St. Croix River Fishing Reports

[Jarrid Houston]

Lots of open water around the valley.. Be extra careful, and I recommend walking, and bringing a bud. With that said, we had a nice outing this weekend fishing crappie, and catching bonus cats, silvers, smallies, moon eye, crappie, saug, and eyes. the walleyes tasted great......hahaha just kidding!!!

[SouperStar22]

So were you guys fishing on the ice?

[daveluke]

Any thoughts on the crappie / white bass action that surely is on it's way. I assume water temps are on the rise fast. If I remember it seems after 50 degrees the white bass start showing up with regularity. Strange weather we're having.

[SouperStar22]

Hey I know there are boaters out there already comin now lets get some report. I'm goin out there this weekend and just wondering hows everyone doin on fishing I know is early but we goin for crappies.

[JimP]

I was down at the King Plant this week. Not much happening yet.

[analyzer]

So I head down to the St.Croix for a little shore fishing, and see what's biting. I was hoping for a little crappie action, or perhaps to get into some white bass. The weather seemed perfect, albeit, a bit wet.

I put on my goto bait. A 2 inch black and silver rapala, and work the shallows off the rocks. I couldn't keep the smallies off my line. One after another. Even a little 2 lb pike played tug of war with me. It was raining more than I would like, but it was hard to beat the action.

Just before dark, the bite along shore was slowing down, so I cast out into deeper water (even there, it's not that deep), and let the sinking rapala fall to the bottom before starting my retrieve. About 10 ft from shore, something very heavy clamped down, and started out away from shore. It was definitely a big fish, but not running like a big pike might. Just heavy, and a steady pull on the drag.

I tried lifting her to the surface multiple times, only to encourage another short run, and more line peeling off the drag. But again, not the sort of runs a big pike would make. More like a walleye, or big cat. I watched a guy catch a 40lb sturgeon Saturday, and decided it was a different fight from that as well.

As I fought the big heavy fish, I watched about a 3lb smallie, playing about 8 ft away from me, not more than a foot from shore. His big tail, kept popping out of the water, as he nosed around in the submerged rocks.

I thought about calling my brother in law, who I had been just talking to moments earlier, so he could listen to my drag, and be jealous, but decided against it, as I'd probably drop the phone in the water.

I became impatient with the fight, which had now drug out for at least 5 minutes. I wanted to see what I was battling, and it was getting very dark. I wanted to get her to the surface before I couldn't see her at all. I was afraid my 8lb test, or little 2 inch rapala was going to give in.

This fish is heavy, I thought to myself, as I reeled down tight, and started to slowly lift with most of my strength to bring her up from the bottom. I could tell she was getting close, and eagerly anticipated a big swirl from her tail, giving me some indication of her length, size, and identity.

But, alas, it wasn't to be. At that moment, out popped the little rapala, and the line went soft. "nooooooooooooooooooo", I cried to myself. Sooo frustrating. I thought about my nephew tyler, and a similar fight he had not to long ago. dam. I wanted to see her.

That's the 2nd time in that general vicinity, with a similar bait, that I have fought a big fish, and didn't get to see. But it's the St.Croix, and there are so many possibilities, it's hard to narrow it down. I think probably Cat, or big preseason female Walleye. It's hard to say, and even harder to stop thinking about.

dam.

[SouperStar22]

Nice report man I feel yall I had that to last year [PoorWordUsage] makes you wonder until you get back out there that feeling sucks

[Yang]

Was out at stillwater tonight by the plant. Not much action going on, only hook a few smallie and a nice cat. Saw people catching carp. Don't look like the white bass has move in yet, hopfully they start running soon. Would be a blast.

[lakeshoremunster]

Analyzer

Sounds like it could have been a muskie. We eere out there about two weekends ago at the powerplant and my brother hooked into a muskie, it ran just like how you said your fish did. The fight lasted about ten mins and I had to step into the water to grap the big fish for him.

I will post a picture up later when I get home I cant get one uploaded on from my phone, the file search tab on this site dosnt see my picture album as a folder.

[analyzer]

Analyzer

Sounds like it could have been a muskie. We eere out there about two weekends ago at the powerplant and my brother hooked into a muskie, it ran just like how you said your fish did. The fight lasted about ten mins and I had to step into the water to grap the big fish for him.

I will post a picture up later when I get home I cant get one uploaded on from my phone, the file search tab on this site dosnt see my picture album as a folder.

Wouldn't a muskie make long runs back n forth? Seems that pike always do. They let you reel them in fairly close, and then they run off again. This didn't act like a pike, but I have never caught a big muskie. That would've been neat I guess. Albeit, out of season. In a weird sort of way, I didn't want it to be my first 10lb walleye. I couldn't even feel good about posting a pic this time of year. Although, I'll be happy to look at a pic of your muskie.

There was a guy casting for them last year, this time of year, down by the plant. I'd be careful intentionally targeting out-of-season muskies.

That from the guy who is catching one smallmouth after another.

Mostly I just wanted to see what was so heavy on the end of my line. I've had those ones river fishing, where they take the bait, start heading down river, and you can't even turn them. This wasn't that big, I'd say definitely more than 10, and probably less than 25. I've caught a 15lb carp before, and did have a buffalo strike my rapala a week ago, but I'd say it wasn't either of those.

[OUTDOOR_GUY01]

Analyzer could of been anything..I watched a guy catch, what he thought was a hog and fight it for over an hour..only to find out he had caught a sunken log...his friends laughed at him for a long time

[tunrevir]

I hit the St. Croix last weekend looking for crappies and white bass but only found walleyes and rockbass willing to bite. The water temps were 49 degrees in the main current and I talked to a couple guys that were poking around in some of the backwaters and they had 60 degrees while poking around for some panfish. I thought the whitebass might be hitting with the weather the way it has been. I'm hoping to poke around in some other white bass haunts this weekend to see if anything has shown up yet. Won't be long and the crappies and whitebass will be feeding heavy once the weather warms again.

Tunrevir~

[BigJakeL]

Yup I hit the Croix last week and caught nothing but Mud Puppies! Had a good time though! Hope to get into some crappies and or white bass tomorrow when I head out of Osceola wind permitting!

[lakeshoremunster]

here is the picture that i promised you guys

[tunrevir]

Nice ski, must have given you quite a tussle.

Tunrevir~

[ChuckF]

New here to the river fishing and live in Woodbury. What is a good place to launch in the St. Croix and from 94 in Hudson area what way or area should I go to look for white bass? crappies? eyes? I have always seen tons of boats anchored in this small area to the right as I cross the 94 bridge heading into WI from MN.

[SouperStar22]

Welcome Chuck

There is Beanie Launch right off 95goin to Afton before crossing the bridge to cheese head land also downtown Hudson and one in Bayport but all these launch you will have to pay a price to go out of. And yes where you see boats out there, theres a nice fishing spot there thats why.

[ChuckF]

Going to head out there tomorrrow, and what are they fishing in that area?

[WalleyeChaser]

They should be fishing for crappies, whitebass and sunnies, and so on! All other game fish are closed right now. If they are targeting smallies, walleye/sauger, etc. they are out of season so don't do it yourself. And please call TIP if you see this happening! Hate to be neagative but I know it happens!

[ChuckF]

Yep I know what you mean, and what I mean't was during the summer when I drive over there is there one certain thing they are fishing there or all types?

[SouperStar22]

summer time you be catching all kinds of fish there "SHEEPHEADS" fun to

and also nice smalley but alot of pressure there cause its like a stop for every boat that goes there

[SkolVikingsGuy]

I'm thinking this would be a great weekend to take the kids out on the St.Croix for some crappie fishing. The only crappie fishing I've done is on lakes, using bobbers and crappie minnows.

Is that a valid technique on the St.Croix? Any better options?

We'll put in at St.Croix Bluffs Regional Park. Any good spots right around there?

Thanks for any help.

[F!$|-| P!/\/\P]

I posted this on another thread but figured, I'd post it here as well since this is the main thread for the river.

Fish the Croix today - April 11th 2012. I was hoping that with the past few sunny days perhaps the fishing would turn and I was right. It was phenominal. My main target was White/Silver Bass. White/Silver Bass are schooling and spawning and ON THE BITE!!! Average size were 2lbs - 3.5lbs. They gave my new Largemouth Bass gear a good run!! Caught well over 60 in a couple of hours. Kept some good eaters.

In the mix with the White/Silver Bass were good 10" - 12" slab Crappies (yes I kept a few), Drums/Sheepheads, Rockbass, good 6"-10" sunfish, a few Pikes, a few Sturgeon (one being well over 50 inches....lost it. I was using 12lbs line - go figure), and not surprising....good size walleyes, bigest one being 22 inches.

NOTE: With the warm weather, the male Walleyes are full of milt and the Females, you guessed it - full of eggs. They were all released. Come Opener, the Walleye bite might transition towards post spawn....I hope not. Also, as the Fishing Guides have stated, Crappies are biting in shallow areas. You can find them just about anywhere from docks to 20 FOW.

Just about any type of plastic was best during the mid day and afternoon. From Jigheads tipped with 3"-4" Paddle Tails to Jighead tipped with grub. Right around 5pm towards twilight, they were biting on nothing but live rigs. jig heads tipped with minnow, Lindy Rig Jigging, etc. The bite was even more aggressive after 5pm. Thats were I landed the 22inch Walleye.

Fish were found in all the spring areas I usually fish. And these areas have good current which transition to some deep hole/Drop-offs. That should clue most of you people who fish the St.Croix where to go.

Anyways, thought let some of you know. As with fishing the Croix, the river always surprises me everytime I fish it. Like today, it was a well mixed catch. I am guessing Thursday's bite should remain the same. However, with the weekend rain, things might quite down abit but hopefully not.

Good luck!

[JBMasterAngler]

Launched out of william o'brien yesterday. Water was very low, which left my secret spots high and dry. Found some white bass, but I don't think the big girls have moved in yet. My dad hooked into a 36 inch northern right infront of kiwanis, held it next to my 4 year old and it was longer than her! Needless to say, she was a tad worried. Caught 7 small ones too, also a few smallies, a walleye, and a perch. The best whitie fishing is yet to come. Still a fun great day on the river.

[tunrevir]

I was on the river a couple times this week and found the whitebass were more active in the evenings right towards dark. Hit the river early morning yesterday and didn't catch any whitebass. Tried casting shorelines, trolling flats and even tossing jigs and minnows but no whities to be had for me yesterday morning. I did find a few different schools of crappies, some pike, walleyes, sauger and rock bass and even managed to catch a sucker on a jig and minnow. It was a beautiful day to be on the water! The whitebass that I caught on Thursday night were all gearing up for the spawn but weren't there in big numbers yet. Water temp had dropped to 48 degrees yesterday morning.

Tunrevir~

[MidCoast]

William O Brien, I see a lot of boats launching from there to get onto the Croix, is it pretty shallow getting from there to the Croix? Any underwater logs that may hit the boat or motor?

I want to launch from there and fish the area where the Apple River merges with the Croix.

[tunrevir]

Most of what you need to worry about in that stretch is sandbars, occassionally there are logs that float into an area but usually you can tell there is something there by the disturbace of the surface water on the downstream edge. The landing has a decent channel to get to the river, just take it slow and you'll be fine.

Tunrevir~

[JBMasterAngler]

Unless you have a canoe you won't make it to the apple river. Even then you might have to get out and do some pulling. Checked some of the backwaters that lead to the apple, and they have little to no water. This rain might help, but the water needs to go up at least a foot or so. And yes, the whities were biting better in the evening.

[Mr Special]

Hit the Croix saturday morning. Tried a few different spots looking for the warmest temps. By mid-day the warmest I found was 52.5 Did manage a mix bag of fish, some whites, crops, sheepies, mooneye, smallie, a few norts and some perch.

I'm hoping for some warm weather soon "wishful thinkin" to get the bite going strong. I've notice in the past 55 seems to be the magic mark.

All in all, it was good day on the river. To bad, I couldnt stay for the evening bite.

[motorcoach doug]

Was down Sunday on chilly/misty lake St Croix hunting for crappies and whities. Dead until about 9:30. Hit scattered school of huge whities.Kept the males. They had not yet spawned. One was the biggest females I have caught in over 20 years. Scale said 3.89 lbs. She is swimming now. Could not keep walleyes from biting in over two hours. They just would not leave the bait alone. Between the two of us, I think we caught 30 or more walleyes over 15" fishing for whities. Biggest was 27" and she had spawned. Never caught one walleye under 15" and all males had no milt. Water temp where we found them was 59.5. Partner landed a VERY nice Pike and a huge redhorse. Incredible color - not lovely - but pretty to look at. Awesome day. Died around 2 pm. Shoud be a great opener on the Croix. Good Luck and be safe this weekend!!!!

p.s. before anyone jumps on me...all fish not in season were immediately released.