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.

St. Croix River Fishing Reports


Joe

Recommended Posts

I'll be on the river at sunrise Saturday too. I'm hoping I can wake one of my daughters up early to enjoy a few hours of the morning bite with me. It's fun to get the kids out there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just got In from Franconia,And just got worked over by the river gods!!ended up with 0 walleyes and 0 sauger ! some silvers and a few Itsy Bitsy smallmouths.Was a great morning to be out weatherwise, just need my fishing to pick up !!

I finally have some work (YEA!!)so I'll wait til sat am to hit er again.

good luck all!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Took some clients out last night. Was a tough bite. Didn't manage any eyes or saugers either. Got a rock bass, crappie, sheepie and a few white bass. Oh yea, got soaking wet at 8 PM and hailed on, that was pleasent. Was a decent trip, but with all the fronts moving around the fish aren't tearing it up that's for sure.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Went out of prescott today, nothing to write home about but did end up with a few saugers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I read earlier that the crowds thin on the Minnesota Opening weekend?? That common? We'll be hitting the St. Croix for opener for the first time this year outta Stillwater, any suggested times for being there? Planning on launching around 5am, I should get a boat launch spot still by than right? Also, any suggestions or tips would be great, been 2 openers since we've caught a fish! :-/ But hey its about getting out, not catchin! HAha Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Boomsite launch mught be tough for a sat am,especially If the weather is nice.Alot of people put In there to camp for the weekend and can limit parking (along with any fishing rigs).

Just a little FYI,

Good luck !!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That parking area is WAY too small!

Unless it's a weekday, I just go to the pay ramps.

Good luck out there! I'll be out Sat early AM...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Traffic should be less due to MN being open now, but there are a lot of river rats that call the river home and are there no matter what. I'm usually one of them, but thought I would put myself through the missery of fishing the crowd of Mille Lacs this weekend.

I would think at 5 AM you should be fine to get a spot. Beanies would be my go to for that area though. Good luck out there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Took some clients out last night. Was a tough bite. Didn't manage any eyes or saugers either. Got a rock bass, crappie, sheepie and a few white bass. Oh yea, got soaking wet at 8 PM and hailed on, that was pleasent. Was a decent trip, but with all the fronts moving around the fish aren't tearing it up that's for sure.

Those hail on Tuesday night hurt when you are going full throttle trying to reach the 94 bridge... wink

Was that you pulling up behind us at Beanies? My brother and I and my sons were in the black and silver Lund. [PoorWordUsage] that Dave Dahl! I specifically heard him say we were in the clear for the rest of the night at 6:38 PM, and the radar didn't show anymore storm clouds coming. That's why I thought we'd be OK with a quick launch on the river.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll be on the river at sunrise Saturday too. I'm hoping I can wake one of my daughters up early to enjoy a few hours of the morning bite with me. It's fun to get the kids out there.

It's tough getting the wife and kids to wake up early for Disney World, but hopefully they'll wake up so we can get on the water early on Saturday, too. wink

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally Posted By: Sandmannd
Took some clients out last night. Was a tough bite. Didn't manage any eyes or saugers either. Got a rock bass, crappie, sheepie and a few white bass. Oh yea, got soaking wet at 8 PM and hailed on, that was pleasent. Was a decent trip, but with all the fronts moving around the fish aren't tearing it up that's for sure.

Those hail on Tuesday night hurt when you are going full throttle trying to reach the 94 bridge... wink

Was that you pulling up behind us at Beanies? My brother and I and my sons were in the black and silver Lund. [PoorWordUsage] that Dave Dahl! I specifically heard him say we were in the clear for the rest of the night at 6:38 PM, and the radar didn't show anymore storm clouds coming. That's why I thought we'd be OK with a quick launch on the river.

Yea, that was me. I think I said the same thing around that time. Sun was shining was feeling good, then BOOOOM! I looked at my clients and said "Well this is pleasant". They just laughed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yesterday I got out by myself and took Turk's advice on working the neck down areas, got 3 nice eater 16" eyes and a handful of smaller ones. Got 5 bouncing cranks off the bottom and 4 rigging with minnows. Today we started off trolling and rigging in the same places, found it to be very slow. No suckers and silvers like the day before either. Only got two walleye from 5am-9am so we headed down river. Found some nice arcs on the graph south of Afton and everything came together perfectly. We got some real nice fish, 3 over 20" in a little over an hour with some others mixed in rigging minnows in about 18'. All the fish were released.

seans20.jpgsean22.jpgsean28.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am new to fishing the St. croix river, or any river, just bought a house in Prescott and a bigger boat since i am so close to river. Any advise on how to fish the river and what to use? Have been out a few times and see other people catching fish but i cant seem to catch any. I mark lots of fish but cant catch. I have tried bottom bouncers/jigs/drop shot with rapala, but no fish. I have been in the area in front of the Prescott launch and under the bridges. Any help would be great for this river virgin, not looking for all your secret hot spots, just what should i look for as far as depth and what techniques work on the river. Thanks for any help, as i need it greatly! Also, any no of any good fishing guides for the river? Thanks again for any responses. Have a good day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Drop shot with rapala? I think I fugured out your problem.. whistle JK.

Hard to beat a live bait rig, crawler, leech, minnow for any time of the year, rig with a 1/4 - 3/8 weight and about a 18" leader. I like to look for fish on sharp breaks, primarily sand, get a map and circle some spots and start learning! No better way to learn the river than by spending time on it. None of us here knew anything about it either until we all put hundreds and thousands of hours out there, and to me, the learning is the funnest part and I wouldn't trade all the hours I spent learning for anything.

Welcome to the best fishery in the state IMO and good luck!

Turk is a pretty good guide, look for him here, I think even this thread...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Still learning, thousands of hours out there and the river can still humble a person wink

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The fish also seem to decide when to bite. There have been several times when everyone has had a poor day. I hope the shiners hold up. I got about 7dozen for the next fwe weeks of fishing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hit the river yesterday afternoon from about 4 to 8 with my dad. Trolled 3-ways up the Hudson channel without a sniff. Drifted live bait back down and caught plenty of sheephead and silver bass with one small sauger. Headed south of Hudson and boated a 15" eye, a nice crappie and many more SH/SB.

An absolutely beautiful day and a nice amount of action to boot. Now if only the 2 trolling motor batteries hadn't been dead frown Oh well, can't have everything go your way on the first trip of the year!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lake Elmo has Cisco. And I think that Square Lake does too. Of course they were planted.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Me and my buddy trolled for a couple hours this morning and found pretty hot action. We got 6 fish in the boat within the first hour; my buddy got a fat 25"+ walleye to start out his season. We also boated the first couple sauger of the season. I sadly lost a pig that doubled over my rod pretty good. Active fish were suspended in 20-25' around 15' down, best baits were Rapala silver/chartreuse and pearl SR7's and a silver black DHJ10. Got lots of little fish that were probably a little too eager to hit a bait.

j26.jpglil.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Geez I hate breaking in new hats. Anyways great way to start the season Skipper!!! Like fishwater said had a very nice morning bite going today. Boated some nice fish and had another half dozen come unbuttoned. Great fishing with good friends in hard to beat. Fishwater gave you everything but the coordinates out there. The bite is definetly going!! By the way the fish he is holding was not netted and yes it was returned to swim another day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great report guys. I'll have to get out there with Sean this year so he can show me how to catch them little guys on the raps!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I finally got out on the river. Boat still runs horrible, stuck close to home. Started late afternoon into evening six walleye 4 being keepers caught on all different presentations ( jig and leach, rapalas to lindy rigs)in 13ft to 6 ft of water. Broke one rap on a 6 pound sheep head mad favorite rapula also. Lots of smallmouth caught. That wind really cut through ya today and I forgot to put the AA jacket in the boat.

Got to use my new 8.3 ft List Creek telescoping rod, MAN O MAN! what a rod, talk about sensitivity don't think I have ever used a finer rod, well the Limit Creek medium heavy is great also but were talking two different styles.

Good fishing for all.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice report. I still have to figure out how to troll. wink Did manage to make it out with my son on both mornings. He had a good time despite that wind. Of all things, the perch were biting....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was fishing the shore line just south of the marina, and well north of the railroad bridge/channel, adjacent to 95. There was a doe with a busted back leg. She must have been hit by a car or something. She just stood there 20 yards from me for 20 minutes or so. I debated what to do, and then finally called bayport police. A very nice officer swung by and tried to get a good shot on her. I spooked her up out of the bushes but she never provided a safe shot. It's unfortunate, she's clearly in a lot of pain. Props to the officer for at least giving it a try.

By the way, fishing the rocks off the marina, with a rapala, has provided some smallie action ( i know it's not season) and an occasional walleye. I've fished for an hour each of the last 2 nights before sun down, and connected a half dozen times each night. 3 Walleyes so far. Keep looking for the white bass bite, but they haven't been around.

I also caught some crappies in the back water up by the osceola landing on Friday night. The sheepies were on fire off the south end of the peninsula.

I am currently unemployed and have a fair amount of free time if anyone wants a partner here and there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Analyzer,

I would like to take you up on your fishing offer. I live in St. Paul and have been fishing some of the area metro lakes and Mississippi river by shore since I do not have a boat. I have never fished the Croix yet since I dont know any shore spots to fish. I usually fish muskies up north but the season is not open yet.

I was thinking about fishing tonight...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Umm, you may have misunderstood ill, I was shore fishing. I am looking to partner up with someone with a boat as well. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you want to shore fish I'll go with you though. Today's a little windy for my taste however, and I have to Umpire softball the next two nights. We'll hook up though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

was out on the croix last night for the beautiful evening. picked up a nice 17 inch eye trolling shad raps in around 15 fow. then ended up doing a little rigging around 8-9pm which also put 2 20 inch eyes in the boat. while rigging we picked up some sheephead, silvers, and smallmouth. they were taking leeches, crawlers, and minnows. and the eyes bit very light and it was around 9 when they did.

chris

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That does sound like a beautiful evening Chris. Two 20's and a mess of others in one hour isn't bad at all.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • Similar Content

  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Kettle
      Walked today and yesterday, flushed 9, shot at two and got two. Hopefully next year I'll have a dog to hunt with. Still warm up here, skim of ice on ponds. Weather has been nice. Hopefully walk a bit more the next few weeks. Been pretty cautious walking for birds to not interfere with deer hunters. There sure are not the deer hunters there used to be 
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  The focus for many this week is the ongoing deer hunting season which is a big tradition in these parts, even for avid walleye anglers.  There were some that either already harvested their deer or are more into catching fall walleyes than hunting.     Those that are fishing are taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and excellent walleye and sauger bite that is happening across the lake.  Cold weather is in the forecast in the upcoming days and weeks so that is also getting many excited. The best depths on the south end of LOW are 22-28 feet of water.     Vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners is catching most of the walleyes, saugers and jumbo perch.  Depending upon where on the lake you are fishing, some slots and big trophies are in the mix as well, but most reports are talking about good numbers of eaters.    Jumbo perch are coming in good numbers this fall which will serve ice anglers well.  Watch out for an occasional pike or even lake sturgeon mixed in with the walleyes.      There are good numbers of walleyes and saugers across the south shore which is setting up nicely for early ice.   On the Rainy River...  There continues to be good numbers of shiners in the river, and consequently, there are good walleyes in the river as well.     Walleyes along with saugers, pike and some sturgeon are coming in up and down the river.  Most walleyes are being caught in 10-25 feet of water in various stretches of the river.   Jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners is the key. Some anglers are also still slow trolling crankbaits upstream to cover more ground and find fish. Both methods are producing solid results. Sturgeon fishing remains strong.  The catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open into the spring when it changes to the "keep season" on April 24th. Up at the NW Angle...  As temps are getting colder, most are in the woods hunting and not fall fishing, however, for those who bundle up, fishing continues to be excellent.     A nice mixed bag with walleyes, saugers, perch, pike and crappies being caught. Very good muskie fishing with the colder water temps and shorter days.  Some big fish and some good numbers are being caught amongst the islands.  Both casting and trolling is getting it done.  
    • gimruis
      I hunt in the rifle zone so I don't have a need to use a shotgun to hunt deer, but I would be looking at this if there was ever a need to.   There could be state legislation introduced next summer that eliminates the shotgun zone completely.  It has bipartisan support.  Wisconsin removed theirs years ago and MN is usually later to follow.  They've tried to pass it more than once and it came up just short both times.  Probably just a matter of time.
    • Wanderer
      Oh, h e l l no! 
    • leech~~
      Screw that, here's whatch need!  😆   Power-Shok Rifled Slug 10 Gauge 766 Grain Grain Weight: 766 Shotshell Length: 3-1/2in / 89mm Muzzle Velocity: 1280
    • Wanderer
      20 ga has become a real popular deer round in the last 5 or so years.  The rifled barrels are zinging those sabot slugs with rifle like accuracy out to 100 yards easily.  Some go so far as dialing in for a 200 yard shot but really, by 150 they’re falling off pretty low.   I have a single shot Ultraslug in 20 ga that shoots really well at 100 yards.  Most everyone I know that has bought a slug gun lately has gotten the Savage 220 in 20ga.  Problem can be finding the shells you want.
    • leech~~
      My son always bugs me about getting a nice light over-under 20ga for grouse hunting.  I say Heck no, I'm getting a 3 1/2" 10ga so I can put as much lead in the air that I can!!     So, I'm keeping my 12ga.  
    • 11-87
      That’s almost exactly what I was thinking.  Have slug barrels for both   One for turkey and one for deer.      I have a 20ga mosseberg as well. (Combo came with the scope but never used.   I always liked the 12 better
    • leech~~
      Wanderer is right on the money and covered it well.  I was wondering too if you had a slug barrel for one of your guns?  If so you could make that your slug gun with a scope, and the other your turkey gun with the Red dot.  As you can afford it. 
    • Wanderer
      Kinda depends on if you want magnification or quick target acquisition.   More magnification options and better accuracy with a scope.  You get what you pay for too so get comfortable with a budget for one.  Tasco and Bushnell work but I find they lose their zero easier, have low contrast and don’t gather light well in low light conditions.  That said, I’m still using one I haven’t replaced yet.  Vortex has been the hot brand for the past several years for bang for the buck.  Good products.  Nothing beats Swarovski though.  Huge dough for those.  Burris is another decent option.   There are some specific models for shotgun/slug hunting in the economy brands and bullet drop compensation (BDC) reticles.  Based on experience I’d recommend not falling for that marketing ploy.   Red dots are usually lower magnification and easier to get on target.  Reasonably accurate but don’t do well with definition, like searching the brush for your target.  I put a HAWKE red dot on a .22 for squirrels and it’s been good.  For turkey, that’s probably the route I’d go.     If your slug shots are normally not too far and too brushy, I’d think a red dot could work there too if you’re only buying 1 scope.  You’ll be better off dimming the reticle to the lowest setting you can easily use to not over shine the target and get a finer aim point.   If you don’t have a slug barrel, you might appreciate one of those.  I had a browning with a smoothbore slug barrel that shot Brenneke 2-3/4 inch well.  The 11-87 would well fitted with a cantelever rifled barrel. 
×
×
  • 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.