Slow catfishing on the St Croix?

Tough times on the St Croix right now. Water went up about a foot for 2 days after that rain and is back down again to normal summer pool elevation at 675.3′. The water temp is in the middle 70’s (78 degrees last night). There was a lot of grass floating in the water last night and you had to keep clearing your lines about every 10 minutes or so. Water conditions are pretty good overall and you can see bait activity but I cannot find a flathead anywhere.

I was just looking at my calendar and I’ve been out 16 times since the 17th of July. During that time I’ve been skunked 7 times and all I’ve got to show for the other times are 4 flatheads (biggest 28″) and 5 channel cats. Plus the Twins have been breaking my heart – I turned off last night’s game in the 2nd inning it was too painful to listen to.

I’m going to move downstream to the BIG water and see if I can find some cats drifting. My neighbor has caught 2 flatheads in the middle of the day dragging bait for walleyes so it may be time to change tactics and see if I can find fish that way.

How is everybody else doing? I keep seeing big fish pictures but it has been a while since I took one.

I was out last Sunday and although not targeting whiskered critters I was dragging crawlers all over the place. not even a sheepie. had a couple of taps on plastics for smallies but I had the big zero for the day also. weird to be sure.

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I keep seeing big fish pictures but it has been a while since I took one.

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That’s because you filled your pounds quota this spring!

We’ve been pulling some 5 to 10 pound channels each night on Pool 4. The flats have been pretty small from 3 to 10 pounds. Plenty of action between channels/flats/shovelnose and sheephead!

The Twins have been so bad I haven’t turned on a game…well, since we fished together last time!

We have had some great flat bites and channel bites the last couple nights on the Minnesota. Last night we had 6 misses (and these were big fish) and 2 fish. 32 x 19 and a smaller flat. Will post the pics a bit later.

The night before that we had up to 10 hits with 2 landed – the flat was roughly 25 lbs (came unbuttoned at the side of the boat) and roughly a 30″ channel (also came unbuttoned at the side of the boat).

Seems as if the late bite is picking up

Steve, PM me if you want to know exactly where I caught that 30# trolling last week.

PM sent Mike. Thanks – that will help me target an area to start drifting.

Steve

One good turn deserves another!

Mike, PM me…I’ll tell you were I caught that walleye.

Walleye!? Who wants a walleye? OMG, did I just say that?!

I hate to say it, but I was glad to read your report, Steve. I’ve had a bad year on the Croix too. Just got back today from 3 days out between W. O’Brien and the railroad bridge. Fished hard and we only got one flat on a 8 inch sheepie, and one channel that still had spots on it. The flat went 10 lbs. Otherwise, like Brian reports, smallies, sucker, drum, sturgeon, keep thing interesting.

Can you head down to pool 3 south of Prescott. I’m having no end to my problems fishing eyes on the wingdams and the flats are tearing up my gear. I’ve had two almost spool me in the past couple of weeks before they staightened the hooks or hung up under a log. And when those biguns are prowling on the wing dam I find another. I doubt the walleyes will hang around those big pigs. They’re just a snack. You could help by clearing a few out. Maybe take them down to pool 4 where there are few others that would welcome them.