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.

white bass

canon

By canon
in St. Croix River Fishing Reports

 Share

Recommended Posts

canon Contributor

canon

Posted
Posted

Last fall I really enjoyed white bass fishing. Is the white bass fishing good in the spring as well? Does this continue a bit through the summer? I am new to fishing this fish and really enjoyed the catch, just don't know enough about them. Any info is helpful. I started fishing the croix a couple years ago, I found it difficult at first to find the fish I was searching for and the techniques, but now I really enjoy the river, it is truly a great place to be.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
lispeej Experienced

lispeej

Posted
Posted

If you are fishing off of a boat, you have numerous places up and down the river to catch white bass. You can catch them in the stillwater area, prescott, hudson, not to mention up and down the mississippi. The usually bite very well between April-July. I also love fishing white bass myself. They put up a pretty good fight. Do you catch and release only or have you tried eating them? They are quite tasty in my opinion.

Good luck in the spring.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
canon Contributor

canon

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for the reply. I keep some of them, I heard they are tasty so I tried it and found they are right. I have heard many taking the red meat off of their side and have tried it both ways. I mainly fished the croix for smallies in which I release, but one day I tried for crappies and caught the white bass. One day when I was out fishing, I noticed a top water frenzy and casted a rattle trap in, wow, was that fun, tasty and fun, what a great combination. I have found it hard to find them some days, but again I am new to it. I am not a walleye fisherman, I enjoy the search and the casting, so white bass is perfect fishing for me. I had a lot of success in the fall, have not tried the spring yet, so is it pretty good action? I fished around the 94 bridge.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
JBMasterAngler Grand Master

JBMasterAngler

Posted
Posted

They usually start spawning in late april or so, you can catch them left and right along the shorelines, and they'll be good sized too. In the summer I usually just catch them accidentally fishing for smallies. But in the fall I like to fish the hudson area, after all the big boats are gone. You could search for them by trolling cranks, and then just keep an eye open for feeding schools.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
lispeej Experienced

lispeej

Posted
Posted

Canon,

Off the 94 bridge is good. In my opinion, there always seems to be a lot of boat traffic there though. I usually try to find a spot where the water is flowing pretty good. Like a dam or resevoir. They seem to like to hang out where the water current is fast. One thing I should mention is that in the spring, you will catch bigger ones than you would in the fall. In the spring, you'd catch the big ones that are out to spwan, and usually in the fall, you end up catching the younger ones, and sometimes the ones that were hatched in the spring. Good luck fishing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
1eyeReD Proficient

1eyeReD

Posted
Posted

They usually start spawning in late april or so, you can catch them left and right along the shorelines

Haha but beware..Public shorelines will be shoulder to shoulder combat fishing at times and the protocol is you cast in front of me then I cast in front of you.. Reel in fast enough to avoid my lure crossing your line... Etc. Etc.. I would suggest a boat to get away from the mayhem.

May and early June is about as good as it gets...

- Rooster tails in orange/green/gold (1/4 oz or 1/8 oz)

- 1/8 oz Rat-L-Traps of all colors

- Curly tail grubs white & chartreuse (1/8 oz and 1/16 oz)

- 2" Gulp Minnows

- silver & gold kastmasters 1/8 oz

1ER

Link to comment
Share on other sites
JBMasterAngler Grand Master

JBMasterAngler

Posted
Posted

Yeah, I drift along the shorelines with my boat. In my experience, the steaper and rockier the shoreline, the better. Can't go wrong with silver mepps spinners or white twister tails.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mudcatman Rookie

Mudcatman

Posted
Posted

Originally Posted By: JBMasterAngler
They usually start spawning in late april or so, you can catch them left and right along the shorelines

Haha but beware.. Public shorelines will be shoulder to shoulder combat fishing at times and the protocol is you cast in front of me then I cast in front of you.. Reel in fast enough to avoid my lure crossing your line... Etc. Etc.. I would suggest a boat to get away from the mayhem.

May and early June is about as good as it gets...

- Rooster tails in orange/green/gold (1/4 oz or 1/8 oz)

- 1/8 oz Rat-L-Traps of all colors

- Curly tail grubs white & chartreuse (1/8 oz and 1/16 oz)

- 2" Gulp Minnows

- silver & gold kastmasters 1/8 oz

1ER

Dude, lmfao, thats some funny stuff. I know of a few places like what you are talking about. One place in particular where I would describe it as sheer chaos...........Devils Lake in the spring.......Unbelievable.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
1eyeReD Proficient

1eyeReD

Posted
Posted

OMG dude, I've been there. Came up to visit MN a few yrs ago and hopped in a truck with some family and headed up there. We fished Channel A for whitebass from about 4AM til about 8AM. By mid morning I had old' grannies casting over my shoulders. We had to pack it up and head to chase northerns and other species. I've vowed to never go there ever again unless I'm draggin the boat. I'd say "eff" it, if I'm goin to Devils Lake, I'm chasin eyes and "norderns".

1ER

Link to comment
Share on other sites
fish_4_fun Enthusiast

fish_4_fun

Posted
Posted

haha, its amazing what white bass can do to people. with there crazy feeding habbits its addicting.

yea, fishing the croix is fun. trolling around finds fish the fastest, and when you do its game on. and try to stay away from deep water, i dont think i've caught any whitebass over 60 foot of water. and yea, fast running water seems to be the key, in other words, neckdown areas.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
1eyeReD Proficient

1eyeReD

Posted
Posted

and yea, fast running water seems to be the key, in other words, neckdown areas.

NICE! See now that's the good stuff I look for in these forums. Don't need nobody's secret spot, but info like "fast running water... and neckdown areas" is priceless. Thanks fish_4_fun!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mudcatman Rookie

Mudcatman

Posted
Posted

Yup, Channel A was where it was at. A great place for the White Bass. I just watched from the bridge as folks hammered the living snot out of 2 to 3 lb silvers. I dont think you could have fit another fisherman in down there anywhere...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Bass Whacker Community Regular

Bass Whacker

Posted
Posted

you guys who are into white bass you have to hit the sippi i know the croix can be great but It dosnt even come close to the wing dams and they are so easy to locate that way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
JBMasterAngler Grand Master

JBMasterAngler

Posted
Posted

Last year they were running around the 1st of may, and a local had told me that was about a week or 2 later than normal. Am I to assume they will be early this year? I better get a move on and get my boat fixed! eek When they're at the height of their run, that is some of the funnest fishing you'll ever experience!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
xdreamhonda Newbie

xdreamhonda

Posted
Posted

hello bass whacker! care to send me an email on where to find them by the wing dams?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
goblueM Veteran

goblueM

Posted
Posted

step 1: travel up river

step 2: hit large wingdam with prop, breaking lower unit

step 3: get out and fish, catch white bass

smile

Link to comment
Share on other sites
1eyeReD Proficient

1eyeReD

Posted
Posted

step 1: travel up river

step 2: hit large wingdam with prop, breaking lower unit

step 3: get out and fish, catch white bass

smile

I've seen that one work before... May just be my plan this year.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Bass Whacker Community Regular

Bass Whacker

Posted
Posted

they pretty much nailed it on the head find a wing dam and fish i've never found any that always produce better than others you just have to keep moveing untill you find them

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 13 years later...
Michael Johnson Newbie

Michael Johnson

Posted
Posted
On 3/29/2010 at 1:16 PM, 1eyeReD said:

 

 

NICE! See now that's the good stuff I look for in these forums. Don't need nobody's secret spot, but info like "fast running water... and neckdown areas" is priceless. Thanks fish_4_fun!

 When the Croy is clear and fast And those whities will make you think they're Browns, 

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.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • smurfy
      Big Kandiyohi

      By smurfy · Posted

      i cant help you with the weed thing, but i just came back form out that way......Regal, New London Hawick area. i dont no how big the swat of rain was but there is water standing everywhere. my buddy told me they had over 3 inches of rain yesterday/last night 
    • mulefarm
      Big Kandiyohi

      By mulefarm · Posted

      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      Big Traverse Ice Free

      By LakeofthewoodsMN · Posted

      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      St Cloud Fishing Reports

      By leech~~ · Posted

      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      St Cloud Fishing Reports

      By Rick G · Posted

      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By smurfy · Posted

      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
×
×
  • 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.

  I accept