Upper St. Croix fishing

[Tutone]

I am planning to spend some time on the St.Croix in the kayak and canoe this year.

Does anyone one have any tips, locations, etc for the stretch of river between Danbury and Hwy 48? its about a 5 mile stretch.

i have fished lakes my whole life but haven't fished rivers much. It sounds like there are many species of fish around.

Any advice would be great!

Thanks!

[DonBo]

The entire upper Croix from there all the way to St. Croix Falls is smallmouth heaven. Northern, muskie and walleye can be found here and there. The upper stretch you're asking about can be difficult at times because of low water.

 

Certainly fish the deeper holes and slack water behind points, etc. Smaller crank baits, spinner type rigs, jigs with plastic tails will all work for most anything that swims in the river.  Bright colors seem to work best.

 

Good luck!

[tunrevir]

Small 1/16th and 1/8th oz jigs tipped with minnows and panfish leeches can be really good as well!

Tunrevir~

[Tutone]

Thanks for the responses. i picked up an anchor for the canoe / kayak, I think that will help out a bunch!

I am planning to hit the river again this weekend!

Thanks again!

 

[DonBo]

!

I am planning to hit the river again this weekend!

 

 

​So, how'd we do?  The river must be really high with all the recent rain.

[tunrevir]

I hit the upper St. Croix today and worked hard to find some willing fish.  The River is up a bit and pretty dirty from the runoff right now making it a bit tougher to find fish.  Managed a few short eyes, rockbass, crappie, sheep from the deep, a couple saug dogs and something large that is headed north with my jig still in it.  Prior to the rainfall the water clarity was a bit better and the crappies and bluegills, walleye and sauger  were on the chew, but most of the eyes are shorts.  I had surface temps at 69 today and saw a lot of surface activity.  Mostly jig and minnow fishing but did cast and troll some cranks as well.  Caught a nice sized crappie on a #5 Shad rap in 12 fow today which hasn't happened often.

Tunrevir~

[graf703]

Have you had any experience fishing further South? My girlfriend and I are camping at the st croix state park this weekend and I would like to get her into some smallmouths.

I have a small alumacraft that I ran the river deer hunting in the past, but I didn't bring the depthfinder to scope out any fishing spots.

Or would you recommend going North of the campground where you have been fishing?

[tunrevir]

There is some good fishing to be had around the park.  Poke around looking for down trees, rock and rubble shorelines and eddies and current seams and you will find fish.  You can drift and work shorelines with topwaters, raps and spinners baits for smallies.  I have had decent luck over the years tossing a simple twister tail in chartruesse with a clothespin spinner.

Tunrevir~

[graf703]

Thanks for the advice! I'll let you know how it goes! 

[graf703]

Well, I only fished a couple hours over the whole weekend. It turns out my dog's first fishing trip will be his last. He was horrible anytime a lure was out... 

I did catch an 18" smally from under a log on a jig with a twister tail. So I have you to thank for that!

[tunrevir]

Very cool!  Any pics?  That is a nice fish.  I will be poking around up by Banning state park this weekend to see what I can find for fish.  Gonna do a bit of camping with the family so we will mainly be shore fishing.

Tunrevir~