch layers, DEC lake list and stocking lists, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Nearby to Cross Lake, by distance
More lakes a short drive from Cross Lake
- Duck Lake, Cayuga County11 miles west
- Onondaga Lake14 miles east
- Skaneateles Lake20 miles south
- Otisco Lake20 miles southeast
- Owasco Lake21 miles south
Tackle sellers serving Cross Lake
- Case Marinamarina, Onondaga, 7 miles
- Pirates Cove Marinamarina, Onondaga, 13 miles
- Onondaga Lake Park Marinamarina, Onondaga, 14 miles
- B & T Sport Shop of Fulton, Ny, Inc.sporting goods store, Fulton, 14 miles
- Skaneateles Lake Boat Launchmarina, Onondaga, 15 miles
- Bass Pro Shop, 1579 CLARK STREET ROADsporting goods store, Auburn, 16 miles
A day with a guide on Cross Lake
- Frontenac Fowlersfishing guide, Union Springs
- Trout Scout Guide Service, LLCfishing guide, Cato
Home bases for trips to Cross Lake
- Jordan4 miles
- Weedsport7 miles
- Baldwinsville7 miles
Cross Lake across county lines
- Onondaga Countycounty seat Syracuse
- Cayuga Countycounty seat Auburn
Piscifun kit that suits Cross Lake water
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
The fish of Cross Lake, pictured one by one
Photo: Tommy Andriollo, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Dezidor, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: hug_78, CC BY 2.0
What gets asked about Cross Lake
How far is Cross Lake from the nearest New York town?
It lies in Onondaga County and Cayuga County, DEC Central New York, about 4 miles from Meridian.
What acreage is Cross Lake?
Close to 1,999 acres by state hydrography.
Where do I put a boat in at Cross Lake?
Not mapped; nearby launches are listed above.
What might bend the rod at Cross Lake?
Records show smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, black crappie, tiger muskellunge and northern pike.
Which minimum sizes does DEC set at Cross Lake?
Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30): 5; minimum 12"; Jun 15 – Nov 30. County special regulations name it as well; see the table above.
Does Cross Lake need a trout stamp?
Anglers 16 and older need a DEC freshwater fishing license: $25.00 a year for residents, $50.00 for nonresidents, $5.00 for residents 70 and older, with 1-day and 7-day options.
How often is Cross Lake stocked?
DEC lists 2 stockings, the latest in 2023.
Where is bait sold on the drive to Cross Lake?
Nearest on our list: Case Marina, 7 miles.
Is ice fishing allowed on Cross Lake?
Ice Fishing Permitted, per DEC.
Put Cross Lake on the New York trip list
Get the DEC license squared away online first.