St Croix July time info

[Turk]

Hey Gang,

Here is a quick St. Croix River run down to get this new forum started.

St. Croix River walleyes will remain deep as the summer progresses. Livebait rigging and spinners are a good way to search for and catch walleye. Past July depths that have been hot are 20-24 feet deep. When the wind blows try a bit shallower and consider targeting wind swept shorelines for a mixed bag of game fish.

Crankbaits can over take livebait, depending on the concentrations of walleye hanging on the on deep structure. When the fish scatter, troll shorelines and points in 15-20 feet of water early and 25 feet in the day. Crankbait color can change quickly but natural colors have been effective. Leadcore and power trolling three ways are ways to get that lure down deep.

Smallies are the St. Croix’s calling card and an 18 inch fish is not uncommon. Bronze backs can be had by casting small spinnerbaits, jigs with tails, cranks, and surface lures in the morning and evening to the steep rock shoreline. Smallies dig deep by mid July during most days and should be jigged in 15-20 feet.

Channel cats in July are awesome. North of Stillwater is loaded with channels. Look for side channels to produce better than the main channel, river runs that are shallow next to wood and that have a funnel type situation are a great place to fish. Cutbait produces best in these situations since dip baits blow off the hook quickly. The ultimate predator – the Flathead Catfish - the pure meat eating machine, roam at night and can be hooked with live suckers, the decoy variety,
Deep holes are a favorite “mudcat” hunting ground.

Interesting side note eyes will hold in shallow water tie down areas year round. So deep isn't always the answer. Fish are always on the move and not either all deep or all shallow but always some kind of mix.

Keep Catchin'
Turk

[Guest]

Hey, Turk

Ever see any Musky in the River? i'll be fishing out of Hudson area July 10-21. Work in the day , fish after work,.Do the 'eyes come up as the sun goes down?

[Turk]

beyer,

If you can find sunfish on the river that is going to be your muskie hunting ground. muskie anglers on the Croix are rare, and so catches are too. I don't target them but I have caught them longline pulling thunderstick Jr.s

When the daytime fishing is slower, such as now...I have found night fishing to be productive in shallow water springtome spots.

Keep Catchin'
Turk

[Guest]

Thanks for the all around primer Turk. I'll be floating Danbury to Hwy 70 this weekend and will try to put your advice to good use. We'll have four lines in total so I should be able to return the favor on Monday.

Beyer, I will throw some big stuff when things look right (and after I've got supper in the bag). Hopefully I'll be able to post a Masquinongy sighting if not a catch.

Again, your multi-species report has reached appreciative ears. I look forward to a fall primer with anticipation, as I have at least two more multi-day floats planned this year.

By the way, do you guide all sections of the St. Croix? Do you ever guide smallmouth flyrodders? I love a smallie on the fly but I have a difficult time finding anyone else that will put up with a flyrod in a canoe.

Thanks,
widewhale

[Turk]

Widewhale,

I guide 95% of the Time from The Arcola Sandbar (seven miles north of Stillwater) to Prescott, and 5% from Taylors Falls to a few miles south of franconia.

I haven't ever fly fished but I know where the smallies hang in my neck of the woods...

Good Luck!

Keep Catchin'
Turk

[Guest]

Turk and Beyer,

Had a great time floating from the Yellow River to Norway Point. Remote camps, great swimming, and few people. The river up there is shallow and sandy, however, so I didn't have much confidence fishing.

But whenever we hit rocks I caught smallmouth on the spinner I was trolling behind the canoe. I also took a 30'' Musky on the same bait about a mile south of the hwy 77 bridge.She fought like an absolute maniac, leaving the water at least three times. A book I read suggested there was a good Musky population in the area, and I did see a small bird get violently consumed about 10 feet from boatside in 2 feet of water.

I feel confident in saying that the muskies up here, and all of the other fish for that matter, have seldom seen a lure. If you can find them will strike.

I plan to float a section slighly south of there soon. Hopefully the troughs will get a little deeper and the shores a little rockier.