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

Good pom pom talk guys. smile I went out this morning again from 6:30-10, got really really wet. We caught 3 nice fish, 2 walleye and a sauger around 17". Basically fished the same areas as yesterday, 24-32' rigging crawlers and leeches. Fish were showing up on the graphs as the day before, they just weren't sucking up the baits very consistently. Lots of fish were mouthing the hook, barely adding weight to the lure while swimming along with the boat. We had a couple fish hit good earlier in the morning, got two on leeches on deadsticks that set themselves good. We got a few sheeps, 3 channel cats and both Seth and I had some sort of beast get off after a decent fight - we didn't catch a glimpse of either one. frown Anyhow, looks like once the weather flattens out fishing should still be pretty good. Good luck everyone!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Went out Friday evening with Mike (Quentico). We dragged crankbaits all evening and picked up 1, 17" Walleye, 9 Saugers ranging from 6-17" a few bass and a crappie. Most of the fish were caught in 23-27 FOW. Mike caught 2 smallmouth bass at the same time when he was getting ready to drop the handline down. Both lures were on or near the surface of the water very near the boat. It was quite exciting for a few minutes in the boat. We had a little light rain and almost no pleasure boaters. Over all it was a great evening on the water.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Its always great learning a new technique like hand lining from someone who really knows what they are doing. Someone whose able to teach and put you on plenty of fish so you can get the feel for it. Thanks Dale.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Went out today, didn't do well trolling cranks with lead, but switched to drifting with a leech with a copper spinner and had non stop action. Lots od catfish,some sheephead, some smallies, 4 short walleye,3 sauger, and a 23" and 18" walleye. Had to keep the 18" for dinner and was glad to see it was a male when cleaned. Delicious! Think it was the best day since spring. Fun

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Went out this morning, put in at the Osceola landing and headed South. A lot of shallow water, one missed fish and we decided to head back North to the 'cliffs'. Picked up some smallies along the way and something heavy bit me off after a very short battle. A lot of logs down in that stretch of river, as my diminished supply of jigheads will attest. Highlight of the trip was when I reeled up a 5' 6" Fenwick ultralight with a halfdecent Shimano reel on it. Not much of a fight, but I kept it ;-)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We had great fun yesterday despite my dim expectations after reading the fishing reports prior to our launch. We landed over 30 sunfish, several rough fish, a 1 1/2# smallmouth & a 14" & 18" Walleye and even a Rock Bass. Left with enough for dinner and only fished with nightcrawlers at the Railroad Bridge in Hudson from 0900 - 1430. Early on was more rough fish, then the fun came with the keepers. NightCrawler on bottom or with bobber next to bridge structure at a 8 foot depth. Walleyes were around 10 foot.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Been out handlining almost everynight since saturday and putting some decent ones in the box, averaging 4 a night with many shorts, doesn't look like I make it out tonight but tomorrow night looks good and of course I'll be out all weekend! Most fish or coming out of 25-35' hot color #5 chartrouse floater

Link to comment
Share on other sites

was out Wednesday afternoon and caught some nice fish. crawler harness, no spinners . The dead stick produced the best, the bigger fish came out of 30-35.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On the St Croix I spent the morning running all over but the bright side is boated alot of fish seemed every place we tried caught at least one walleye and a handful of smallies lindy riggin 20-35' walleyes ran on the short size depending on the area. Then went on pool 3 below prescott anchoring above the cans and working the wing damns with a leech or crawler if no action with in 10 casts or so, side down to another one, use caution when fishing around wing damns there tough on lower units, boated some really decent eyes/sauger mix though with most fish coming off the back tip. Finished up handlining the no wake and once again proved to put the nicer ones in the boat, even with all the activity the walleyes were smacking #5s and 7s hot color for the afternoon winnie perch. What a great day out on the river and it was nice finding active fish should be out fishing every night this week looking forward to it cool

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It has stopped raining. Still a little windy and the clouds are supossed to clear this afternoon. I'm heading down to Prescott to pull cranks and do some lindy rigging right now. Good luck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bricks boat works do great work! Went out this morning caught alot of whites and a few eyes and some pretty nice slabs and one big cat, heading out in the morning again

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Trolled cranks out there for the first time yesterday in 25'-30' of water. Worked the YMCA flats for a couple hours and then tried the afton bar. Come home with nothing. Had a few hits but didn't hook anything. Marked a fair amount of fish in both areas but couldn't get them to bite.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We were out in the same water yesterday morning, with about the same result one sheep and one short eye.We trolled cranks and crawlers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fog was so thick this morning had to troll by gps for awhile but boy the fishing was great for about 3 hours or so, the walleye/saugers mix was crazy between 4:30 and 7:30am boated well over twenty handlining, had 3 doubles talk about cool, got a nice slab crappie bonus but the highlite was a fat 20" smallie let go of course to fight another day, what a great time playing in the fog, kept some really quality tails this morning,nice to see a couple other handliners out this morning, hope your morning went great also cool

Link to comment
Share on other sites

mix was crazy between 4:30 and 7:30am boated well over twenty handlining,

Not to get folks lined up at the boat ramps in the dark or anything, but the early bite has been pretty positive from my experience too. 5-7 has been more active than later.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I got out Friday night, and Sunday night this weekend. Pulled cranks around Afton in about 20 - 25 FOW and made out with a few fish each time. All saugers, not a single wally (not complaining, just thought it was interersting). Also caught some sort of wind jacket off the bottom. Game me a good fight as the thing probly wieghed 10lbs all soaked in water! Sunday night was a zoo out there! Had somebody decide that they needed to cut through the 10 ft opening between me and the channel marker rather than using the other 150 yards of open cahnnel mad

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I love that factor of river fishing, alot of inconsiderate boaters out there in some really large boats, saturday evening handlining had a boat on each side of me come way to close up on plane really rocked the boat but I don't let it bother me much just go with the flow cool

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hit the river this evening for some handlining and found some active fish boxed three really decent eyes and caught quite a few shorts as well. fire tiger hot color tonight cool

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good job...

For as much as you get out and box fish, you must eat alot of them buggers. I always wonder how much I should eat out of the river and once or twice a month seems like enough for this guy.

Thanks for the report, perfect weather last night too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I love fish, I eat fish aleast twice a week have so for years, I don't buy into all media garbage about consumption of fish, heck there isn't much a person can eat if you listen to the media. Theres two types of people in this world those who eat what they want and those who wish they could eat what they want, I like to eat cool

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I like it. I agree with the media garbage you speak of. I don't like to eat too much fried food, and I havn't really found a fish recipie that I like that isn't fried so I need to lay off it a bit! I could eat fish at least 3 days a week otherwise.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just a suggestion, you could try peanut oil as it is healthier than regular old vegetable oil. And it also tastes better in my opinion. Just my .02

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.