I made it out last night with my cousin. We only managed 2 small sturgeon, my first flat head, some nice channels, 2 eater eyes, and more suckers and sheephead then i cared to count. Looking forward to getting back out all next weekend.
How did you guys do?
What were you targeting?
Gotta love when the season starts like this.
i was out last night and didnt catch a single sturgeon. however, i did catch some sumo channels and 3 flats. 26″, 35×22 and 42×26. so i guess the best way to catch flats is NOT TO FISH FOR THEM. since these were only my 3 n 4th flats of the yr lol go figure eh
Our two clients and the FW didn’t make it up to the St Croix. We didn’t make it out for what I hear was an awesome flathead bite on Thursday and Friday.
But we were sneaking around looking for channels and shovels.
Thursday night I hooked into a set of channels that kicked my butt being alone. Yeah I’m getting old.
Friday the channels just turned on when the lightening started and we went in.
Saturday the FW and I were skunked. I was looking for new spots with cut bait and stink bait until it started raining and she put the breaks on. Ended up with friends at the Mr. Sippi’s along the river.
Sunday I couldn’t get her outside because the wind was too cold…
Monday I had a very nice time taking pictures of MS Team Catfish. LOL! Lots of channels and on shovel.
All in all it was a great end to the summer of ’11.
Yeah, the flatheads seemed to be on this weekend. We lost more bullies to missed runs than we caught though.
Brian – what do you mean the summers over?!
Labor Day traditionally is the end to the summer.
Certainly doesn’t mean the end you your or my summer! 
Managed to boat 27 sturgeon, about 10 channels and 1 flattie on 4 sepeerate trips starting early saturday morning and fishing until noon on monday. Ran out of bait twice.
Only 2 sturgies were in the 50″ range. If this is an indication of whats to come, I cant wait for cooler weather!!!
I found boat traffic to be tolerable. Especially after 9 pm and before 10 am in the Bayport area. I actually caught some fish after dark, something I have never had luck with. I mostly fish from 7 am to noon.
Phil, that’s not a picture of you!
Missing something in your mouth! 
27 sturgies is a good number Mr. Gill!
ive learned to not have a cig while taking pix. its only taken about 10yrs lol
Quote:
Brian – what do you mean the summers over?!
He’s counting down the days to ice fishing just like the rest of us.
My calendar says only 80 days!
Quote:
ive learned to not have a cig while taking pix. its only taken about 10yrs lol
yeah right 
Nice fish Phil Congrats!
lol true at times
I was out on the croix for flattys all weekend. Hooked up with 2 heavywieghts but they both brought me into the same log under the boat. Had a sturgeon damn near jump into the boat though he was half in half out then slipped back into the depths
Took a picture of a 50lber last night. 
You all have some massive fish up there! I can’t imagine going out and trying for some big sturgeon and having the opportunity to get into giant flatheads too. What a great deal!
If any of you guys are looking to fill a seat at some point this season I’d be happy to fill it. I’m stuck fishing up river away from all the big boats. I don’t think my low sided jon would do so good on the lower end of the croix.
Hit the criox again last night, but with all the good reports i decided to fish the community hole.
Was able to catch some targeted species this time, ended the night with 12 sturg’s, mostly in the mid-30’s, biggest was 43″, a 26″ channel and a fatty flat 32×24.
Again, my best luck flatty fishing is not to fish for them. lol
Nice Fish
Nice fish. Think I talked to one of you guys in the parking lot last night while loading up. We did about the same. Around a dozen fish with a couple in the low 50″range. Pretty good night of fishing.
We got two mid 30″ sturgeon last night. Nothing picture worthy.
The highlight of the night though, was watching a really cool nature program unfold right in front of us. It was two bald eagles attacking a peregrine falcon who had probably tried to raid its nest or called them sissies or something.
At first, we saw them off in the distance but then the dogfight got closer and closer. As they swooped and weaved across the sky, the eagles were taking stabs at the falcon with their talons.
Eventually, one of the eagles soared up higher and started on a dive bombing run. Just before it got there, the other eagle broke off as if it was coordinated and the dive bomber scored a direct hit on the falcon.
The falcon tumbled to the water and floated there stunned and probably scared for almost a minute while the eagles circled above. Eventually, the falcon shook it off and got the hell out of dodge and the eagles went back to their business.
The final strike on the falcon happened within a cast length (with a muskie lure) from the boat! It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen.
Hey Mike,
yep that was my bud that caught the 43″. a couple of 50’s eh, imma have to start following you around lol jkjk
Congrats 
Ihprop1, now that does sounds super cool. wish i couldve witnessed that as well
We were out too last night in the same area, but not nearly as much success as the first 2 boats. A few fish in the low 30″ range and one 47″er. Were you guys using some special sturgeon bait? Our fish came on straight crawlers and some surf-n-turf combos.
Nice flathead. That’s a pretty nice bonus!
That’s would have been a cool scene to see with the eagles! I know one caught my eye as it was swooping around near the trees and I thought it odd, but I got distracted and never followed it.
Follow me around? Last night was my 1st trip ever sturgeon fishing on the st croix. Lets say Jake was a good guide last night.
No secret bait bud. caught most of our fish on fatheads, some on fatheads/crawler, some on shad as well
bite detection is key to Sturgeon fishin, all but one fish hit very very light lastnite. even though the waves/wind wasnt bad lastnite, i still had both anchors out to minimize boat swing.
it was my 2nd outing of the yr and 1st time catching some this season. did you notice a major decline in bites after 930?
seem as though most bites were at dusk-930
Think we caught most of ours before 10pm. Did have one last fish about 1045 and missed another at the same time. Kept seeing the lights come on in your boat so figured you where on them to.
we only caught 2 small ones from 930ish till when we left. the whole lights turning on, is from my fishin partners not knowing how to turn OFF their headlamps. someone would turn to look at a rod or talk to someone and wolaa you’re blinded!
im still seeing spots as we speak. 
lol
Hey thanks for the response. I definitely know how light they bite, we boated well over a 100 last fall. And all those fish came on crawlers, fatheads or a combo of both. We never used shad last year. But I swore by it the year before that. So it’s always nice to know what did well.
Only one of our fish came before 9:30, the rest after. Good luck the rest of the fall.
Quote:
Hit the criox again last night, but with all the good reports i decided to fish the community hole.
Community hole? Is that under the powerlines?
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
