So I have a question for all of you experts out there that fish the Croix. When is the best time to get into eyes for both numbers and size? Which would be best early may or early June? thanks for any advice!!
FH
Well, I’m no expert but the early May game will depend some on what part of the river you’re fishing. If you’re in the right spot, you can get into some really good fishing from what I’ve seen. The early June game still has great opportunities but I think it favors the Stillwater to Prescott section for overall availability, size, and numbers.
This is very general and may not help you much, but this has been my observation over the past few seasons from what I’ve seen and heard.
Well you have asked two questions which deserve two answers. First the opener till say till early july, depending on water temp. , can be the best for shear numbers. turk and I guided a couple of guys from Iowa last year during mid may and had hundred + fish days just by trolling. The big boys can show up at this time but tend to be lip locked on account of post spawn, etc. Your second question about big boys could be answered with one word, fall. They tend to show up in predictable places and can be taken with just about anything thats trolled. This last year during the WWA national tournament the big boys weren’t where they uasully are. turk and I looked for three days couldn’t find em nobody elese did either, thank god otherwise it might have been a little closer of a race.hope this helps, feel free to pm. me if you want.
Man Tuck-I didnt know you had such a green thumb. I guess at least one of us on the board is in touch w/ his femine side. Good for you.
LOL! Yeah I have this vision of Chris driving around in a pink crestliner with a pink set of guide wear and his legs crossed while delivering ftd bouquets.
He’s right though thats when the fishing really seems to get going.
Yeah,why not he drives a minivan!!
Don’t say minivan
EEEASY Big Fella
Sshhhhhhhh. Don’t tell everyone about the kinny spot. Its a secret.
yeah.. thank god the kinny is a secret!.. no telling how many would fish it if the word got out!!!.. lol……
but dont worry…. I usually stay farther north!!
where is that spot? help me out man..
If you are being sincere and dont know the “secret spot”-the joke is that it isnt much of a secret. It is where the Kinnickinnic river comes in south of Afton and north of Prescott from Wisc. Just about every bait shop or fishing report you see on the St Croix will always say that they are biting at the Kinny.
ic..i haven’t really fished that spot..i stay farther up north…in the osceola area…
Hey Erik, If you haven’t already gotten the 2 Fishing HotSpots maps for the Upper and Lower Croix I would strongly advise getting them! They have a wealth of spots, tips, and tactics on them. They other thing I would do as a Croix novice would be to save up for a guide trip, they are a real learning experience.
Ferny.
yeah Erik.. Ferny is right on with that advice…. the combo of the maps and a guided trip or two will put you WAY ahead of the game……. Ive went out with Turk on the Croix before and hes a great guy, I can recomend him….
So what baits do you guys think will be the most productive this weekend? what are you going to start out with??
the eyes on the Croix are not a great deal different than River Eyes anywhere…. Ive seen long lining cranks, 3-ways with bait or cranks and Jigs all be effectively employed…..
pretty much like everywhere else it helps to have a slightly different angle or slant… if your fishing the upper river there is quite a pile of boats out of Osceola and Franconia… a few of those boats do well.. they are usually out early and working spots they KNOW have fish before others get to them… once the competition is out try moving either shallower or deeper than the crowd because they seem to push the Eyes to the sides…. if most are cranking give it a try, but dont be afraid to jig or 3way…. with jigs and 3 ways you can work deeper than the guys with cranks.. and if you want to try casting you can work shallower…
sorry this reply might be frustrating.. but the truth is I have not discovered one thing that always works no matter what… (well ok… dynamite!.. but check your local regs because its possible that the old dupont spinner may be illegal in your state!)
If it rains the day before you fish the small run off gulches that are often dry can be good spots if water is flowing. The kinny seems to have a fish or two but rarely have I seen numbers of people do really well probably because it is such a high traffic area.
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