Lipless Crankbait Fishing on Cross Lake
Cross Lake · Louisiana · South Central
Cross Lake sits on the western edge of Shreveport in Caddo Parish, a shallow, timber-laced impoundment averaging 6–8 feet in depth with scattered cuts and channel edges dipping to 12–14 feet. Water clarity ranges from stained to moderately turbid depending on season and wind, with aquatic vegetation — primarily coontail moss and hydrilla — playing an increasingly significant role in fish location. Largemouth bass are the primary sportfish draw, though the lake's crappie fishery draws nearly as many rods throughout spring and fall.
A flat-sided, lip-less bait that sinks on a slack line and vibrates intensely on the retrieve. Versatile in depth (yo-yo it deep or burn it shallow) and highly effective in vegetation. The 'ripping' technique — letting it sink into grass then snapping it free — is one of the deadliest triggers in bass fishing.
Lipless Crankbait Setup for Cross Lake
| Rod | 7'–7'3" medium to medium-heavy casting rod, moderate-fast action |
| Reel | 7.1:1 baitcaster |
| Line | 14–17 lb fluorocarbon; braid if punching heavy grass |
| Weight | 1/2–3/4 oz (Rat-L-Trap, Strike King Red Eye Shad, Yo-Zuri Rattl'n Vibe) |
Seasonal Tactics on Cross Lake
Lake: Pre-spawn largemouth push into shallow timber and emergent grass flats in February and March as water temps climb through the mid-50s into the low 60s. The northwest coves warm fastest thanks to afternoon sun exposure, and shallow spinnerbaits and swimjigs fished tight to standing timber consistently produce fish staging before the full spawn.
Lipless Crankbait: Early spring in grass — rip through milfoil and hydrilla as it starts to green up. Chartreuse/shad colors.
Lake: Heat pushes baitfish and feeding bass toward deeper timber edges and submerged grass lines by late June; the 10–14 ft channel breaks become primary feeding zones during low-light windows. Topwater activity can flare early morning over grass flats in July and August, but midday fishing shifts to slow-rolled swimbaits or drop shots worked along the deeper timber skeletons.
Lipless Crankbait: Burn over deep grass tops at first light. Let it deflect off the edge at end of cast.
Lake: Shad migrations pull bass back onto shallow flats and into the upper creek arms through October and November; walking baits and lipless crankbaits worked over grass edges produce some of the best reaction strikes of the year. Water temps cooling through the 60s signal a window of aggressive feeding before winter turnover.
Lipless Crankbait: Schooling fish near the surface — burn it or yo-yo it under the school. Chrome and shad patterns.
Lake: Winter fishing on Cross Lake rewards patience — bass concentrate on the deepest available timber in 10–14 ft, and a slow-dragged 3/8 oz football jig or a suspending jerkbait with extended pauses outproduces faster presentations. The fishery doesn't completely shut down in winter due to the mild northwest Louisiana climate, but a cold front dropping water temps below 48°F will kill topwater and shallow-cover bite almost entirely.
Lipless Crankbait: Best season. Slow yo-yo retrieve in 6–15 feet along grass edges. Gold/red and chrome are classic.
Best Conditions
Grass edges and flats, winter and early spring, cold water, windy days, schooling fish, any time bass are chasing shad
Swap treble hooks for 1/0 trebles with feathered rear hook. Adds action, improves hookup ratio on short-striking fish.
More Techniques for Cross Lake
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