Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Unusual Catches On The River


JBMasterAngler

Recommended Posts

I'm just wondering what people were catching on the croix last year, and what they think they'll catch this year.

What was the most unusual fish you caught last year...and what were you really fishing for when you caught it?

I only hit the river from shore last year, so it was pretty mild as far as different species go. So for me it was when I caught 2 big map turtles in the marine on st. croix area. I was fishing for whatever was biting, and apparently that's what was biting!

I'm gonna go out on a limb and predict that I'll catch a gar this year...probably while I'm fishing for northerns. What are your predictions?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

other than the obligate sheephead, channel cats, flatheads, sturgeon, and carp; the most unusual fish I caught last year while targeting walleye was a quill-back carp sucker.

Also, I caught a jumbo perch one day - the only perch I've ever caught on the Croix. HAs anyone else ever caught a perch out there? I also caught a bull gill in relatively deep water in the channel by Afton.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The strangest fish I've caught on the croix is a mud puppy, there brownish in color and have black spots, it looked just like a lizard but had a tail like a dog fish and about as slimmly as they come, second would be a giant gizzard shad, they were caught on crawlers fishing eyes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mudpuppy, eel, & a largemouth bass on the upper Croix. Never know what will happen this year!

Tunrevir~ cool.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote:

The strangest fish I've caught on the croix is a mud puppy, there brownish in color and have black spots, it looked just like a lizard but had a tail like a dog fish and about as slimmly as they come, second would be a giant gizzard shad, they were caught on crawlers fishing eyes.


Agree with the mud puppy. I didn't know what it was at the time, and I was... well...a little spooked by it. The thing had gills, feet, a fin, and a snake-like head!

(Thanks for the reminder) crazy.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I caught a mudpuppy once on the kettle, it was dark out so my first thought was that it was a bullhead, but then I seen it had legs so I was confused for a second. I was bottom fishing with crawlers when I caught him. I put him back in the river though, I hear walleyes and smallies LOVE them!!!

Anyway, I've caught largemouths and pumpkinseeds out of the croix. Don't think I've ever caught a perch though...I've caught some perch in some of the croix's tributaries though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Probably a lie; but a buddies dad swears to have caught a petstore Pirahna under the prescott bridge. I guess he had the paper get a picture of it. but, I have never seen the picture, so...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's probably a pacu, they look like pirahnas, but have no teeth and dont eat meat. I have seen them caught on metro lakes before, you know someone's unwanted pet. frown.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hanson....Back in the eighties when I was stationed at Ft Bragg in NC I did alot of Catfishin out there and them nasty Eels do make for some fine cutbait!

fiskyknut

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I caught a few eels near the steam boat last year! first time I had ever seen them

Link to comment
Share on other sites

An eel is definitely a fish I hope to NEVER catch again! I can honestly say that was the only time I have ever been attacked by a fish before.

I've heard a few different stories over the years of people catching piranhas (or paku's). I'm pretty a couple reports have come from the croix, although I think the last report I can remember was like 5 years ago out of tanners lake in oakdale.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The American Eel is the weirdest thing I have caught as well. They are really quite interesting- go to the the MNdnr site and type "american eel" in the search box, and click on the first article that comes up to see how unique they really are.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I once caught a bikini top when trolling cranks and from the looks of it I think I would have liked to have gotten a look at the wearer but alas, she must have wriggled free while I was reeling it up!

Tunrevir~ blush.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I use to fish the river almost daily when I was in high school at hudson. One summer day I came upon a dead body near the hudson bridge while fishing. I guess I really didn't catch it but I had to call 911 and they got water rescue team to come and pick it out of the river. One wierd note was this dead body had ropes tied to his hands, feet and waist and all of these were tied together. It looked like the rope had rotted to the point were the decomposing body broke the rope and float to the surface were I found it. Must of been a drug deal gone bad or something cause this guy drowned involuntary. Wierd stuff but if you fish the river enough you never know what you'll see!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

And I would officially be done fishing for the rest of my life if I seen that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

JB, depends on how close you get or have gotten but it wouldn't stop you from fishing, it just gives you one more tale to tell. We had a guy and his nephew jump out of a plane for a swim a few years back on Forest Lake and the nephew made it out of the water thanks to a local muskie fisherman but the uncle wasn't found for about four to five days. I was out there when it happened, out there when the search started and fishing away when they towed the body to shore, it is a bit eerie but when the fish are biting you gotta be out to get bit! Might make your next night fishing gig a bit more interesting!

Tunrevir~ cool.gif (No, I don't ever want to see a cadaver after being in the water close up or I might not fish for a bit!)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had pulled into the access at bald eagle lake probably about 10 years back when an ambulance was taking away a dead body they had just found in the lake. That's about as close to a situation like that as I'll ever want to get.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey back on Dec 2 I was about as close as you can get to being a unusual catch on the croix but with the big Guy on my side, I lived to fish another day!!
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nothing to strange but fish out of the ordinary have been one monster easy 10+ bluegill, gar and fish with lamprey attached.

Between my dad and I we've also caught carpet samples, a landing net, rods/reels, and a bulldog (musky lure) that was actually hooked through the eyelet.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've caught lot's of fish (usually northerns) with lampreys attached to them, mostly on the upper croix. Those things are totally alien looking!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

First fish we caught with one was last spring. We then caught three other fish with them. they were only about 6-8" but they really are ugly little things. We killed 'em all.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I took a super nice friend from Cambodia once and all he caught in 8 hours of fishing was a old set Bar-B-Que Tongs!! laugh.gif

I caught a long nose Gar by the Hudson Bridge once.

Hooked a 8-9 Lb Carp - by the TAIL once - MAN did that fight HARD !!! Thought I had a HUGE Sturgeon on.........

Definately gonna fish for the odd ones more this year - ball up some Night Crawlers & see what bites....... grin.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was fishing a top water Zara Spook a couple years back and a seagull came in and dive bombed it. The hooks got him in the eye and he began to fly away with my lure still stuck. I had to set the hook to get him in and eventually got the hook out and he flew away just fine. Very entertaining!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My nephew caught a seagull once. I wasn't there so I don't know how it happened, but I had a good laugh looking at the pictures. I caught a mallard when I was like 5 years old. ALMOST caught a juvenile loon this past fall...that would've sucked.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • SkunkedAgain
      I might have missed a guess, but here are the ones that I noted:   JerkinLips – March 27th, then April 7th Brianf. – March 28th Bobberwatcher – April…. MikeG3Boat – April 10th SkunkedAgain – early April, then April 21st   Definitely a tough year for guesses, as it seemed to be a no-brainer early ice out. Then it got cold and snowed again.
    • mbeyer
      MN DNR posted April 13 as Ice out date for Vermilion
    • Brianf.
      ^^^45 in the morning and 47 in the evening
    • CigarGuy
      👍. What was the water temp in Black Bay? Thanks....
    • Brianf.
      No, that wasn't me.  I drive a 621 Ranger. 
    • CigarGuy
      So, that was you in the camo lund? I'm bummed, I have to head back to the cities tomorrow for a few days, then back up for at least a few weeks. Got the dock in and fired up to get out chasing some crappies till opener!
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Lots of ice on the main basin, but it is definitely deteriorating.  Some anglers have been fishing the open water at the mouth of the Rainy River in front of the Lighthouse Gap.  The rest of the basin is still iced over. Pike enthusiasts caught some big pike earlier last week tip up fishing in pre-spawn areas adjacent to traditional spawning areas.  8 - 14' of water using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring has been the ticket.  Ice fishing for all practical purposes is done for the year. The focus for the basin moving forward will be pike transitioning into back bays to spawn,  This is open water fishing and an opportunity available as the pike season is open year round on Lake of the Woods. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. With both the ice fishing and spring fishing on the Rainy River being so good, many are looking forward to the MN Fishing Opener on Saturday, May 11th.  It should be epic. On the Rainy River...  An absolutely incredible week of walleye and sturgeon fishing on the Rain Rainy River.     Walleye anglers, as a rule, caught good numbers of fish and lots of big fish.  This spring was one for the books.   To follow that up, the sturgeon season is currently underway and although every day can be different, many boats have caught 30 - 40 sturgeon in a day!  We have heard of fish measuring into the low 70 inch range.  Lots in the 60 - 70 inch range as well.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  Open water is continuing to expand in areas with current.  The sight of open water simply is wetting the pallet of those eager for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th.   A few locals were on the ice this week, targeting pike.  Some big slimers were iced along with some muskies as well.  If you like fishing for predators, LOW is healthy!  
    • Brianf.
      Early bird gets the worm some say...   I have it on good authority that this very special angler caught no walleyes or muskies and that any panfish caught were released unharmed.        
    • smurfy
      got mine done........for the cabin.....ready for summer festivities!!!!!!   there was still frost in the ground...........but good gawd are the lakes low!!!!!
    • CigarGuy
      Just 1, 50" muskie🫣
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.