Any Advice For A First Timer?

Hey guys, my dad, some of his friends, and I are all heading to Bayport on Sunday to hit the river, and this will be my first time ever going out on the Croix. I’m looking for any and all information regarding fishing the St. Croix in the Bayport area. From what I’ve been able to read, I think the ice is still questionable enough that we’ll walk out, unfortunately limiting our mobility. The strategy seems to be either fishing the break lines along the channel, inside bends, underwater points and holes. The other option seems to be hitting up the shanty town on the Wisconsin side and fishing the edges of it, and the hole that it sits on. Any other advice on location, from general patterns to specific spots, would be greatly appreciated!

As far as presentations, I’m thinking bright colors since I assume the river is fairly murky. Probably start with a Rippin Rap or some sort of spoon, alongside the old standby deadstick with a bare hook. Again, any advice on lures or baits would be appreciated. Do tip-ups do much out there? I’m willing to set them up since I know we’ll have plenty of guys, but I’m not sure what to set them for. In fact, ditto that question for the rod set ups as well! I’ve heard its’ been slow out there, any species you guys would recommend trying for? I’m interested in everything from catfish to walleye to white bass to crappie, or whatever I have the best chance of catching!

Thanks for the help guys, I’m excited to ice fish a river for the first time, as well as get out on the Croix for my first time!

TMF89 wrote:

H The strategy seems to be either fishing the break lines along the channel, inside bends, underwater points and holes. The other option seems to be hitting up the shanty town on the Wisconsin side and fishing the edges of it, and the hole that it sits on.

TMF89,
As you mentioned you wanted any info here is some:

There is no channel to fish in the Bayport area. There are no inside bends in terms of a flowing river (as I am used to the term inside bend), there are inside turns on extended points though. The points are extensions from the shore (extended points), and holes are not “holes”. They are deeper spots but the deepest you will find is 45. Most of the river where guys crappie fish are 32 to 38 and – a hole would be anything in 40 feet.

The ice is 12 to 14″ I have been driving for along time.

There is open water to be afraid of for sure – near Malileau, near Swing Bridge, Near King Plant, and I am always afraid of driving north of the High Line (there used to be a pressure ridge there years ago that make me cautious).

GOOD LUCK!
Turk

I like fishing the breaks with jigging raps while dead sticking with small jigs like those tungston jigs. When the sun hits the horizon ive gotten a flurry of fish for an hour or so. On occasion walleyes.
This time of year fish the basin north of shanty town midday with any jig that’s orange tipped with a minnow, you may run into some channel catfish. Its a riot when the bite is on.

I have not fish up there this year so I assume it like any other year. Ive been foccussing south of in the main body. Good luck