St. Croix River Fishing Reports

[Swimbait2009]

If you're out on the croix, head up to square lake to check out the camera. It has extremely clear water. Would be interesting to see how far you can see down there.

[incogneato]

The bite must have picked up nobody has posted a report?

[DonBo]

The bite must have picked up nobody has posted a report?

I think the opposite is true. No fish, no report. Toughest bite I've seen in years.

[AuggieDawg11]

I am going out in a few hours. Somethings got to give.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Looks like I picked the wrong year to really give the Croix some effort. Fish it alot in the summer but until this year not much in the winter. In the past 5 trips weve only mangaged a handful of small crappies, some whites, mooneyes, and a big channel cat. Lately we switched gears and have been targeting sunnies anyone else fish for them?

[magic_minnow]

TUTF:

You're actually doing pretty good then! My to date count is only 2 crappies, 2 dink eyes and 1 mudpuppy for about 30 actual hours of fishing time.

[DonBo]

Looks like I picked the wrong year to really give the Croix some effort.

Don't give up yet. The river is famous for not turning on till early/mid February thru March. My advice is try some other lakes for the next few weeks, then try again.

[billy mitchell]

spent thur. night till sun morning about 1100 am at the shack and caught 16 crappies and two little soggies and 1 silver..bite has been tough..ive been fishing mostly rattle wheels, but had buddies down fri all day that fisshed with poles and they caught a few more then the wheels did..im trying it again thur. till sun after the game

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Don't give up yet. The river is famous for not turning on till early/mid February thru March. My advice is try some other lakes for the next few weeks, then try again.

I wont give up. I fish the river in the summer so I realise the potential it has and I have gotten into them past winters but I just asked myself why Ive been passing it up in the winter for so long and this year Im giving an honest effort to get some spots and techniques down.

Billy, are you in a sleeper? are you having success at night out there? I havnt caught a fish past 530. If you are do you mind telling what depth?

[billy mitchell]

im in a 8 by 10 bucks, generator , etc...last year i got bit a lot around 1030 pm and believe it or not around 200 am..this year its been a little slower this year for some reason..i have woke up aabout 300 or so in the morning to put gas in the genei and checked my lines and no bait..so i could have slept through the wheels..as for depth im in about 38 feet with 40 pplus real close and 30 feet real close also..shanty town i fish about 5 to 8 feet off the bottom ..no mud puppy suprise

[Chris Stolp]

..shanty town i fish about 5 to 8 feet off the bottom ..no mud puppy suprise

That had me laughing out loud. Love it. Sounds delicious, Mud Puppy Suprise. The little lady caught her first on Sat and you should have heard the squealing in the shack! I walked over to my other shack where eldest son and my buddy were fising and asked how it was going. They replied "Caught a mud puppy eh?". I asked them how they knew and they told me that is all it could have been with all the screaming going on.

[magic_minnow]

LOL! they are nasty! I was sure I had a crappie, and then IPAxH"xsdfFhyxNIA!!!!! I broke my mudpuppy virginity.

[DonBo]

I'll guarantee ya you're fishing too close to the bottom if you're catching those nasty creatures. Just sayin'.

[magic_minnow]

Yeah i was huggin the bottom, maybe only 6" off the bottom. BUt i did manage 2 small dink eyes. Do you see any lottery numbers DonBo? :P

[fishuhalik]

If a guy was to actually target mudpuppies, do you think I could? I've never caught one, I think they're disgusting but I still want to try to add one to my aquarium. I think my son would love it.

[DonBo]

Fish right on the bottom long enough and you're bound to catch one.

[Chris Stolp]

Fish right on the bottom long enough and you're bound to catch one.

I've had the buggers come up 2 - 2.5 feet to get my minnow. Problem is a lot of times when we have had the camera down we see the walleye and sauger hugging the bottom. Of course when the camera is down and you see its a mud-puppy you can just pull the bait away. When you are using a sonar the mud-puppy looks just like a walleye/sauger if you can see them at all.

[JigginGopher]

How many lines are you allowed to fish on the river? I know MN lakes are 2 and WI lakes are 3 and I think i remember reading you could have 3 on the river as well but I would like to be sure before i set up on Sunday morning.

[DonBo]

It's two. A friend was checked by a CO last year, and even though he was a WI resident, and held a valid WI license, he was told only two. My friend had three down and was given a very stern warning.

[JigginGopher]

Sure am glad i asked. Coming home from the St. Croix with no fish is bad enough, i dont need a ticket on top of it!

[fishuhalik]

Ok, so I AM allowed 2 lines if I have a MN license? Or is that just through the ice? I was told by some people on this site when I was sturgeon fishing last fall that I'm only allowed one.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Two lines, MN or WI license, summer or winter.

[iiccee63]

I'm going to the Shanty Town area all day Thursday, Jan. 21st. We'll see what happens. I have caught nothing this year compared to last year which was slow they say.....I'll leave my report on Friday. Hopefully I will HAVE a report! lol!

Good fishin' all!

[DonBo]

Two lines, MN or WI license, summer or winter.

What he said.

[AuggieDawg11]

Went out tonight and did alright. About 20 fish were caught. Mostly bluegills by surprise. Caught 3 very small white crappie and 2 big white bass. Kept 5 gills that were about 8". Never had this kind of luck with Bluegills on the river ever. Tried closer to dark for walleye. Marked fish but could not get them to commit.

[chengx90]

where were u guys fishing at?....went out yesterday..got one fish only

[AuggieDawg11]

Tried up north of the high lines and south of the ferry landing. Covered a lot of ground today. Size 10 red/gold scandia tipped with waxies. Fish would not touch minnows today.

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

Well, it's a start...

[AuggieDawg11]

Going out for a few hours this morning. Will report when I get back in.

[kklund]

if you are a wisconsin resident you can fish three lines. minnesota resident two lines..... ive been checked dozens of times over the years and never had an issue!