New to group, Learning the Croix

[canon]

I am new to the posting, but feel I know most of you already since I have been reading the forum for months. I started fishing the croix last year. I started primarily bass fishing but want to explore more options. I fish mainly between the kinni and Hudson. I want to learn crappie fishing especially on the Croix. I caught one earlier this year bass fishing on a tube. I would love to learn the art of walleye fishing, cat fishing, also. I have become humbled by efforts, some lakes I know the spots to catch fish but the croix is complex at times. I do like the fact you can send down a crawler and play guessing games to what you bring up to the boat. I am excited to keep trying the croix. Any help or info for me between the kinni and 94 bridge would be much appreciated for different species.

[Stratosman]

You are correct in stating the Croix can be humbling at times...The best advice is to put in your time and stick with it. Luckily this time of the year the bite should pick up tremendously for all species. Grab a box of jigs, a bag of minnows and good map and go to it.

[Dale Rueber]

Hey Canon, I'm also new to this group and have only been fishing the St Croix since early this summer so my experience is limited. Most of my fishing has been from the Kini to Prescott. I have been catching Walleyes along the MN side where the shore drops off steep (40' from shore - 30' deep). Cast a deep diving #5 rapala to shore and retrieve. Firetiger has been what I have been using the most but I'm not sure what colors work the best. Last Saturday afternoon I did this 1/2 mile below the Kini and got 4 Walleye, a couple of crappies, multiple small mouth, a bluegill, and a sheepie. Last night between 6:30pm and 8:00pm I got 2 Walleyes (13" and 17"), a nice crappie and a few little small mouths doing the same thing on the section just above Prescott on the MN side. This seems to be the most consistent method of catching fish that I have found. I seem to have bad luck everytime I try live bait but that is probaly because I'm doing it wrong. Long lining has produced a few fish for me but not consistently. I have also been handlining but so far it has been sporadic at best. I have not been above the Kini but I assume there are similar shorelines above as below.

[canon]

I have been putting in time, I have a good river map with some hot spots on it. I started at the kinni small mouth fishing, but now I am trying to learn the area near catfish point at Afton to the 94 bridge. There is a sunken island south of the bridge that I have tried a bit. I don't know what I tied into one day, but it nearly broke my pole, then snapped my fireline. I have never felt that kind of pull before, wow! I thought the docks on the minnesota side north of St. Mary's point would produce Crappies. I will be going out on Saturday to continue working. I see a lot of boats near around the Afton area. A friend of mine I take out fishes primarily bass. I catch and release all bass, but I would like to take home something someday. I should try for walleyes once in awhile. Is there decent northern fishing? I saw on the hot spots map there are some spots south of Afton a ways.

[canon]

Hey Stratosman, I see you like bass fishing. Do you find decent bass fishing on the Croix? I have caught some, the best has been the kinni area, but can the docks and points produce also? I think this weekend we will primarily bass fish, but I will mix it up again. I have been doing well bassin with plastics. A couple of years ago I thought I would never use plastics, only rapalas and such, but I have found plastics to be the key lately. What do you find works best on the Croix? I need to find out when to use what, 95% of my tackle doesn't seem to be used anymore.

[Stratosman]

Lots of smallies in the Croix, you will find that there are a lot of small ones but you will run into pockets of nicer ones. Typically the shallower you fish, the smaller they tend to be.

I have the best luck simply working the shoreline areas associated with the steepest breaks, I typically work a tube jig as I try to target bass in 8' of water or deeper, and work it real slow, experiment with different weights and you will minimize snagging while maintaining bottom contact. There are areas with large boulders on the bottom that always hold fish. Wood shouldn't be overlooked either. Topwater can be good early and late, just look for fish breaking the surface, often smallies are mixed with whities when you see this, it can be a real blast. I also keep a X-rap tied on when chasing bass, caught alot of nice fish this summer with that.

I must admit though I havn't chased smallies much during this period as much of my time is devoted to muskies walleyes and bowhunting. Just too many things to do this time of year.

Good luck out there and welcome to FM.

[canon]

Thanks for the reply. I actually went to buy my favorite plastic, as I was walking buy, I got sucked into the Al Linder video for minnow raps, I usually walk buy, but I decided to watch, well $30.00 later I found a few baits to try. I used to use double jointed chartruse, but these wounded minnow raps look promising to try. I also bought a #5 shad rap to use. I am excited to try, like I said, I always used raps and spinner baits, then went to plastics, now after beginner luck, I need to know when to use what in what circumstance. I hear you about the shallow water, although, it is very easy to fish shallow because you don't seem to have to be as patient. Anyway, thanks for the info. I usually don't fall fish due to the rut comming on.