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

Looking forward to this weekend. I will be heading out early Saturday morning and giving the WI side a try for the first time this year. This is as long as the ice is safe enough to drive. Otherwise, I will be on the MN side again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We used to catch a lot of crappies after Dark out there. Maybe it's just because we were young and stupid?? Would go out to the drop between the NH dam and the trestle after being at the bar for a while. Get to the shack about 10pm and fish till 1 or 2. They would come through in waves, nothing for a while then it was non-stop, nothing again, then we would hammer them. Some of the best times to fish are when everyone else is in bed!

Tim

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I tried to send you and Craigum's a PM and but your PM's are disabled.

Ya, I don't get PMs but can be contacted through my email which I check often. Got out on Mille Lacs and founds a couple nice perch, went on the river a few days prior to that and didnt catch anything, but my sonar was lit up like a xmas tree. I imagine it was all bait fish however. Anyways my Auger ran into some issues on Mille Lacs and I will be out of operation until I can get it fixed frown

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's the biggest I've seen. You SHOULD be proud. You can call yourself the Mudpuppy King if you like. grin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm looking to catch some Walleye on the St. Croix, near the Hudson area. Any suggestions where I should try?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I often fish for walleye, focus in the dawn/dusk periods for the most part. I either setup on a good break near a point or turn in 12-20', I've had some luck fishing the flatter areas too. There's a pretty obvious window of opportunity - some times it's a couple hours, some times it's 20 minutes. If I'm fishing all day, I'll head out into the basin deeper usually.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is this ice safe near Hudson?

There's rarely any safe ice right near Hudson, that's why everyone fishes the Bayport area.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Does anyone know where I can get a mudpuppy mounted? Can you harvest them? Can you EAT them? Does it count toward your DNR Master Angler certificate? (just kidding bout the eating part smile )

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A little late with my weekend post but thought I would throw it up. Braved the cold and was fairly decent out there. Set up early in the shallows and both days popped two saugers within the first 30 minutes. Then nothing. Moved deeper and ended catching aprox. 6-10 crappies both days. All in all not too bad. Headed up to the big pond this weekend so we will see how that goes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was out last weekend and we had 10 inches of ice. We went on in N Hudson at Ferrys Landing and went North on the River. There are a lot of shacks out across from Bayport.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is this ice safe near Hudson?

Thats a pretty wide area, any specific area you are looking for ice conditions? Hudson downtown area, south of the 94 bridge, North Hudson, south of Hudson ????

Link to comment
Share on other sites

first time we went..caught 1 but then we went today in the morning..no luck...can someone tell me where to fish...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I dont think you will get a spot on the spot answer but here's mine:

I dont know if you have a flasher or not but it really pays to have one when fishing on the river. If you are on the Croix and cant figure out where to fish, stop for 1 minute and look at where ALL the shacks are, those large clusters of shacks are in that area for a reason. If you are having trouble icing fish you need to up size or down size your bait, change your jigging presentations and always have a dead stick. 90% of my fish iced on the Croix come from under a bobber. I was out today and thought the bite has improved greatly since ....lets see when was I out last...oh yeah...since Tuesday. I dont know what kind of bait you are using but I always use med-small fatheads and bigger crappie minnows. Dont give up yet and put your time in and you will be rewarded. Take a little time to meet some people that are out fishing and ask what jigs/baits they are using, ask depths that the fish are at and mostly dont waste your day staring down the same hole those crappies are constantly roaming the basin and are on the move so you should be as well, if your fishing a dead hole or area it's time to move.

I hope this helps you, Good Luck

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Saw a bunch of vehicles out there the other day, how is the ice thickness? Hoping to make it out there this weekend, looking to drive a midsize pick up out there in search of fish. Thanks~

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Got out for a few hours today. Fished the warm water discharge, got a couple of looks but that was about it. Had a big clump of frozen rotted shad drift up through my hole. A lot of people out today, ice thickness was around 16".

All and all from everyone I talked to, fishing has been pretty slow. Think I'm gonna hit a lake this next weekend and give the Croix a break until the bite picks up again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fished most of the day, caught two perch. Considering the reports I've been hearing, it could have been worse.

Ice ranged 16"-17" everywhere I went on the Minnesota side.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Same here, 1 12" White Crappie, one big silver. 17" of ice. Lot's of people everywhere!

I moved a few times, the last spot (100+ yards from any other shack)gave up the two fish and lot's of marks that I just couldn't make commit. So many bait fish up at the highlines that just marking your jig was a chore.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

went out yesterday with the wife. Her 1 mud-puppy, me 1 small sauger and one miss. Some jack a$$ in a white pickup truck came driving through 3 feet from my shack and almost ran over my tip ups. I looked out the window and saw he had a liter bottle tipped back. The guy was actually chugging it. I was so mad I almost called the cops.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Finally iced some crappies. It took me, 2 buddies and 4 of our kids to do it, but managed 7 fish. No pattern to the catch. Jig with minnow, frostie with minnow head, dead stick, 2 rattle reels. Kids had a riot out there (4 to 7 yrs old).

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.