Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Recommended Posts

Posted

I was out on the St. Croix today with my 6 yr old. I am new to river fishing so I was trying to figure out how to lindy rig. We were out for 3 hours with only 1 sheephead hooked all morning when I pulled in a Sauger. It was probably 14 and 7/8" long so I let him go which upset the 6 yr old. He wanted to bring it home to show mom. I explained to him that the regs stated under 15" Walleyes needed to be returned and explained to him how this will help his future fishing trips. He came back with, "but you said that was a Sauger not a Walleye" I told him that it was the same rules but that got me wondering. In the regs it specifically states Walleye minimum 15". Do Saugers fall into this same minimum length? Just curious if anybody knows for sure? Not that it really matters that much. By the way I finally got a nice 22" to bring home to mom so he was happy and so was I as I think I am finally getting the hang of this rig.

Posted

Suagers have no length limit on the Croix but they do count as a walleye towards your limit.

Tunrevir~

Posted

I like that story it had a happy ending.

Did you explain to your kid that we can only get bigger ones by using selective harvesting and by following the regs like you did? Actually you went above and beyond on following the regs, which was good because you were unsure.I myself always assumed that the 15" min applied to saugers too. Thank for clearing that up rivernut.

Hope your figuring out that lindy riggin, that my favorite way to target wallys. And this time of the year its all about worms.

I have been away from the river for the last few weeks, hopin to hitt'er had tommorow. I'll be startin the day off draggin a worm harness.

Posted

As far as lindy rigging on the St. Croix If your not already using 6lb test for your leader Id switch to it. I havnt fished the river for nearly a month but this spring, for me atleast, 6# outfished even 8# by nearly 4 to 1. We had lots of success keeping it simple 4' leader of 6# line, number 8 hook and half a crawler. Test it out yourself, you can use two lines on the croix.

Posted

A Minnesota resident can use two lines on the Croix? I always thought you had to follow your home state regulations.

Not sure I am coordinated enough to fish that way, but if it is leagal I would give it a try.

Posted

Yep, 2 lines on the Croix and the Mississippi, kinda like double mint, double youe pleasure and double your fun! I'm headed out on the Croix this afternoon with the Tin can so if you happen to see a battleship grey 12' smokercraft with a 15 Johnson stop by and say hello.

Tunrevir~

Posted

Yep, two lines. It works great when drifting/trolling it allows you to try several baits or presentations. Usually once the bite picks up or I figure out whats working I go back to one rod, less hassle.

Posted

No minimum length on saugers. On the rare occasions I bring fish home, I'll tend to favor those 13-14 inch saugies. What an earlier post said about selective harvest is ringing true on the Croix this year - folks have been whining for the past few years about how many 14-1/2" walleyes they see, but this summer I've caught scads of 16 and 17 inch fish; thanks for puttin' em back.

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Quote:

A Minnesota resident can use two lines on the Croix? I always thought you had to follow your home state regulations.


Straight from the Book:

WISCONSIN–MINNESOTA Regulations

• Two lines with a single lure or bait on each are permitted. If fishing

with one line you may use two baits.

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • SkunkedAgain
      If you fished with me more often, you'd never have to make this statement...   38" of ice - love it. I'm really going to have to dig around for my auger extension. I don't think that I've needed it in over a decade.   Too bad nobody has a locomotive chugging across the ice to do some logging, like the good old days.
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  Ice fishing remains strong across the south shore of Lake of the Woods out on Big Traverse Bay.  Resorts and outfitters on some parts of the lake have ice roads extending over 16 miles staying on nice schools of walleyes and saugers.  Many fish houses are over deep mud.  Some are on structure.  It is always fishing of course, but overall, February has been very productive for most anglers.   Extensions are being used on ice augers as the ice continues to thicken.  The thick ice this year will be good for the extended ice fishing season Lake of the Woods enjoys with fish houses out through March 31st, walleyes and saugers open through April 14th and a pike season that never closes. Most fishing activity is taking place in 26-32 feet of water.  Anglers are finding a healthy mix of walleyes and saugers, with a good number of jumbo perch in the mix this year.  Some big eelpout are also showing up.  Anglers are reporting plenty of fish for fresh fish frys and usually extra fish to bring home.   The one-two punch of a jigging line and deadstick is the way to go.  On the jigging line, jigging spoons with rattles tipped with a minnow head have been consistent.  Lipless crankbaits and jigging rap style lures also doing well.     Lures with a light have been working well in the stained water.  Please remember, in MN, lures with a light or water activated light can be used as long as the battery is mercury free and the hook is attached directly to the lure and not as a dropper line.     On the deadstick, a plain hook or a small jig with a live minnow 6 inches to a foot off of the bottom.    Some days, mornings are better, other days, it's the afternoons.  There is no distinct pattern, they could come through at any time. On the Rainy River...  The start of the day and end of the day have been best for those targeting walleyes on the river. A jig and minnow or a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head is also producing some fish. Some big sturgeon being iced by ice anglers targeting them.  It is a catch-and-release sturgeon season currently.   Although ice conditions on the river are good, they can vary significantly due to the current, so anglers should always consult local resorts or outfitters for the most up-to-date safety information and fishing advice. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing has been strong in the islands area of Lake of the Woods. Resorts continue to move their fish houses around, staying on the best schools of walleyes.     Anglers are catching a nice mix of walleyes, saugers, and jumbo perch with an occasional pike or tullibee as well.     Big crappies are still being caught just over the border.  Fish houses are available, check with a NW Angle resort for info on crappie fishing.   Lake of the Woods enjoys an extended ice fishing season with fish houses on the ice through March 31st and walleye and sauger seasons open through April 14th. Perch, crappie, and pike seasons remain open year-round.    
    • leech~~
      Maybe you should put rattle wheels down, if your going to sleep for 6hrs! 🤭 😆
    • JerkinLips
      Monday was my worst day of winter fishing on Vermilion in the last 4 years.  Caught only one 14" walleye in nearly 8 hours of fishing.  Missed two other bites and was marking very few fish.  Maybe the fish were taking Monday off after a big weekend.   No more water came up on the ice under my house.  Think it was because I haven't banked snow around it for a couple of weeks so the bare ice around the house is getting very thick.  I measured 38" of ice under my house and the Ion barely made it through even with the extension installed.  Needless to say I banked around the house this time.  Another lesson I learned today is don't drill holes if ice is frozen on your blades.  I did that on one hole and it didn't center properly and drilled at an angle on the edge of the opening.  Hope I can correct the location and angle on my next trip up.   Not much change in the surface lake surface conditions.  The drifts may be a little higher and are definitely harder.  There are still a few bare ice spots on the lake.  Very little activity on the lake today.  There are about 3 dozen houses from McKinley Park out to Birch Island.  Another person pulled there house off today, and I am sure many more will pull theirs off this coming weekend.  Only 13 days left of walleye season.    
    • leech~~
      A good start for never picking up a bow!   IMG_1910.mp4
    • leech~~
      Um, #metoo   leech~~ Author 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders Posted January 26 My whole goal for the rest of this season.  Is to watch KC lose and Taylor cry!  🥳
    • smurfy
    • Wanderer
      Smurfy is happy.
    • Dash 1
      Great looking food. So far not much of a game and I thought the halftime show was worse I've seen. 
    • leech~~
      Oh is there a Superbowl game? 😋😋
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.