Start of the St Croix Sturgeon Season~ Sat. Sept 4

Anyone heading down to the river?

Labor Day weekend is nuts with the cruisers and I recommend everyone keeping an eye out for the guy that doesn’t see you. That goes for day or night fishing.

We have a bumper crop of mosquitoes this year so bring along LOTS of bug spray.

If you land a tagged sturgeon, please remember to writ down the tag number, take a length and girth measurement and weight if possible. Unless the fish is 60 inches or more, you have a sturgeon tag and plan on keeping the fish, please leave the tag in the fish. This will help the DNR continue to collect valuable information on our living fossils.

Catch and release works amazingly well with these fish as long as they are handled well by us. Support their mid sections of large fish and

please do not pick them up by the gill covers!

With just a little care in handling, the fish you hold in your hands this season could be held by your great, great great, great grand child.

Good Luck All!

St. Croix Lake Sturgeon Season

Saturday September 4th through September 30th
Min 60 inches- must possess a sturgeon tag*
October 1st through October 15th
Catch and Release only for Minnesota licensed anglers

*See the MN DNR rule book for further information on tagging requirements.

So we need a addional tag to fish for them?

Have you tried the Thermacell units at all?

Just bought one but haven’t had a chance to see how well it works against skeeters yet.

Al

I am a total sturgeon virgin! But…..a certain fishing buddie of mine has suggested taking me up there this season, so, here is wishing myself good luck!

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So we need a addional tag to fish for them?

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You only need a tag to harvest one. You can C&R fish without a tag.
Ingy

What Ingy said.

Thermocells work fantistic…normally. This year while guiding for cats, I’ve had 3 TC going and 3M’s skeeter dope on and they were still nuts for about 1/2 hour.

Staying away from shore helped a bunch.

Some people have suggested buying a tag just in case in the rare event you cannot CPR the fish. I might get one for that, even though the chances are pretty slim.

If I knew the tag money was used solely to support the sturgeon fishery, I’d but one for sure.

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If I knew the tag money was used solely to support the sturgeon fishery, I’d but one for sure.

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Me too…but it’s not.

What are the chances of hooking into a 60+ inch sturgeon and then what are the chances of hurting it from the hook? Between the two, near 0 I would guess.

IMO there isn’t a good reason to buy a tag unless you are planning on eating Steak O Sturgeon.

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So we need a addional tag to fish for them?

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You only need a tag to harvest one. You can C&R fish without a tag.
Ingy

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Thanks, while I might keep a wally or two, sturgeon are strickly C&R for me.

Al

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Anyone heading down to the river?

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I’ll be there Friday the 10th (read: after the labor day traffic has cleared) to try my first ever sturgeon fishing. I’ve lived on this side of town for 5 years and always told myself I was going to give it a try, finally this is the year, really looking forward to it.

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read: after the labor day traffic has cleared

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Please, I don’t want to over hype this but….but we’ve had too many close calls to not talk about it.

Make sure everyone in the boat is watching out for other boats. All boats from fishing boats to the Very Large Cruisers. Personally I’ve had house boats come within feet of my anchored boat and the Mimi came way too close for comfort. This is not just at night.

If fishing at night keep all of your navagation lights on and keep your spot within arms reach. Always wear your PFD. Weekdays are much better than Friday and Saturdays. Sunday morning and evenings aren’t too bad.

I THINK at night the boats that are coming from the South have a hard time seeing anchored boats ahead of them because of the lights of Stillwater and Bayport. At least it makes me feel better thinking that.

Again, I don’t want to make this sound worse than it is and to the best of my knowledge we haven’t had an accident and I really would like to keep it that way!

Don’t expect a lot of boating etiquette this weekend. Let cooler heads prevail.

I’m going to give it a shot Saturday morning. I should be able to get in 4 hours before the cruisers wake up!

I like fishing down there in the am’s. Generally the party crowd does eventually sleep so you have a window of sanity from 3/4 am to maybe 8/9 am.

If I don’t find a partner around here, I may post an open seat!

BK, question for you, carefully worded as I’m not asking where, but with the recent high water and very warm weather, any depths you’ll be targeting vs. others?

I didn’t get out last year, but my notes from your sturgeon seminar say 25-30 FOW. In years past, I’ve not gotten out this early in the season. Last time out I remember ducks migrating. I’ve heard of them being caught shallower, how will these fish be reacting to the warm water?

Eric

In the first portion of the year (warmer) I’ve found more (of the larger fish) in the funnel areas or maybe I should say faster water. As the season progresses (and cooling) they will be roaming the “flats” of the lake.

But being very honest, I’ve never fished this high of water for sturgeon at this time of the year. I’m thinking the high water isn’t going to be a concern as much as the water temp and being able to find them in a fishable area.

Anchoring in the middle of the Kinnikinnic narrows is asking for trouble. Not recommended.

I think this year I’m going to avoid the tuna boats, and maybe head up to Rainy for some fall beasts. Then after that, since I cannot do it on the MN, I’ll head over to P4 for some hot shovelnose action.

Say a guy was new to sturgeon fishing on the Croix. Where are the best launches to use on a day trip out from the Twin Cities?

Also, are there parts of the Mississippi where you can find monsters as well? I was thinking anywhere around the confluence near Hastings/Prescott?

Launch out of Bayport

The Prescott landing for fishing the lower St Croix.

The Bluff’s County Park.

Windmill Marina in Afton.

Beanies, just below the I-94 bridge.

The Hudson Landing on the WI side.

The Bayport Marina.

The Boomsite landing North of Stillwater.

All are good landings depending on where you’re planning on fishing.

Boomsite fills up fast as there are not a lot of spots. I suggest you get there early.