Hot Summer days

[TrollerX]

Seems like an odd thing to think about but I am wondering what the opinion is of the rest on Croix Summer fishing. I am talking about June, July, and August fishing. It seems to me that the river traffic has gotten so busy that to try to fish the lower Croix during the day on a weekend is a waste of time. Is the upper Croix better? What I did this year was fish from about 5:00 a.m. until 11:00 or so. It is like a switch at 10:00 am that comes on. The traffic starts then and goes until dark. I have not fished the upper Croix much but am wondering if it is better? Maybe, it is time to go back to the day trips to the pond in the hot summer days. By the way, if you happen to get a Tuesday off - You're in! The fishing is fine in the summer if the traffic is light.

[riverdancer]

TrollerX- i agree with the weekend traffic, though we usually stay till 12or1. Weekdays are much better. We have never tried the upper st.croix,though friends of mine have. Opinion is that if you don't know it go slow. We just have never tried. Don't want to scratch the boat.I may take you up on the Tuesday trip though.

[tunrevir]

I like the Upper Croix and fish it from the opener in late April/May till freeze up in November/December. I have not fished much above the dam in St. Croix Falls but know that that area is steep, deep and more lake like with crappies easily found. Haven't tried the eyes up there. I Have frequented from the arcola bar north with many different types of fish caught. The walleye,sauger bite is good for leagals up untill the end of june start of JUly and then the crappie bite picks up and runs steady untill ice up. As the temp drops and the Walleyes start to move upriver to stage the bite picks up again. The biggest drawback is that certain stretches can be difficult to negotiate with larger boats so you really have to know the stretch that you want to fish if you are going to put a larger rig into the water. The traffic is typically light on the Upper croix on the weekdays and the weekends.

Tunrevir~

[Turk]

This is a popular question about traffic and how it effects fishing on the St. Croix. I have found that if the bite is on, the traffic will not cause problems with the bite. I have pulled fish right out from underneath the big party boats many times (drifting cross current). I have also seen times when the fish will be better in some narrows the more boats there are (Actually it's Shales proven theory). More than anything the boats annoy me and disturb my concentration, and if it's hot and humid they seem worse. The river can change from day to day especially with the water influxs, that's what I think effects the bite more than anything. Now for me to say it has no effect is wrong, high traffic menas more waves and lets say you are rigging, the higher waves can mess you up and cause you to miss a light bite. Or if you are working a shallow flat and a boat runs over your spot, well that can't be good. In general though I don't see traffic as a reason that the fish don't go on a good bite in the day.

Keep catchin'

Turk

[Rivernut]

Turk, I have fished the Wolf River area about 10 m. north of St. Croix Falls. Do very well on the smallies, waldo's, and channel cat's. No problems w/ any boat traffic!