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Wild River


RAM

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Does anyone have any suggestions for fishen in and around the Wild River(on the Croix) area? I'm kinda of new to the area and always wondered. I have a 16 ft Smoker, 70 hp. Is this to big for this area? I'm mainly looking to get into some eye's and smallies. Any suggetion would help,thanks.

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your boat is fine but you will have to take it very slow! there's alot of shallow water up there and until you learn the river you probably don't want to get it up on plane.
there are lots of smallies in that area.
work any island or current break with topwaters (poppers,props or walkers) wichever the bass want.
if they don't want topwaters try spinnerbaits,flukes(my go-to bait) or grubs.
there is a deep hole at the nevers dam site that usually holds walleye and bass.
good luck,
let me know how you do if you go up there. i haven't been there yet this year.

------------------
see ya

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Thanks for the response. I went out last sunday and had some success. I went with spinner bait and top water(buzzbait). Came up with 3 smallys and 2 pike. Nothing on eyes though. Tried everything in the box for them. Had a gas, yanking them smallys. What are flukes? I never had a problem with the boat either, just had a little problem with putt'en her in. Launch was'nt that great. Water level a little low,I think. Going back this weekend. Thanks again

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Where does the wild river come into the Croix? Sounds like a great place to fish from 14 footer. is the access on the MN side? thanks

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Wild River State Park, access is on the MN side. You can get to there from Rt 95

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I shore fished Nevers two Saturdays ago. I was skunked, but my buddy caught a 4lb sheepie and a couple lb channel.

Upstream from Nevers it gets shallow. But there is a little deeper main channel on the right going north. It's small though.

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flukes are plastic jerk baits like a slugo but shaped more like a minnow.
I use zoom superflukes but there are several companies that make them.
i use a 5/0 hook with no weight and just give it little twitches so it darts side to side then pause and let flow with the current a few seconds.
I was out by oceola last weekend and caught 6 smallies and a 29" pike. did best with the spinnerbait.

------------------
see ya

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oh yea,
there is an access on the WI side at the nevers dam site that drops off pretty good.

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Thanks again, HT. Much appreciated!!! I'll be out there all weekend. Camping and fishen. If ya see a white and blue Smoker Craft stop by, I'll buy ya a cold one. Have a good one.

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Hi RAM,
Thanks for the offer but i will be on vac all week in ottertail co.
went out at franconia yesterday with my 2 girls but didn't catch anything. (but we did more playing on the sandbars than fishing!)the water really came up since last weekend not sure how much because i was at a different landing but it seemed like at least 2 feet. The bass fishing seems a little slow right now for some reason.
i don't know if they are finishing up spawning or what but they seem scattered out alot thats why i think i did better with the spinnerbait last week because i was covering alot of water. after i caught a fish in a spot i would slow down and work it with flukes and grubs but could never get more than 1 fish out of a spot!
good luck

------------------
see ya

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Hey RAM,

I have been fishing that area for the last 5 years. There are a few good spots around the island just north of the land at the state park. The water level is a little high right now so the fish are not holding in there normal spots. The Eye's are always a challange in this area. If you can go futher north towards the Sunrise landing the smallie action has been great the last 2 weeks. Be careful if you try to go up to Sunrise, the water level can be shallow in spots.

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