Fishing at William O'Brien State Park

[nguye569]

How's fishing along the river around William O'Brien State Park? I'm going camping there in a few weeks. Is it worthwhile to bring my jon boat up there?

[JBMasterAngler]

Yes.

[tunrevir]

There is alot of good fishable water right along the bluffs at the park.  Jig and minnow, bright plastics or even working the bottom with crawlers will get you a good variety of fish.  The rocks along the bluffs are quite snaggy but can reward your efforts with everything from walleye and catfish to gills, perch and crappies.  Smallies can be had working shorelines and casting cranks and top waters or working wacky rigs.  Look for current breaks and eddies.  The channel leading to the river often has panfish at the mouth where the current from the river meets the opening.  Water levels are going to be running a bit high after the rains.  North of the bluffs there are a couple of points which have eddies and a scour hole that often hold fish.  the stretch north from the park is primarily sandy bottom and can get quite shallow but as you get 2 miles or so upriver the Minnesota side has a rock and gravel bottom and a deeper stretch.  Don't overlook the islands and the Wisc side of the river, often the down trees along the bank will hold pike and smallies.  Good Luck!

Tunrevir~

[jigginjim]

Fishing this area ok for boat fishing? or would most use a canoe or kayak? Having not fished this area before.  I was told there was trout fishing.

[JBMasterAngler]

There's a tiny little creek that flows through the town of Marine on St. Croix. There are some brook trout in there, but you have to park far away, and walk, and there's only about a 100 foot stretch of stream to fish. Not worth it at all. That area of the croix is very boat friendly. Sure there's a sandbar here and there, but the average depth is about 4 to 6 ft. Right now, the river is a little high, so the water is really moving.

[JBMasterAngler]

Fished out of William O'Brien yesterday...was the first time I took the boat out this year. Water was a hair high, and dirty. Fish were active, but hard to keep on the hook. Hooked into a pike right away that was about 34 inches, and quickly realized  I forgot the net! Hand grabbed it and lifted it up, but it flopped out of my hand, threw the hook, and back in the river it went! Was nice being out, not many people on the river. Caught 14 total: 6 smallies, 5 pike, 2 largemouth bass, and 1 sheepie.