St. Croix River Fishing Reports

[Alagnak]

Gave it 8 hrs yesterday with Lead core trolling where ever I spotted the fish. No walleye boated. White bass were easy with jigging a particular sandbar.

We got to this location that I seem to always see a fish jump/break water surface. They are fairly large... What are they? Some would be right next to the boat and I never get the chance to see the full thing. They looked slender and long, white bellies but walleye don't jump out do they?

They jumped every 30 seconds or so around 5pm. Couldn't catch a single one with worms, fathead, twister grub, or various crankbaits.

Mostly likely big gizzard shad- and they're filter feeders and you won't catch them on anything.

[WalleyeChaser]

Sturgeon generally like to jump quite a bit and fit the description of the fish you mention. So that would be my guess.

[Cronkite]

Made it out for a few hours today jigging minnows and managed 3 sauger, all were between 14" and 15". One large channel cat maybe 5 lbs and a few white bass. The saugers were light biters and we didn't get alot of action, I'd say it was pretty slow. Trolled crankbaits for a while that was even slower. The fish we did catch were in about 24', water temp was still 47.

[Skhots]

Thanks for the ideas, but I guess we'll never know unless they decide to come on my boat.

Planning on heading out there on friday morning.

[TruthWalleyes]

Thanks for the ideas, but I guess we'll never know unless they decide to come on my boat.

Planning on heading out there on friday morning.

If it's a school type fish busting the surface:

Otherwise, likely little sturgeon.

[Skhots]

Did alright in the morning trolling leadcore and husky jerks in various colors. 2 walleyes, 3 saugers, and a smallie. 1 sauger was a baby at 12 inches, thought the crank was fouled. Biggest walleye was 20", biggest sauger was 19". Still getting the hang of leadcore, but I think ticking bottom, then reeling up a bit is the best way.

I longlined a taildancer but it did nothing for me except take up my time. Should have threeway'd.

Phone died halfway through but here are the first two fishies -

[Skhots]

Bite still happening on crankbaits. Caught three eyes yesterday all around 3pm on my way back to the boat launch. 19", and 2 17". Was in 50 fow, marked them at 25-32ft suspended so I let out the leadcore to reach those depths. It's such an inexact science, I'm not sure if I was in the depth i wanted, but they were hitting so oh well.

[DonBo]

Bite still happening on crankbaits. Caught three eyes yesterday all around 3pm on my way back to the boat launch. 19", and 2 17". Was in 50 fow, marked them at 25-32ft suspended so I let out the leadcore to reach those depths. It's such an inexact science, I'm not sure if I was in the depth i wanted, but they were hitting so oh well.

You deserve them for still hittin' it this time of year. I'm a bit jealous, but am enjoying my time in the treestand these days.

[Skhots]

haha, I suppose I do after braving the cold and being called crazy by the wife.

I am done now until next year. Wish I had been going to St croix this summer instead of chasing(and failing) eyes on Minnetonka.

Next year I'll be venturing to Pool 2 and learning a whole new ballgame.

[RiverChuckNorris]

Fished yesterday on the WI side out from the ferry landing in the afternoon/evening 34 fow. Caught 8 crappie, 3 silver bass and a mooneye. All the crappies were 9" or smaller so nothing for the bucket . I'm a little perplexed by the lack of size. Hoping this trend doesn't continue the rest of the year. Either way, great to get out!

[old timer]

8:30 - 11;30 am, 8 - 9 inches of ice, 38 fow north of crappie town, 8 crappie, 2 white bass, kept 5 crappies around 10 inches, fish were caught 28 fow to 32 fow.

[gumbidammit]

how was the ice? any snow amount of snow?

[klee]

Went out on sunday and fished from 8-12 in 37-42 fow. Flasher lit up once in a while. Looks like a school of bait fish. They were very picky. Tried everything from minnow heads, waxies, and plastics. They would commit every time we threw something new down but mostly lookers. Only managed to take home 5 for a meal.

[old timer]

Good ice 8- 9 inches on Sunday. Probably a couple inches more by now. Enough snow to give good footing but not enough to make it tough to drag the sled. Don't know about now though.

[GSP4ME]

I fished way south of Crappie town last year and did pretty good. Going to head back out there again on Saturday

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

I fished way south of Crappie town last year and did pretty good. Going to head back out there again on Saturday

Good luck - let us know how you do.

Hope to meet up with you (& others here as well) this Winter.

[GSP4ME]

Walked out, way out. Snowing pretty good this morning, about4 inches of snow on the ice, made for good walking. Was on the ice by 5. Marked a ton of fish until 11 and then like a light switch could not find a fish. No crappies but caught over 15 really nice white Bass. Biggest was over 16 inches. NEVER caught any like that out there summer or winter. Had a riot with them. 32 feet of water, tried all sorts of colors, fish came on glow red

[FishinFools]

Snow picked up again after dark.

Lots of smiles in our clam this evening. Son had a nice crappie and redeemed himself of last years lost sturgeon by bringing a nice one to hand tonight! 36" (the fish, not his smile!). 28FOW, minnow on a bare red hook. Few fish, but lots of high-fives!

[RiverChuckNorris]

Drilled all over today, great weather to be outside. Caught 7 crappie with one being a nice 12". 31-40 fow.

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

Walked out, way out. Snowing pretty good this morning, about4 inches of snow on the ice, made for good walking. Was on the ice by 5. Marked a ton of fish until 11 and then like a light switch could not find a fish. No crappies but caught over 15 really nice white Bass. Biggest was over 16 inches. NEVER caught any like that out there summer or winter. Had a riot with them. 32 feet of water, tried all sorts of colors, fish came on glow red

Nice...

My Wife LOVES White Bass and wants me to get her some this week (I retired early...).

A general hint - North, West, or South of Shanty Town??

[GSP4ME]

WAY south of shanty town. I was the little one man portable all by myself. Closest fish house was over 800 yards north of me

[2eyesman2]

I went out Saturday 3pm to 7 pm, 1 15inch crappie at 4 pm and a few smaller ones "10 inchers" then nothing,a 20 min flurry then nothing...I was out on thw wis side,south of crappie town 38 feet of water,fishing 10 feet up,so the vex said..hope that helps

[jimlynda44]

anyone now how thick the ice is now

[jimlynda44]

15 inches

[Jay fishing]

Was out this morning on mn side 33 ft. Got 3 11inch crappie. My humingbird mark a lot fish, drop my micro vu down next to the jig to see what was going on. Crappies will come and look at my waxy and move away, should of had minnows. The micro didn't scared the fish. Cool to finally see what all that red marks were, had white bass, sheepshead, and crappies roaming couldn't see far though. Caught all my fish watching them bite, couldn't feel the bite very light bite.

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

Did fair on the Wis side, 10:1 Crappies to White Bass & 10:1 Crappie Minnows to Waxies.

That's all day, so it is slow, very slow...

[Icefishfun]

Can anybody offer any suggestions for jig size and color because I have never fished through the ice on the river. Usually I use 1/16 oz. jigs on lakes but not sure about the size of jig on the river because of current. Thanks in advance for any suggestions

[JBMasterAngler]

Even if you use a bigger jig your still better off drilling a hole for your vex a foot or so downstream from the hole you actually fish out of.

[Icefishfun]

Thanks a lot that will help so much.

[Icefishfun]

One other thing. What rigs do you think would be best for white bass,crappies,and catfish through the ice? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.