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

Great job there Herky! That little guy is quite the fisherman! Pretty soon he'll be raiding your tacklebox grin

Tunrevir~

Link to comment
Share on other sites

glad you had a wonderfull outing with your son and the pics were nice. i have never eaten a white bass, how are they? good luck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't care for white bass, but the little guy really wanted to try it, along with his rock bass (he's had walleye and bluegill before). The white bass was not very good -- reminded me why I never keep them. On the other hand, the rock bass tasted like other panfish, pretty tasty.

I usually keep very few fish to eat in the summertime, but we tend to keep more panfish, walleye and pike we catch ice fishing. I definitely think they taste much better in the winter. Whether that's because the meat is not as mushy when the water's cold, or because we flash freeze them on the ice, who knows?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The DNR river water level data is down apparently. I'm going to be camping on some islands near hudson this weekend.

Can anyone tell me if there is an expected rise in the water level predicted for this weekend???

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Try this site Stillwater water levels.

Fished yesterday by Prescott and the fishing has been a little slow but we managed to catch a few Walleye/Sauger . The water temp was 70.5, this is down dramatically from the 80+ a couple of weeks ago. Most of the fish we caught were in 15-18 FOW which is also a dramatic change from a couple of weeks ago when we were catching fish in 20-30 FOW.

Another big change is the boat traffic. On Tuesday evening we only saw 1 other boat and yesterday there were less than 10. I'm very glad that Labor day has gone by, let the relaxing fishing begin.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey Dale-

Can I ask what you were using for bait? Cranks or live? Typically what is the hot bait for the fall on the St Croix? I am a total newbie to this, hence all the basic questions. Thanks man!

-Gary

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks FunFish. My priority for the weekend is Sturgeon, Catfish, and Walleye, but i appreciate the report. I'm glad the traffic is WAY down!! smile

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey Dale-

Can I ask what you were using for bait? Cranks or live? Typically what is the hot bait for the fall on the St Croix? I am a total newbie to this, hence all the basic questions. Thanks man!

-Gary

Most of my fishing is with crankbaits with snapweights, handlines, or leadcore so I don't really know how well you would do with live bait. The last time I used livebait was this spring/early summer and we did OK but you can get a lot of Drum at times. My primary reason for running cranks is that I can cover a lot of ground in a relatively short time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

this is my first time posting on HSO so if I may let me introduce myself .

some of you may have seen me fishing between the kinny and bluffs ,I'm the

guy in that little 16ft with my girlfriend of 20yrs and that siberian husky.

I've been fishing the croix since about 1975, when I was finally strong

enough to pull the rope and start my dads 25hp merc. I spent 5 years in the mid 90's living in the canadian bush working as a guide for the geary

family out of red lake ontario, at the time Kevin geary was still filming the [ outdoor encounters ] tv series with Debra johannesson. caught many huge pike and so many great walleyes that I wouldn't even know where to begin.

enough about me lets talk fishing ! I'm starting to get excited, the

tourists are all but gone from river, the water temps are dropping,

and the fishing is about to get interesting. caught a few sturgeon

already and the walleye seem to be gearing up for something.

landed a huge carp on thursday morning just north of the kinny , now I don't normally talk carp but this thing was huge somewhere between 35 or 40lbs also picked up a few nice eyes and some smoking smallmouth .

looking forward to chat'n with some of the regulars on HSO as I'm sure

we can swap some good info . that's all for now ,and good luck out there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey there Huskyhunter. I was on the St. Croix today too, caught about six saugers. That looks like a buffalo...or could be a carp I don't know, lol, but either way...awesome fish!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would loved to have caught that fish yesterday! It was a another humbling experience for me. Launched at the boomsite, and made it all the way to the railroad bridge. Was very hard to drift because of the upstream wind. Only ended up with 5 total fish...very small pike, small largemouth bass, 2 decent smallies, and a st. croix 1st for me...a perch! This has been by far my worst year on the croix frown

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, I've been checking this site forever I figure it's about time I pitch in... Did really well trolling the river yesterday on a beautiful day. Was able to get a limit of eyes in a few hours of fishing. Gold and Perch seemed to be the best colors and all fish were in 15 - 20'. Sprinkled in a couple of white bass and even 2 bonus crappie. Funny thing is I was out of Friday with the exact same setup and was skunked. Good luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Went out Friday night. Pretty good night of fishing. Caught 2 nice channel catfish, a big flathead catfish, a 32" and 44" sturgeon and a nasty big soft shell turtle. It was a great night out there. Fished 2PM to 11PM. 35 FOW is where we were fishing. Cut bait and crawler balls worked best. Here are some photos.

Fishing033.jpg

Fishing036.jpg

61332_501613183064_788303064_6941267_206

Fishing047.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

nempls we were out there too, pretty nice night we were the green tiller lund boat a little ways away we were dead set on that spot, you beat us to it glad to see you got some nice fish we headed north and found some action.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think its starting to get better. Been getting a few on jigs and minnows. I tried cranking for awhile. I don't know why but i never do good on cranks. Just started fishing the croix and I've been pulling leadcore with a 20 ft leader. Troll all over 13 to 30 fow 1 to 2 mph. If its 15 to 20 I will let out about 2 colors. Nothing but lost a few lost shad raps. Maybe I just need to work on boat control, there's some steep drop offs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had my first outing on the Croix this weekend. Put in at Beanies Friday night and came off on sunday.

White bass were on a tear! Crankbaits in 14 fow downstream of the 94 bridge. Sauger all came on the 14' break. I had both rods bent most of the mornings, bite quit around noon each day when boat traffic picked up, and the grass started flowing!

My best this weekend was 2 fish on 1 crankbait, pretty funny. A 14" sauger and a 17" white bass came on a Salmo Poland in the crayfish color. My other rod also had a fish on...busy busy. They were also slamming a taildancer in crayfish color.

Didn't get any sturgeon or catfish like i had hoped. Went down to Afton and fished the Catfish Bar saturday night with no luck. Tried on top of the bar in 17fow, and just off in 35fow.

Hands are sore from those white bass!! Must have caught over 80 between 14" and 17".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Truth, now you know why so many love the St. Croix. grin Glad you had a great first experience.

I think the Croix is great in the mornings...but less than desirable when the boat traffic picks up. Hopefully i can plan another trip this fall when the boat traffic resides, didn't like paying $45 to put in at Beanies- is there a cheaper weekend launch in that area? Or better yet, a cheaper launch that is next to the best sturgeon action?

My first Sauger and White Bass experience, and i got to catch more than enough for a year!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

$45 for a boat launch? that seems unreal, but i haven't launched there for some time. i launched across the bridge there on the wisconsin side some time ago and they had a pay box to put $10 in. that was a nice spot to launch. but i have no idea what it cost now. good luck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

$45 for a boat launch? that seems unreal,. . .

He launched Friday and stayed out on the river for 3 days and came out Sunday. Sounds like you got charged $15 per day which is the normal daily launch fee of $15 X 3 days = $45. Sounds like a lot when you think of it as a daily launch fee but you were there 3 days. Your truck and trailer were sitting there for 3 days so the charge sounds fair - not cheap but fair I guess.

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 :)

    • SkunkedAgain
      I've done my part to lower the lake level by pressure washing my dock all the way up to my upper deck. I figure that lowered Vermilion by at least 1/4" lake-wide....
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   This week was a great week of walleye fishing on Lake of the Woods.  In addition, saugers, jumbo perch, some monster pike and an occasional crappie in the mix!     There are three fishing techniques being used to score Lake of the Woods gold (walleyes).  First, drifting or slow trolling crawler harnesses.  In a nutshell, using about a 2 ounce weight and a 3-4 foot harness with a spinner, two hooks and a crawler.     A tip for crawler harnesses, hook the dark part or head of the crawler on the front hook.  Try to keep the crawler straight between the two hooks.  Try to leave a few inches of crawler off of your last hook and pinch off the rest.  The walleyes and saugers will still hit it, but you will create more hookups.   The second presentation is a jig and minnow or frozen emerald shiner.  Basically locate fish out on the mud or on structure, anchor up and jig.  If you are amongst fish, they will find you.     The third way walleyes are being caught, and some may be surprised about, is trolling crankbaits.  Some have put on the trolling gear when the walleyes weren't as cooperative or when the fish are spread out.  Lots of success catching good numbers of walleyes and good sized fish.     Lots of fish out over deep mud or deep structure.  The deep mud is holding a lot of walleyes in 21' - 27'.  Electronics will help you mark fish.     There is another shallow water bite still taking place anywhere from 5 - 17'.  Much of the shallow bite has to do with feeding opportunities on various minnow spawns, crawfish and hatches.  Not every walleye is targeting the same prey.  Lots of opportunities.  .   Gold, orange, chartreuse, glow and pink, or a combo of these colors, are a great place to start.   Anglers can keep a combined limit of 6 walleyes and saugers.  Up to 4 can be walleyes.  All walleyes 19.5 - 28.0 inches must be released.  One fish over 28 inches may be kept.  The possession limit in MN is one day's possession.  If you catch a limit, eat some fish and freeze a couple, make sure to count your remaining fish left over for your possession.   On the Rainy River...  With some rain in the area, the river was flowing with a strong current and some debris this past week.  Debris has slowed considerably and water clarity is starting to improve.     Water clarity is important for walleyes, saugers, pike and smallmouth bass.  Sturgeon are much more dialed into scent to find their next meal, consequently, when the sturgeon season opens again on July 1st for the keep season, things should be good.   The fishing happening on the river is focused in areas just out of the current.  Most fish will hang just off, able to grab a passing meal but not having to expend too much energy.  Current can be good as it focuses fish in areas.   Jigging with a minnow is effective when you are on fish.  Otherwise, pulling spinners and trolling crankbaits along shoreline breaks against the current in 6 - 12' of water is producing a mixed bag of walleyes, saugers, pike, smallmouth bass and an occasional crappie.  Up at the NW Angle...  Fishing for a variety of species has been excellent and is in full summer swing up at the Angle.   For those fishing out of the NW Angle, both the Minnesota and Ontario waters of Lake of the Woods are producing a number of nice walleyes.  Many fish have slid off onto deeper structure.  With that said, there are so many areas of forage on LOW, walleyes will be in numerous spots, some shallow and some deeper, taking advantage of opportunities.  Lots of fish to be had, just go fishing.   Jigging structure has been effective.  When fish are a bit spread out, pulling spinners with crawlers or trolling crankbaits is catching a lot of fish.     In this part of the lake, expect to catch walleyes, saugers, pike, jumbo perch, crappies, pike and smallmouth bass.   Muskie anglers are after it and reporting good numbers, and in true LOW style, some big fish over the 50 inch mark.  Summer patterns are starting to take hold, but fish are holding in a variety of areas still.  
    • leech~~
    • redlabguy
      We got .5” last night. Hasn’t affected the lake level yet. It’s been steady the past three days here (Frazer Bay). RLG
    • MikeG3Boat
      Water Levels I believe are now at a record high with all the rain last week, and more fell last night.  I hope it stops raining soon for all the people who have businesses and live in the area.  Water can do so much damage.
    • MikeG3Boat
      MarkB, Where did you find the perch?  I would love to get into some of those.  MarkB are you fishing more on the east or west end?
    • MikeG3Boat
      Where are the water temps now with all the rain?  Coming up for a week on Friday and want to see what I can find out.  I have had a very poor fishing so far this year.  New to the area and just can't figure it out.  Home is on the west end of big bay.
    • smurfy
      👍 dang that walleye is dark?????they all that dark out of that system?????
    • leech~~
      I think you got it! Nice Eye and hog Perch! 👍
    • MarkB
      I'm gonna try this picture thing again. Please bear with me.      Our buddy Greg with his best of the trip.     Above: Pike River bridge the morning we left.        Below: My cousin Tim caught these the morning after the storm.  
×
×
  • 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.