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

up on the croix plastics and blades have totally quit water temps are 64 to 67 degrees. i have been on fish that are stacked on numeros spots and wont touch plastics drop live bait and you are golden. fish on and good luck! iwish they were biting on plastic or blades but thats not the case!!!! and on the croix that color does hardley anything!!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There may be some differences in where you are fishing and the difference between Walleye/Sauger. Yesterday I was dragging a crawler on one side of the boat and a firecracker chartruse jug on the other. More Sheeps on the the Crawler but both caught about the same number of Saugers. No Walleyes caught on either. Fished South of The Bluffs and the Prescott area. Tomorrow we will be testing out the crankbait bite.

I try to do something different (at least different from the last trip) each time I go out. Many times I will experiment in the same area with different presentations. Usually there is a big difference but so far this year the different presentations have not made a huge difference.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

have only caught one sauger in the last 4 weeks but i only fish from hudson to stillwater, saugers are non existing pretty much up here untill the fall. trust me i would love to be using plastic !!! there is no funner way to fish then ripping plastic or blades, but you have to do what the fish want !

Link to comment
Share on other sites

up on the croix plastics and blades have totally quit water temps are 64 to 67 degrees. i have been on fish that are stacked on numeros spots and wont touch plastics and on the croix that color does hardley anything!!!!

Really weird because since the opener the walleyes and saugers have been beating the tar out of plastics and there all coming off the croix, last couple trips out this week plastics put more quality walleyes in the boat then live bait, about 80% of the keepers this week were taken on plastics most of which were walleyes, paddletails my friend! cool

Link to comment
Share on other sites

went out for some white bass this morning with my dad and brother. we did pretty good. i don't know about pass year but this memorial weekend the river was very quiet. not that i was complaining:). we ended up with one keeper eye, and 37 whitties. Most were hitting on fat heads, until we ran out!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fished the area of Interstate Park all weekend. Saw tons of people fishing the shorelines, and keeping just about everything they caught. However, they did not keep the garbage they left behind. I picked up after them... Anyway, as far as the fishing goes, we did pretty well catching a few small eyes, all of which we released back to the drink. As well as smallies, drum. All released. Biggest smallie I have ever seen my brother had her on a light action shorter pannie rod, and battled her good, but evetually she was able to shake free. major bummer, it was all of 22" and fat. Had lots of fun, and love that CROIX!

-JH

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Got out today from 0630-1330 and hammered the whites. Found them hanging around a current break off an island and they were chasing bait fish. It sure surprised me to see them jumping so early but it provided some fun topwater action. We also managed to catch some nice and healthy largemouth and smallies in the mix too. And we also caught a few small pikes with a lot of misses. Overall it was a nice day out enjoying the weather and soaking up the sun.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd like to get out on the croix this weekend, are the islands around I94 or Beanies above water yet?

I like your report Lee, I had the best time hammering white bass last fall out there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Out yesterday from 4-8:30. Tried a couple bays casting for skis and nords without luck. with the no wake we just decided to troll between all spots. caught 4 fish and missed a few more. one 30" nord, one 18" eye, one 16" smallie and a tiny largemouth. beautiful day to be out. good time had even with limited action.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I really want to start learning the Croix. I have never fished it before and I want to get after the smallies that everyone talks about. What area or launch would you guys recommend I go out of? Are there backwaters to fish for smallies or what kind of structure is there. Like I said, I have never been on the Croix before but I hear nothing but good things about it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was out for a few hours sun. around stillwater. Found the panfish scattered and seemed confused. Found crappies, only male white crappies that were very black in 11ft of water looking like they were about to spawn, no females-kept 12. Found some nice male sunfish in 4-6ft, mixed in with tiny females full of eggs-kept 13 males. Did find four nice eyes for the box and alot of big sheephead (6 over 5lbs!)one had to go close to 15lbs. The water is still about 5ft high.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I really want to start learning the Croix. I have never fished it before and I want to get after the smallies that everyone talks about. What area or launch would you guys recommend I go out of? Are there backwaters to fish for smallies or what kind of structure is there. Like I said, I have never been on the Croix before but I hear nothing but good things about it.

Not much of a trick to find smallmouth on the Croix. Launch anywhere convenient for you and look for rocky shorelines, they're everywhere. Certainly there can be more to it at times, but the river is an awesome smallmouth fishery and you shouldn't have a hard time finding some.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was out on Sunday trying to find some Channel Cats, only found one small one. This was my first time out this year, and i cant believe how high the water still is! Hard to beleieve last year I camped on the islands on May 1st.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My spots where panfish usually spawn are now 8 ft deep!!! The pannies are all messed up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Went out yesterday in target of some cats from shore and managed to catch 5 and lost another 5. All fish came from flooded timber in about 4-6 FOW. It sure was fun wadering and catching them in the woods.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The eyes are still going good as of late... got a bunch on Saturday morning, still live bait, their preference switched between leeches and crawlers throughout the morning. Depths between 14-28. Bro in law out today and hammered them in 8-9 feet. Live bait again but I would bet fan casting cranks would have hammered them as well!

Gonna get out agin mid-week, can't wait!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey dan, are you seeing more pike this year? I caught 3 in one day trolling cranks and a couple of days later Andy picked one up. I have not caught 3 in a year much less getting 3 in 1 day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey dan, are you seeing more pike this year? I caught 3 in one day trolling cranks and a couple of days later Andy picked one up. I have not caught 3 in a year much less getting 3 in 1 day.

Yes sir usually only get a couple a year but this year numbers have tripled, also been running into a few muskies tearing walleyes apart, saturday shreaded a 17 incher pretty cool but a waste of a nice eater

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Same here... Had a BIG ski take a run at a 14"er on Saturday as well right at boatside. Where are they when I'm after em?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

From the sounds of it you need to use a 14" bait that looks like a Walleye if you want to catch a Muskie on the Croix. Does anybody make plastics that big?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey Dale have you seen the line of Castaic plastics? I think they have a trout that is 10-12 inches. Might need the beef up the line and the size jigging rod when fishing those babies grin

Tunrevir~

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We too had a ski eat an 18 inch walleye along the boat side. I should say rip the fish off the hooks of the Rap.

If you look closely you will see many walleye now have tooth marks on them, smallies have the scars too.

I am seeing these scars more and more this season than previous years?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fished the interstate park area for dads day. Caught several fish including walleyes, pike, smallies, and sheep head. Noticed many active fish swimming the shallow sands. Fun day on the croix as always. Kept nothing!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was out sun. had my best numbers day by far, boated 29 eyes in 3hrs. Only 3 were legal! All on cranks. Worst percentage of legals i have ever had. Also got 6 pike biggest 33". Great day on the river. All 8-14ft. Also got to fight a 15 lb channel cat for about 10 min. thought for sure it was a big pike/musky.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

released over 12 fish today between 19"& 23" the 23" was over 5 lbs looked like it was on steroids. plenty of fish to be had. we were only out from 9:30 to 1:30pm kept 6 for a meal. could of easily kept our 12. nice to see thim swim away!!!

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.