It’s getting better!

The bites between two rods in the same spot (like ice fishing almost!), I never waited more than 10 minutes for the next tug/feed and hookset! All crappies, nothing else, but in a variety of sizes too! Caught the smallest St. Croix crappie of my life……… about 6.5″. Biggest came in at 12.25″. I’m only about 8′ down in 20′ of water and they’re coming to me so I think if you locate them, just stay for a short spell and see what happens. All caught and released…………… but the taste buds aren’t gonna put up with that much longer! I think a couple for the pan will have to happen shortly!

Better news is that I did it jigging and I got more of the traditional crappie “bump” instead of discovering weight on the end of my line. So, the aggression is picking up. Also had a harder time spotting baitfish in the area………… which struck me kinda weird……… Don’t they travel with the food sources? Commonly? I know I tend to go where food is! Without a graph with me, I can only assume they’re deep enough that I can’t see them.

It’s getting better guys! If they keep changing at the rate they’re showing me, they’ll be giving you all you can handle within a week-10 days!

I’d like to get out and comb the marina next week some evening……………. anyone interested?

Sent you a PM, wouldn’t mind going.
Later,
Paul

Ken,
Yeah, I’m interested in seeing if that part of the river holds any fish! Just let me know what night, and I’ll meet you there!

Would love to learn that body of water, and another opportunity for my 6 year old daughter. PM me if you have a time and place to meet. I could bring my boat so less burden for you.

My rig is still up north at the cabin and I haven’t created a time window to go get it. So, as long as we can get through the next couple weeks of me bumming rides off people, I’ll be able to further expand options.

If you guys want to learn this part of the river, I’m no expert either but I’ll help you all I can. I’ve never fished the marina before but I’ve heard for years upon years how sitting on the marina docks was crappie heaven! What I want to do is get in close to the boats with a long rod (I’ll be using a 12′) and target the fish congregating under the moored boats. The bite should be there but they aren’t quick about it quite yet. Maybe by next week they’ll be at that stage.

Mo-fish…………. you contacted first…… you pick the night.
skhartke and fishanytime……..what nights do you have open? I’ll see if we can’t all give it a shot this next week!

SteveO………. if you catch this post, let’s put an evening or two on the agenda for after the opener, seeings we couldn’t coordinate anything this week. We can chase crappies one night and eyes another.

after opener, you’re on. I’m taking the end of the week off and heading to Red Wing for the opener. tough for me to get out next week.

Kid,
Just an FYI, since the marina is private, I don’t think you can fish off the docks unless you own a slip or are a guest of someone that owns a slip.

Sandbar

Yes, you’re absolutely right. That’s why I plan to be in a boat on the water and use a long rod for slipping into the “I don’t dare try to cast in there” areas. On the water, it’s public.

I don’t intend to be ridiculous about it but just get in good and close to try and draw some of those slabs out from under their sanctuaries!

Years ago………. the marina used to let people fish off the docks but I think that ended 15-20 years ago. That’s where the “crappie heaven” stories come from………. a time that once was. Getting in there with a boat is the only hope at possibly experiencing it for myself (and others).

By not getting ridiculous, I won’t obstruct anyone’s free movement, make no contact with boat or slip, and I’ll only do it for a brief spell over these next couple of weeks. I want to remain respectful of other people’s space and relaxation. I’m sure someone will still grumble to some degree but I will make no fuss.

It sure was crappie heaven 20+ years ago. We used to catch some beautiful fish along the rocky shore. It was nice when the small crappies were 10 inches. Seems like the quantities are down in recent years, but I don’t fish the marina as much anymore…I got Walleye fever..

The marina went “condo” or private in 1981 or 1982. Back then people could fish off the docks with out any problems. In the last few years security has really increased for people that are not guests or owners. I have been very fortunate, my parents have been house boat owners in the Hudson marina for 35 years.

People are always bringing fishing boats into the marina waters to get some of those nice crappies. I have never seen anyone complain that owns boats in the marina, they like to see some decent fish caught.

Maybe we will see you down there some time.

Sandbar

All those years………… thinking the river fish were no good to eat and “there’s nothing but carp in there anyway”. Growing up in Hudson, I heard it all day long if anyone mentioned fishing the Croix. To this day I hear some of the youngsters at LakeFront say the same thing. Do you suppose the marina would ever “lotto” permission slips if you subjected yourself to background checks? It’d be interesting to run it past them.

Yup…that’s all we catch in the river…carp Most of the people I work with in Bloomington still don’t believe eating fish from the Croix is any good. A few have changed their minds after some free Walleye fillets for the pan. I have taken a couple people from work out for Walleyes, and they couldn’t believe how good the bite is at 1:00 pm on a beautiful sunny day.

Back to the Marina….I like your idea, but I would guess you probably would be turned down. The marina manager and a few board members are not the nicest people in the world. They think money and a $100,000+ cruiser makes you special. The majority of the people there wouldn’t have a problem with people walking in to fish the shore and docks.
I am planning on fishing crappies from the docks a few nights next week after work. I usually make it to Hudson by 3:30, if you’re interested, send me a pm.

Sandbar

P.S. I am an old Hudsonite, class of ’82.

I have been fishing the marina waters from my boat for many years now. I have had it pretty much to myself during the past. Looks like my dirty little secret is out. I have never had anyone (marina personnel) say boo about my fishing there. Speak softly and carry a big stick(a 10 footer would be good!) I know, I know, it was a crappie joke!!

Geronimo

That’s earlier than I can get there but send me a pm sometime when you’re heading out with a cell # or something and if I’m open, I’ll try and rendezvous with ya!

Graduated Hudson ’85. We probably know some of the same people.

Are there any free boat launches in that area? Or if you have to pay to launch, can you stay all night (parking). I dont’ know too much about this section of the river. Any details on boat launching would be appreciated!

Hudson charges 8 dollars for non-residents and 3 dollars for residents. I don’t believe you can park there all night.

We fished today at Stillwater both sides of the bridge on the WI side, poked around the timber on the WI side north of the bridge. . . . Nada/zip/zero.

I notice many boats fishing for crappies around Afton. I’m going to have to try this new way to fish crappies. Go to the prime walleye spots and jig with a minnow….

I didn’t see any crappies caught, but with all the boats doing it….it must work.

That which may appear a Crappie presentation, in reality, may actually be a Weyes approach!
Geronimo

Eyejacker! Eye season isn’t open yet….they wouldn’t be really fishing eyes out of season….would they?

That’s not very sportsman like.

Me thinks the illusionary, David Copperfield, may have nothing on these folks! I trust the Game Warden practices CPR!

Geronimo

They better not be in my honey-hole Odds are they didn’t catch much Brian, that really isn’t a typical early walleye spot. I’m guessing they got skunked . I’ll be out scouting this week(scouting not fishing). Rumor has it, most of the fish are still up north.

Is this marina easy to find? I’m assuming it’s north of the bridge on the east side of the river?? but how far north?

Fishface, stand forewarned, althouth the Marina powers that be may not challange you, I, on the otherhand, am extremely territorial!

Geronimo

Quote:

---

Are there any free boat launches in that area? Or if you have to pay to launch, can you stay all night (parking). I dont’ know too much about this section of the river. Any details on boat launching would be appreciated!

---

SteveO is correct………. no overnight allowed, and they DO watch it. If you still want to launch here, take Exit 1 into Hudson, following it north to the first set of lights, turn left toward the river. At the first stop sign, STOP! Check for clearance and proceed forward if no one’s coming……….it’s a 3 way stop. That’s the launch. You’re there!

This weekend opens up for walleye and pike (bass too?) so if you’re looking for a crappie bite, I’d stay out of the channel. you can find them up by the power plant, railroad bridge, and around the marinas. Sometimes the bay south of the marina and north of i-94 will hold them too. If the hook and minnow doesn’t do it, try a #7 Countdown Rap in black and gold. I’ve seen that wake them up before.

“Mo-fish” and I met up last night to try our hand at combing the marina and the wind was just too strong to justify the effort. So we ventured to a local dock to get out of that cool, stiff breeze and see if we could still locate the crappie action. I found one fast and early but that was it for awhile. When the wind started to let up later on, nearing sunset, “Mo” started getting on the hot bite and was getting some decent action. No count on hooksets and shake-offs but a half dozen made it to the hand and we one 6″ “Wally-Minnow” give us a visit too.

“Mo” was a great sport giving the challenging conditions and I really enjoyed his company! The man even saved my HT Ice Bucket! The wind knocked it off the dock and he grabbed an extra rod and got 2 good snags to drag it back to the edge of the dock. We had one crappie in the bucket when this happened and can you believe it was still in the bucket when we got it back? “Mo”s the man!

Keep after ’em guys……….. the best bite has yet to arrive!

Quote:

---

can you believe it was still in the bucket when we got it back

---

Mo, you’re slipping…I would have expected two crappies in the bucket after retreaval!

Sound like you two had a good time. Even with the wind…brrr. The bird bath was iced over this morning!

Kid,
It was a pleasure fish’en with you…..your a wealth of information and just glad you allowed me to pick your brain a bit. That crappie in the bucket was having a bad day, even when he could of made a run for it…he stayed in the pail till we fished him out a 2nd time. BrianK…your right, shoulda had 2 in the pail as it was floating out there for awhile. Ken….good luck fishing the rest of the week…may see you out on the Croix. I may have to sneak back to your hotspot to put a few in the pan on Wednesday (may be in the 80’s). Not sure if those shakeoffs were from to small a hook or shivering, a little nippy.

I can’t agree with you people more about the days of fishing off the marina docks being none existent(spelling?). I have found the best way to secure some dock permission is to talk to the dock rats on a “off ” day,if you pad the right palms. I’ve been told stories about the monster crappies and sunnies that live underneath the yachts and docks supposedly eating huge wolf spiders and various other large arachnids that try to spin webs on little used boats. Afton marina guys and gals are pretty good, so are the kids at hudson marina. Long live the days of a word and a handshake to secure a little quality fishing time. I should mention that Sunnyside is the anti-christ when it comes to getting permission, with the Wolf marina being a close second.