St. Croix River Fishing Reports

[RiverChuckNorris]

Went out Sunday and Wednesday this week. Had 5" of ice Sunday and 8"+ Wednesday. Caught around 35 between 5 of us Sunday and about 20 between 2 of us Wednesday with many silver bass dinks as well. Far better sized crappies on Sunday with only 3 being 10"+ on Wednesday.

All were caught in 32-40 fow, mostly jigging minnow heads (using both fatheads and crappies minnows (didn't seem to matter)).

We fish away from everyone else with anyone else being at least a half mile away. That being said, had a gentleman come set up within 15 yds or so of us on Wednesday I guess that's metro fishing!

[MN BassFisher]

Nice report RiverChuckNorris, I look to be out there soon and am hoping I can dial into the Crappies. I've never been able to find them out there, just one here or there. Got into a couple nice Walleye's last year while searching for the Craps, neighbors seemed upset when I didn't keep the Walleyes as they shook their heads.

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

Wife & I were out of Bayport yesterday (Thursday) afternoon into the evening. 3/4 of the way to the Wis. side in 38'.

We caught some Crappies, no WB. None after dark.

Pulling the sled up the hill almost kicked out butt.

Too many noisy people set-up too close with kids running around close. PLEASE, give people room & watch your kids.........

[david_vang]

Fishermen for a lifetime, how thick was the ice there? I'm gonna give it a try tomorrow.

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

Fishermen for a lifetime, how thick was the ice there? I'm gonna give it a try tomorrow.

I didn't measure, but enough for people's 4-wheelers.

We'll be out with then too.

[david_vang]

Good to go! Thank.

[Cheetah]

I did well this morning. Lots of people were out on the ice. I stayed off the edge of the crowds by a couple hundred yards and found lots of fish without having to move. Bite died down for me around 11am, same time as my propane tank ran out and my wife was expecting me home, so it worked out fine. I threw back quite a few crappies, some small white bass, a couple sunfish, and one mooneye. Caught everything on euro larva, didn't have any minnows with me.

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

We got all our Crappies this morning on Minnows, had a waxworm down for 3 hours with no bites. Every day & place is different!

Sure did slow down... Too many people & noise.

We got a Mooneye too, my Wife wanted to keep it to try... We'll see...

[Rob55]

Hello to all Avid Fishermen, (unless you leave behind trash where you fish)Had 2/3 great days of ice fishing the beautiful Croix with my brother and a few friends. A mixed bag of Crappies, W. Bass, Smallies, Walleyes, Saugers, lost channel cat, and the Awesome Sturgeon!!!It was awesome seeing people bring their kids......we need more of that. Wish some of the younger people in my family had the itch......oh well.Speaking of it getting crowded out there, was wondering if anyone knows/knew of other ice fishing spots along the Croix corridor to walk onto besides the usual hard water hang outs. (Bayport & Prescott) I'm looking for new adventures along one of our great outdoor treasures The St. Croix. Thanks and Stay classy Fishermen.

[Cheetah]

I went out this morning from 7:15am to about 10:30am. Not many people out, but there were a few. I went home with one crappie and a white bass. Threw back a few other crappies, one sunfish, two mooneye and a little white bass. Bite was slow and shut down at about 9:30 with only a few lookers after that.

[Rob55]

Happy News Years!!!

Brother and I got out today from 0700-1600 catching plenty of the usual suspects. Hot action right away then had to downsize the lures to scratch out the rest.

[MidCoast]

I went out today. I caught a one Crappie and one Catfish.

[clayton08]

I dont fish bayport too much been out there once but just wondering what is the depth that you guys mostly fish?

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

Eh, usually 35-39', but it depends.

Good luck!

[al15abc]

I went out there for the first time a couple days ago late afternoon and early evening and didn't mark much, but didn't feel like moving towards the crowd of houses. From what I have read on the forums it seems like the bite is in the morning, and not much to speak of after the morning. Is that a correct statement, or is it worth fishing in the afternoon? Thanks for all the help.

[DonBo]

Mornings have generally been better, but the occassional good afternoon keeps me trying.

[al15abc]

I'll be down there this afternoon around 3 to give it a try again. I'll be in a 1 person clam flip over so say hello if you are down there!!!

[Cheetah]

Good luck out there, let us know how you do.

[al15abc]

Well I caught my first Mooneye today, which was fun. Also, got a suspended walleye when I was dropping a line, and a couple of crappies. I was marking fish when it got dark outside, but couldn't get anything to bite? Any recommendations for night time fishing on the river, or does the bite pretty much shut off when the sun goes down?

[WalleyeChaser]

You will notice that everyone starts to bail around dark and thats for a reason. The bit usually shuts off. I'm sure there is still fish that will bite but from my experience its pretty much a nonexistent bite after dark out there. Good luck!

[Cheetah]

Slow start to the morning for us. Got out there before sunrise but no fish were biting until well after the sun was up. We caught some mooneye and a few tiny white bass in the early morning then around 9am the crappies moved in and we caught a bunch from then until maybe 1030. Nothing big, mostly in the 9-10" range for best fish of the day. I hooked into one fish that felt real nice when I set the hook but was only on for a few seconds, wish I could have seen what it was.

Crappie minnows were best for us today, didn't catch much of anything on just larva. Lots of lures were used, had to size down though, teardrops of various colors and a small bare red hook worked for me. I also caught some on plastics while hole hopping.

[eyesonly]

Yep I got up with the chickens for nothing also. I was lucky enaough to catch 3 really nice 12 inchers though right around 9 am as well. Id like to know how the guys that went south did. I didnt have the seeds to head south in the dark not knowing how the ice was. anyone go south of the park on the wisc. side yet ? I Just cant bring myself to fish by all those people around the village so I stayed between the access and the village.

[southerner]

I was south of the Wisconsin access a couple hundred yard. Only 8" (!) of ice underneath us, which is a fair bit less than expected given recent reports; others north of us reported 12" this morning. I was somewhat shocked and more than a bit concerned when a full-size pickup trucked across the ice to the MN side. He made it, but Old Man River was groaning loudly.

To the fishing though.... not much happening 'til after sunup, just like you fellas reported. Found a few crappies, more mooneyes than expected, and other assorted rough fish starting 9AMish. Sounds like similar results to others fishing north of us.

[FishinFools]

Fished the basin out from the park from 7:30-10:15. Very few fish marked and first skunk of the ice season. Not a fish caught. Couldn't buy a bite.

[Cheetah]

Set up before sunrise and marked lots of fish, they weren't biting yet though. Called over DonBo to my spot. Fished until after sunrise and my dad walked out to join me in my portable. Apparently some other guys thought it was a party and set up right behind me... We were over 100yd from anyone else and they set up within talking distance. They proceeded to call in their buddies like we were on a magic spot and we ended up with 8 people in an arc around us.

I only observed them catch a couple fish and complained later wondering where the fish were. Shoulda kept following their guide, I managed to find fish when they were crying about the bite. Reeled one up as they left the ice walking past me.

I brought home 4 decent crappies and a white bass, marked plenty of fish and had lots of sniffers all morning but not a hot bite. I caught mine with plastics while hole hopping and the white bass was on a plastic. Dad was using minnows in my portable and had lots of fish chasing them around. Going to my in-laws tonight to cook up the catch from yesterday and today, should be tasty.

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

Thanks for the report.

People.

See ya out there, well, maybe not. I stay away from others as well.

[old timer]

Out yesterday and today. 8:00 am - 11:00 am. 38 fow. Lots of crappies, white bass and 1 kittie. Crappies ranged from 5 inches to 13 inches, with the majority in the 9 to 10 inch range. Fiskas, small minnows, and spring bobbers worked the best, but gulp and little atom nuggies also produced.

8.5 inches of ice where we were set up!! I'm not driving out there yet.

[WalleyeChaser]

Cheetah-what you, and many others have been experiencing lately, has pretty much made me give up on the Croix during hard water the last couple years! I would rather catch fewer fish and have a quiet experience than deal with the ZOO of inconsiderate people out there. Myself and a few hso members i met on a spot i tried to fish after lots of research and fishing away from crowds, had a great spot and we slowly got crowded out. I drive past every now and again and see more people there every time! It just plain sucks to put in the work to find a spot and have some guy plop next to you and catch a few. And then BAM his buddies are all there the next trip out!

[Sinker]

Yeah, I've had the same happen down there. Been in the middle of nowhere and had guys pull right up within 20 yards and start fishing as if I'm on a hotspot. First thought is to go out and ask "what the *%#$ are you doing?" but then I usually just packed up and mumbled to myself about stupid people. I realize it's public water but geez, it's simple common courtesy.

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

Thank God they don't get as close as they do in the soft water. ...oh wait, some do.