Bayport Sturgeon

Anyone ice fish the bayport area for sturgys? I am just starting to target them through the ice and I’m a newbie to the bayport part of the river. Any info regarding depth or structure to look for would be much appreciated. I am familiar with the tackle and rigging, but I’m new to the sturgeon fishing through the ice, And I haven’t really had any luck finding any info online. My first time out was last weekend and i went just south of the access to 34fow ended up with 1 about a 26incher just a little guy, still it was nice to get something and keep me from getting to discouraged. Any thing helps!
-Jesse

I don’t target them. But in the past, I ran into plenty closer to the WI side over deeper water or main chanel. Anywhere over 34′ Say like the 40′ or the deep hole sorta close to the WI access. You will always see an ice shack or two there. All I can say is after catching one with a gill plate bigger than a nine inch hole, I’m satisfied for life. Hit like a crappie, pulled like a boat anchor.

Hi Jesse,

I haven’t targeted them in the winter either.
But I can get someone on that has! @nickcox

Keep in mind that WI has not opened a catch and release season on Sturgeon yet although it should be coming sometime this year. There’s plenty of places to fish on the MN half of the river that won’t have the risk of a CO stopping by.

Here’s a video of a sturgeon nut that might surpass me in the love of sturgeon and sturgeon fishing. Should give you some tips.

“We had a great night out on the ice. Fished for about 5 hours and caught 35 sturgeon. Biggest one was 50.5″.”

Cool video. Is IDO going to do a show over there? First year of ice fishing sturgeon. Seems like a no brainer for a show.

Brian Klawitter wrote:

Hi Jesse,

I haven’t targeted them in the winter either.
But I can get someone on that has! @nickcox

Keep in mind that WI has not opened a catch and release season on Sturgeon yet although it should be coming sometime this year. There’s plenty of places to fish on the MN half of the river that won’t have the risk of a CO stopping by.

Here’s a video of a sturgeon nut that might surpass me in the love of sturgeon and sturgeon fishing. Should give you some tips.

<div class=”oembed-wrap”><div class=”fluid-width-video-wrapper” style=”padding-top: 56.23529411764706%;”><iframe src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/_05v2BbNck0?feature=oembed&#8221; frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen=”” id=”fitvid558534″></iframe></div></div>
“We had a great night out on the ice. Fished for about 5 hours and caught 35 sturgeon. Biggest one was 50.5″.”

Brian,
Thanks for the info and advice!
And yeah i have eatched the videos and it seems like Brad and Darren are probably the most knowledgeable on targeting sturgeon through the ice. I wasnt aware that you had to be on the Minnesota side of the river to technically be “legal”. I guess I was under the impression that since I have a valid Mn fishing license that the Mn seasons apply to either side of the river.. Sounds like I better do some reading!

Just like your drivers license. Your fishing license allows you to fish on both sides of the border waters, but you have to follow the seat belt rules or in this case, seasons of the State you are fishing in.

It takes WI a little longer to get laws passed then it does in MN.

PS you may fish with three hooks (or lines) on the WI side if you wish. WI anglers can only fish with two hooks (or lines) when they cross into MN waters.

Mike W wrote:

Cool video. Is IDO going to do a show over there? First year of ice fishing sturgeon. Seems like a no brainer for a show.

I just hope they don’t bring their crappie gear. Since they used bass gear on the rainy show

Brian Klawitter wrote:

Just like your drivers license. Your fishing license allows you to fish on both sides of the border waters, but you have to follow the seat belt rules or in this case, seasons of the State you are fishing in.

It takes WI a little longer to get laws passed then it does in MN.

Hi Brian, If I go specifically by the book I believe we can fish sturgeon on either side of the river as a MN resident on the Croix…

This is copied directly from the book and do not see anything elsewhere saying different?

Border Waters: Wisconsin

To what waters do these regulations apply?

Seasons and regulations apply to the Mississippi River (downstream of the highway bridge in Prescott, WI, and all waters between the Burlington Northern [Wisconsin] and Canadian Pacific [Minnesota] railroad tracks), Lake Pepin, St. Croix River, Lake St. Croix, St. Louis River, St. Louis Bay and Superior Bay.

I did not know they still divide the river… Even if so I do not see where it is written in the book.. So would assume you would not get ticketed anyways. Maybe a warning at the most but I cannot see how they would be able to site you for what side of the river you are on.

If you a WI resident then you are SOL on this one and its about time.. hahaha. They might have to hide on the MN side of the river and avoid the WI warden.

This link was verified (again) this spring by the Chief of MN Enforcement.

Keep in mind the synopsis is just that, a summary. Whether or not WI is enforcing this, I don’t know but I was just pointing out there is not a c&r season on the WI side of the river.

Link

Just like a D/L, you can drive in WI with a MN D/L but you will still have to follow the laws of the state you are in. The license allows people to fish. It doesn’t allow them to follow another States laws.

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

Mike W wrote:

Cool video. Is IDO going to do a show over there? First year of ice fishing sturgeon. Seems like a no brainer for a show.

I just hope they don’t bring their crappie gear. Since they used bass gear on the rainy show

You must be confusing the IDO show with another. We’ve done two sturgeon shows in our 10 years on the air and have used the same 7.5 – 8 foot long X Heavy St. Croix Lengend Tournament muskie rods in both shows along with an 8 foot Tidemaster Inshore spinning rod designed for saltwater use coupled with reels spooled with 65 – 80 lb braid. Either that or you fish bass using some very heavy gear.

Looks like fun, thanks for sharing the video