Lake Saint Croix
Published: Updated:
Lake Saint Croix Fishing Reports
Stay up to date with the latest fishing reports from Lake Saint Croix. Reports are submitted by local anglers, fishing guides, and our team of fishing experts.
Filter by
All Species
All Seasons
Sort by
Reports from all past years within a 60-day time frame
- Species
CrappieTechniqueIce Fishing SpoonsSeasonIceStructurePointsBad ice conditions made it difficult to get out there however the crappies were biting. Although they were quite picky. I could only get them to bite on a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head
Arthur G OkerlundBronze AmbassadorSpecies
WalleyeTechniqueSpoonsSeasonWinterStructureLedgesFind a basin or saddle 25-32ft deep, these walleye are eating baitfish and bugs that collect at the bottom of the basin. Use a 1/4 oz spoon tipped with a minnow head or waxies, and wait for fish to cruise by. When the bite is on you can catch upwards to 5 walleye an hour
- Species
White BassTechniqueIce Fishing JigsSeasonIceStructureBrush PilesThe Clam Pinhead Pro and Clam Bladed Tikka Minnow in the wonderbread color was key in attracting the whitebass. They came in hot and willing to bite. Make sure to set the hook quickly as they are fast. Lots of misses. The 28UL St. Croix Panfish Ice Series loaded up nicely. Ice was 5 inches in most places, and most I found was 7 inches. Make sure to use caution as there are not really safe Ice. Bring you picks, spud bars, floating devices, and always let someone who is not out fishing know where you are going and when you are expecting to come back.
- Species
SturgeonTechniqueLive Bait RigsSeasonIceStructureOpen Water/BasinSetup just downstream from hwy 36 bridge in 25 ft of water. Used nightcrawlers and fatheads on same hook. Didn’t catch any sturgeon. Sounds like nobody else was catching much either. Wind was brutal!
- SpeciesWalleyeTechniqueVertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')SeasonWinterStructureLedges
The days of open water are numbered and these are the best times to be walleye fishing! Walleye are feeding like crazy and hitting big jigging raps (caught several on big Hyper Rattle too). Trolling Flicker Shads and Minnows bouncing off bottom on ledges was working too. The average size of the fish this time of year is modestly big and the average size fish we caught was 19in. You can catch white bass all day in 22-27 FOW using smaller jigging raps.
- SpeciesWalleyeTechniqueVertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')SeasonFallStructureSubmerged Vegetation
Mother nature is giving us an extended open water season. For that, I am thankful. Walleye fishing on the St. Croix is hot! Walleye are fattening up and feeding heavily. 2 3/4" or 3 1/2 jigging raps are really all you need. This time out, I found the Walleye staged in shallow water 7.5 to 9 ft on top of ledges dropping down to 30 FOW. Long casts were necessary and along with hard snapping retrieves. The fish would pin the jigging rap on the bottom and there would be no mistake you had a fish on! Bring an assortment of jigging raps and colors because you never know what's going to be hot. Actually, the hottest color was a Charteuse jigging rap that Omnia doesn't carry presently but I was fishing alone and didn't have a side by side comparison I kept my limit of 4 15-17" fish but I am always mindful of limits, keeping smaller sized fish, and the importance of conservation so our beloved fisheries can keep producing for other anglers and future generations!
- SpeciesWalleyeTechniqueVertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')SeasonFallStructureLedges
Days are numbered with ice up coming, but with water temps at 46, we still have maybe a week left of open water fishing. And this is THE time to be out on the water. Still, the bite on the Croix continues to be tough with the bumper shad crop this year. Predators are well fed and aren't showing much interest in baits (live or artificial). Nevertheless, I muscled 5 walleye on 2 3/4in jigging raps long casted on the top of ledges in 8-10 FOW. They had tiny heads and plump strong bodies indicating they were young and well fed! 3 of the 5 came from an active pod I spied on my Lowrance Active Target. I got lucky and decided to record my retrieve through a pod and I happened to hook up with one. Check it out - https://youtu.be/EXOWRcfdnCw. The Active Target was an invaluable tool to search for fish and I didn't waste time casting where I couldn't see fish. I think I have one more outing in me, then it's time to put the boat into storage. Boo Hoo!
- SpeciesWalleyeTechniqueVertical Jigging Deep (20'+)SeasonWinterStructureLedges
The unseasonably warm weather this November has given anglers an extended open water season! Water temps are in the 40's meaning that its time for fish to put on some extra fat for winter! This time of year, I almost exclusively use jigging raps or glide baits. We had steady action in the AM catching some walleye but mostly nice-sized white bass in depths 22-24 ft on ledges. We searched for fish on the electronics and didn't waste time where we weren't marking fish. But marking a buttload of fish wasn't a guarantee either. You have no idea what those marks are half the time and I actually caught a rare Quillback that I thought was a school of walleye or white bass. After a slow afternoon, we switched up to trolling with lead core and flicker shad crank baits and picked up a few fish before switching back to jigging raps later in the afternoon. About 3pm, just about the time I had to get off the water, we started banging the fish (typical right?). We caught several 16-18in walleye one right after another making long casts with the jigging rap and a Hyper Rattle on a 15ft flat. Get out as often as you can before the party is over and we wait for ice!
