Crosslake Ice Fishing?

We are heading up to Crosslake end of the month for a friends and families weekend. I dug thru the archives but couldn’t find much about ice fishing Crosslake. Since the wives and kids will be with I doubt we will be able to put in a ton of hours fishing, but would like to get on some fish. Is it worth chasing eye’s? What would be the easiest willing biters (pike, sunnies, crappie) to set the kids up on? We are staying on the north end if that matters. TIA!

EPG’s cabin isn’t too far from there. Maybe he’s got some insight?

Murky water so it’s got a day bite haven’t fished in a while but usually got crappie around the sunken island

I’d set up right under the bridge between Dagget and Cross lakes. Might roil a few sled monkeys but I’m pretty sure you’d find fish. Morning was always best for me. Crappies and walleyes.

Staying on Crosslake just north of the bridge Tom mentioned, thanks!

Good luck nobody is fishing up here lol. I would make the drive down and hit up north long or gull. Nobody is fishing the river channel, that has been open and close a lot this year still spots that are open. Not sure on the outside south swing that might be safe, I would spud bar the crap out of that area

Most people up here are pretty tight lipped about fishing the chain.

I don’t live on the chain, I don’t own an ATV or Snowmobile, so, I have to walk out.

There are four public accesses on Cross. Two in Corp of Engineers campground (East side of Cross). Sunset Island (Southwest side, no real parking), Roberts Street (Northwest).

Most years, there are usually a few wheel/permanent houses out from the Roberts street access and a few just south of the Dagget/Pine Channel. They are not out there yet this year.

The Holiday Station in town seems to sell its fair share of minnows. I don’t fish the chain often and with the snow I may not get out there this year.

Any fishing time, is a good time….fish on….

I don’t know about Crosslake specifically, but the intel I am getting in that area – Brainerd – Nisswa – Deerwood – is that there is a lot of snow. Sounds like slush on most lakes is an issue.

You’d think by end of Jan that would be better…. but I’m guessing lake travel and general ease of setting up might still be tougher than normal.

There is a bit of slush up there as of Sunday. Some accesses were great most were terrible. I can give you a better report this weekend and I will be out and they did get some major cold weather that moved in.

We found 3-12″ of ice on three different lakes 2 lakes I have never ice fished before. So we did spud bar our way out.

There was zero tracks on two of the lakes.

One thing to note is there is a layer of ice below the snow. I did get stuck a few times driving in the area because of the ice on the accesses. No I did not drive out just in the parking lots.