It's your trip. You know what is best for you and I am here
to help. So here are some general descriptions of the fishing oppurtunities available to you throughout
the year on the St. Croix River.
Spring is
a great time to fish the river. The season opener in late April has most walleye in a feeding mood recuperating from
the vigors of spawning. Walleyes are filtering back down river to their summer habitats and willing to take an easy meal.
Most anglers target spring walleyes by jigging and trolling in any of the numerous narrow stretches of river. However,
walleyes sometimes act like bass this time of year seeking out warmer water and food in the shallows. When the wallyes
act like bass you fish them like bass which can be alot of fun! Casting cranks to shorelines and
pitching jigs into areas shallower than you might expect for walleyes is not uncommon.
Summer marks the beginning of Musky
Season and finds smallmouth fishing in full swing. Walleye have arrived at their usual summer haunts and ol' man catfish
are putting on the feed bag. Walleyes are targeted with trolling and rigging methods on various types of structure.
Musky are shallow and biting big bladed bucktails, crankbaits, and topwaters. Smallmouths are found in fast current
actively hitting topwater lures and crankbaits. Finally, big flatheads are targeted in deep snag infested holes with
live suckers and heavy rods day or night.
Fall is the
best time of year to catch a trophy fish. Colder water and shorter days tell the fish it's time to feed up for winter.
It's hard to go to big in fall as this years hatch has had all summer to grow and predators aren't afraid to tackle a big
meal. Classic vertical jigging on deep breaks and trolling deep edges catches walleyes. Musky are relating
schools of baitfish and deep water outside of their shallow summer habitat and are targeted with slow rolled
spinner baits, dangling suckers, and deep running crankbaits. Smallies move deeper and out of the fast current concentrating
on sandy points, rocks and slow moving eddies. Fall is Sturgeon Season and fish of 60"+ proportions come to anglers
saturating deep holes and breaks with cut sucker and gobbed up nightcrawlers
