Lake Saint Croix
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Species
WalleyeSeason
Summer (Current)
Lake Saint Croix Overview
SLOWWind (mph)FAST
01020406080100
Top Techniques Reported for Walleye + Summer
- Trolling Mid Depth (10-19')3
- Live Bait Rigs2
- Hard Jerkbaits1
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6')1
- Trolling Deep (20'+)1
Total Fishing Reports
76
Top Species Reported for Summer
Smallmouth Bass15 Reports- Walleye9 Reports
Sturgeon2 Reports
Largemouth Bass1 Report
Northern Pike1 Report
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Fishing Reports
76 Reports on Lake Saint CroixSort by
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Wacky Rigs
Structure
Points
Forage
Minnows
Water Temperature
73°
Species
SturgeonSeason
Fall
Technique
Live Bait Rigs
Structure
Open Water/Basin
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
77°
Water temps are still very warm and the fall bite might come a bit later this year. Still, there are fish being caught. In about 4 hrs of fishing in 13-20 ft of water, we caught 2 small sturgeon, 37" and 41." A smaller size structure seem to dominate catches early in the season. Larger fish become more common once water temperatures drop and turnover starts. I usually target shallower habitats early in the fall season (12-20 ft) and then move deeper once it gets deeper into fall. Get a cast net permit from the MN DNR and catch shad for bait. Sturgeon AND catfish love shad and your odd of catching more and bigger fish are much higher with shad compared with night crawlers or other cutbait. Don't pay any attention to structure or fishing dropoffs or points or whatever. Trust me, it makes no difference. Go to the flatest most random spot at a chosen depth and just plunk down. Your odds of catching fish there are just as good as anywhere else. Good luck. It should only get better once this hot weather gets behind us.
Species
SturgeonSeason
Summer
Technique
Live Bait Rigs
Structure
River Channels
The sturgeon bite is starting to pick up and will only get better as the water temperatures start to cool into fall. Fresh gizzard shad are the bait of choice on a 6-8/0 circle hook and 2oz slide sinker. Get your cast net and DNR application approved to catch your bait! https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/recreation/fishing/bait/castnet_app.pdf. Gizzard shad pods are relatively plentiful in Andersen Bay in Bayport, MN. Use your electronics to find the pods and throw your cast net over them. Don't overthink the sturgeon fishing strategy. Sturgeon roam featureless bottoms. During late summer, I fish relatively shallow open channels 12-20 ft deep. As fall progresses, I move deeper a bit deeper (25-40 ft). If you can't get shad, fatheads and crawlers work fine. The best time of day to fish is when the massive yachts anchor/beach or go back to port. Bobbing like a cork after one of those things chugs by at 10 mph (which is way worse than 40) isn't fun.
Top Fishing Techniques
for Walleye + SummerChoose from techniques based on Lake Saint Croix fishing reports.
