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

Shore Lunch makes a breading for baking. It's pretty good, we use it often as a change of pace.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

caught acouple nice eyes last night off the dock and I got this bonus and a first ever for me it went 38.5" what a blast.

P8260728.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice fish! I got out with a buddy yesterday afternoon-evening. It was pretty slow for the most part. We started getting a lot of bites at dusk, but couldn't land anything. It seemed that they would bite and spit out the bait immediately as we fed line out. The bites were very light also, so I'm guessing they were eyes (at least it makes me feel better to believe that we were on some eyes!) We were rigging with crawlers and leeches and did quite a bit of trolling. We ended up with a bunch of sheepies, one short eye and a perch that I caught while trolling. There were very few pleasure boaters out, so that made it an extra nice day. I'm planning on taking my 6 year old daughter out later this afternoon, launching from the Bluffs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was out last night and found active eyes/sauger mix, also was nice to see you out there handlining Dale (funfish) went out this morning and found those same active fish and made quick work of a limit was off the river by 9 good times cool

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good to hear theres still fish out there Dan, it sounds like you have that handlining mastered. I was out with my dad this morning 3 waying. Caught a couple shorts and an occasional crappie working a few points and breaks in the bluffs area around 25ft. Kinda disappointed after hearing Dan was having a lot of luck down there on the southeren section of the river. I'll just keeping pluggin away eventually i'll get them to jump into the boat like he does!! I've got a lot of practicing to do with this new method of trolling to me. It would be nice to catch a keeper to give me some confidence though.

I'll be out again in the morning!! Good luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tomorrow may be a different story, was thinking of doing some lindy riggen after I'm done handlining, plan to be out most of the day scouting around somewhere between here and there (prescott to kinni) see you on the water!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good seeing you out there Dan. The fishing was good around Prescott. Started at 6:30PM Friday and had boated 8 sauger and 2 Walleye by 7:30 and only picked up 3 more after 7:30. The bite for me dropped off dead after 8 but Dan was still catching. Caught fish in 17' to 27' on handline/rapalas plus a couple running snap weights. Going out now to try a little lindy rigging.

I hope that the boat traffic is not as bad out there as it was last weekend. Good luck and stay safe.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

River can humble a person easily, thought I'd easy put together a limit of eyes today but it wasn't anything like yesterday, caught alot of small ones,covered alot of water but just couldn't seem to put decent ones in the box, did go lindy riggen for awhile but couldn't keep the smallies off the line so gave that up and put on some articial bait and went after some crappies at least they were bitting, finished picking up a couple shorts handlining, be back on the water tuesday evening cool

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Went out yesterday (Sunday)AM. Wallys were slow for me too. Luckily the whiteys stepped up and gave us some decent action.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fished Sunday evening by Prescott and hooked up with 2 Walleyes 24" and 24.5" at the same time on the handline. I was positive I had hooked up with a big cat because I have never had anything pull so had on the handline. Both fish were very healthy looking released as fast as possible, go get'em. Also picked up 3 Saugers and a 16" Walleye. There was also a lot of stripers and I had multiple doubles. Stripers are a lot of fun especially when you get a double. Fishwater you left too early, I picked up most of the stripers and the 2 big Walleyes about 15 minutes after I talked with you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

you left too early, I picked up most of the stripers and the 2 big Walleyes about 15 minutes after I talked with you.

Dale, that stings! I was marking lots of fish, just pulling the wrong bait! It's hard paying $10 a dozen for minnows and turn around and not use them..:) We ended up rigging the mouth of the Kinni for a bit just to put about anything in the boat. My buddy caught a couple mooneye and a pile of sheepshead.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fished near the Kinni this afternoon and there are shad everywhere. Caught smallmouth on topwater all day. It was awesome.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Riverdan i have never fished crappies on the criox what do you target this time of year? I'm not asking for spots just a little help.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Target wood, submerged wood in deeper water is best. All my spots I have found while fishing smallmouth, when I come over a sunken tree, I mark the spot on the GPS. They are not always visible either, but they are on the graph. Other than that sometimes they are off points, breaks flats....anywhere that there is baitfish. Takes some time to dial them in but once you find them, they tend to be there seasonally.

Good luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have used fathead minnows, smaller ones during the summer, I fish them either on a jig or rigging.

Has anyone tried using red tails yet? I have a few but could be to big, their 5" long, but also able to get 3" chubs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Went out this evening for a couple hours and had a great time handlining, put some quality tails in the box along with a nice slab, had plenty of action, lot of shorts and stripers even a couple sheeps and I did however watch funfish try to swing a 18"eye in the boat, sorry dude but you were going to toss him back anyway, nice to see you out there Dale

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Actually that is the latest catch and release methods, See-And-Release. I've als been working new catch and release method where you don't even get the see the fish before you release it. The new release method is coming along very nicely. I think it should be given a name, maybe Catch-Release-And Pretend (C-R-A-P).

It was a catch and release night so I didn't worry about trying to get the net. I wish that the 4 catfish I caught would have gotten off as easy. Cats are nasty to unhook when they get both treble hooks sunk in. I busted one hook and trashed one Rapala getting the cats off.

Ended up getting 6 Walleye, 2 Sauger, 4 cats, 7? Stripers, and a couple of sheepies.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good times, really like that release method, You may of had problems taking off catfish but I got a 20" sauger last night that would of been released except it completly inhailed a #7 rapala couldn't believe it!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Riverdan i have never fished crappies on the criox what do you target this time of year? I'm not asking for spots just a little help.

check the recent "slabs post"...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

River and Fun,

I think I drove by you two on my way in last night. I hit a number of points North of you guys and boy the cats were on fire. when I tried real hard to keep the cats off the line the sheep would bite. Marked lots of fish and lots of bait but other than the cats and sheepies nothing wanted anything to do with me. I went through the area you guys were fishing earlier in the evening, marked bait and fish but decided to try someplace else. The methods that didn't work for me were lindying crawlers and pulling cranks on 3-ways all in 20 - 40 FOW. I started out with the cranks at about 2.5 mph and slowed it down from there. Tried red, green, orange and gold hooks on the lindys and tried puffing the crawler with air as well as not. As for the cranks I tried every stick bait in the box and even a couple smaller shad style baits. I was a busy boy for the 3 hours I was out there to no avail. They are there and I will develope a trend. At this pace I should go through the entire tackle box in about 2 weeks. Something will work, it always does, and that my friends is what makes fishing so fun.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Went out this evening tried some lindy riggen first, picked up one short eye and a couple cats, then went handlining and didn't take long to start putting eyes in the boat, boxed some quality ones again tonight, hot color blue and silver #7 be out tomorrow and all weekend as usual cool

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Went out this evening tried some lindy riggen first, picked up one short eye and a couple cats, then went handlining and didn't take long to start putting eyes in the boat, boxed some quality ones again tonight, hot color blue and silver #7 be out tomorrow and all weekend as usual cool

River Dan would you care to share the depths that seemed to be working the best handlining?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The depth I'm finding fish handlining at depends on the area but the avg depth is around 24' trolling about 1.4 up river and 2.0 down cool

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The depth I'm finding fish handlining at depends on the area but the avg depth is around 24' trolling about 1.4 up river and 2.0 down cool

River Dan,

Thanks for the depth info! I have been having great luck pulling cranks with lead core in 25 - 35 feet all summer during the middle of the day until three weeks ago when it seemed like the lights went out! I have been able to boat fish but not nearly the numbers from late May to early August. I think I might try a little shallower water! On Wednesday of this week we did have good luck in 11 - 14 feet but that was during the early morning at low light.

I will try my luck again this weekend!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My Clients Joe and Barb White put six walleye and sauger in the box yesterday casting jigs with livebait. We worked 18 to 24 feet and 13 to 15 feet of water. The actual bite wasn't strong, just a little more weight on the jig and set then SET THE HOOK!! We also caught short walleye, small sauger, sunfish, strong cats, sheeps, and whitebass on cast jigs. Basically lots of casting and hook setting, hard to bet that kind of fishing in my book.

I highly doubt these fish would have hit a lindy rig. You had to take these fish on the cast, and a that point in time for me they did not want cranks. From my reports you all know, I crankbait, and Rapalas serve me incredibly well, but casting jigs yesterday was our ticket!

Keep Catchin'

Turk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This labor day weekend turning out to be one of the best walleye producing in a long while, yesterday caught lots of eyes many of them short but still managed to put 9 decent ones in the boat for the day, today put alot of shorts in the boat early handlining then switch over to a jig and minnow and the action was hot for about two hours and result was 4 nice ones in the box,can't wait to get back down there in the morning

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For handlining check the thread, today was fun the crappies were on fire to the point how many would I like to clean came up, unreal slabs gone wild

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.