St. Croix, Mississippi, or Minnesota?

Which river has the potential for the biggest fish? In particular giant flatheads and sturgeon.

Realistically, the miss has the best potential of putting up a huge cat or sturegon. I dont thing it will be long before a flathead pushing a 100 lbs is caught, especially out of pool four. I just hope my picture turns out when I stick that big gal. I have a funny feeling too that there is a big old flathead or several in the lake st croix stretch of the croix. There is so much water and food for a big flathead out there that it could grow to an unbeliveable size. As far as the sturgeon thing goes the big part of the croix has some huge sturgeon and therfore has the best potential of putting up a new record. At the same time though the sturgeon I have seen on pool 4 have more girth then the croix sturgeon. Just my 2cents.

hey big time. that’s pretty much what i thought too, just wanted to hear a different opinion. Lake St. Croix and the upper stretch of the river seems good for huge sturgeon, one guy says he’s seen 200 pound class sturgeon jump on the St. Croix. and I heard about a 98 pound flathead netted down by Lake Pepin. What’s the biggest fish you’ve seen or heard about in these areas?

I have heard the same about the 98 lb flathead in pepin. That thing is well over 100lbs now because it was netted two years ago in may. As far as the sturgeon go. The further north you go on the croix the more skinny they get it seems. I caught a 54´´ sturgeon a few years ago near stcroix falls and it didnt weigh much more than 40lbs. I heard of guys getting into some big fish near bayport. They werent able to land them though becasue they were ice fishing. I heard the were easily over 100 lbs. I would agree with you on the sturgeon being the state fish if it werent for my love of catfish. Sturgeon are incredible

hello carp chaser,I have done work at the excel energy plant and have heard they have pulled flatheads off there filters over 100 pounds ,more interesting to me is a paddlefish around 40 pounds.

Wow, that’s awesome river rad. Those must have been some real monsters. I was just down there on Sunday, it doesn’t seem like much of a flathead spot but the river is so wide and deep who knows what’s in there. I am also interested in paddlefish, they are so rare and I’ve never seen one outside of the Mall of America’s aquarium. Same with eels and the blue sucker. I’ve had encounters with lots of strange fish like buffalo, gar, mooneye, carpsucker, and bowfin but the real oddities and giant fish are very illusive.

hey big time, i’m a big flathead fan myself. maybe sturgeon can be the state fish of the north and flathead for the south…then everyone is happy. (except the walleye fishermen).

Who cares about the walleye fishermen. They have had enough time in the sun. Its about time people who fish for some exciting species got some credit.

To be honest, I doubt even the walleye fisherman give much of a rat’s pa-toot what the state fish is… make it the rock bass for all I care…LOL

I was expecting a reply from a walleye fan, who better than you James. I dont care much either what the state fish is, but I cant resist to get a shot in on the walleye guys when the oppertunity presents its self. ha ha. Rock Bass are one heck of a tough fish

I know… I know. I read and chuckle to myself every time you “non-walleye” sorts give us a good ribbing. I know what I like… and it makes me happy. So do you. Each to their own!

To be honest, if cats and carp weren’t so darn easy to catch, I’d probably spend more time fishing for them. No challenge….

James,

I think the Rock Bass suggestion fits right in……………

Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 “Red Eye” Lakes!!

I know how you feel james, if walleyes actually fought after they were hooked I might spend some time fishing for them )

and if catfish didnt taste so bad… (along with being too easy to catch!)… I might fish for them!!… lol…..

I think maybe the deal is I grew up in Iowa.. and cats and carp were pretty much the ball game for years… because the habitat just did not support walleyes and other game fish…..

so now I fish for walleye… the challenge is the thing for me.. though they do taste pretty good.. Ive never cared for cat….. just not the kind of fish I like to eat…..

but honestly… Ive had many good times fishing cats….. and its tough to find big cats and catch them…. PLENTY of challenge… no doubt……

but Im not someone that has a chip on my shoulder about ANY species.. they all have their points….. and Ive fished for them all… and pretty much caught them all…. including the paddlefish Ive seen you writing about….. back years ago there were NOT rare… and they would stack up below the dams and snaggine was perfectly legal for them… and they put up an awesome fight….. a really kewl looking fish… I never killed one.. just released them….

carp chaser —– I have been lucky enought to see a paddlefish here on pool 8. I was trapping in the backwaters of goose island, and it had itself caught in some shallow water, I picked it up and put in deeper water, hoping it was going to make it, it seemed a little sluggish. Guessing it weighed in at about 15-20 lbs.

Cats,eyes,sturgeon,carp…who cares whats on the end of the line as long as its pulling!If you just consider your self a rat,then it doesn’t matter what is on the end of your line.They are all easy at given times too,It just never seems to be easy enough when your fishing for that species!

As far as the best trophy waters for a big flathead I like the St Croix.but if you want to catch numbers then my home water is the best.And that is the MN river.Tons of flats and many in the upper 30s with a few going to 60.

as for sturgeon they tend to like cleaner waters, hence they thrive more meaning the croix probably is the best. The best river all around would have to be the rainy river, long drive but well worth it. As for cats the croix has alot of them , but they can be so spread out they are hard to target at times. I’ve caught cats trolling everywhere. From 8 to 45′ with no rhyme or reason. The miss. tends to have alot more “classic holes” and structure. These tend to hold fish, making it easier to target them. The mn. has a huge population buyt also a little more pressure.