St. Croix Big Fish Patterns?

Hi All!

I have been fishing the St. Croix for a couple of years now and have never had much luck finding fish of any size.

I know on the Mississippi it helps to fish differently to find the big fish. Is this true on the St. Croix as well?

Are there any patterns that may be known to be big fish patterns? Cranks shallow over live bait rigging in the crowds?

Any input is much appreciated! Feel free to send a PM as well.

Tight lines!

Quit fishing for walleyes if you want big fish

Lead-line cranks on sand points south of KK narrows. GL!

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Lead-line cranks on sand points south of KK narrows. GL!

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What do you consider big?

-J.

For the croix I consider low 20s bigger as I do not find many… But generally 26″ + is what I consider big.

I should have specified in the first message… Walleyes!

There is no pattern on the Croix

I’ve seen 10 lber’s come out of 1-4 FOW by guys pitching for bass, I’ve personally had numerous 26″ + fish trolling cranks in water depths varying from 8FOW all the to 45FOW. I’ve jigged numerous fish 26″ + from 12FOW to 32FOW. Guys live bait rig them from 8FOW to 40FOW.

When you figure out a pattern let us know

I have never caught a giant walleye from the Croix nor have I seen one caught and I have fished there many years. I don’t consider it big fish water but some people catch them. The Miss, no problem.

The only big fish pattern I know of on the Croix is they tend to follow two different boats on the river.

Boat 1 – A certain Alumacraft boat with a white motor and some guy that guides out of Beanies.

Boat 2 – A Warrior boat that is a magnet for big fish on the Croix.

If you see either of these boats, the big fish (if they exist) are probably not far away.

Dude and Dudettes…

If I can catch a 7 pounder, you guys should be able to find some 10’ers.

Since I found the St Croix to be over run with these fish, I’ve shifted my attention else where.

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I have never caught a giant walleye from the Croix nor have I seen one caught and I have fished there many years. I don’t consider it big fish water but some people catch them. The Miss, no problem.

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Agree. Used to fish the Croix 2-3 times a week open water. 10-12 straight years. I can count on one hand the number of fish 26 or over. Not a big fish river.

-J.

I seem to remember a tourney 8 or 9 years ago in May where a team had over 30lbs of walleye. I think if you want to catch big ones put your time in fishing at night and shallow.

My guess is that tourney included pool 3. Never done well at night either. Sure, you can catch fish but it’s not a magic bullet to catch fish 26 or larger.

-J.

Agreed, no magic bullet fishing at night. There will be a lot less people fishing though which may increase your chances.

I get a lot of wet socks over 25″ using dead shad…Frickn bait steelers can hardly even pull clicker.

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I get a lot of wet socks over 25″ using dead shad…Frickn bait steelers can hardly even pull clicker.

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On the St Croix ?

-J.

yeah

2011.Ham.Room.Results
…………………………………………Total………………..Fish
Place.Team………………………….Weight….Big.Fish…..Weighed.
..1 Aaron.Wells/Olson……………….29.00…….10.50………..6
..2 Dave.Hale/Dean.Fisher……………26.04…………………..6
..3 Mark.Johnson/Fritzy.Klund………..20.06……..5.88………..6
..4 Turk.Gierke/Denver.McKinnon………18.48…………………..6
..5 Scott.Hale/Dave.Kortum…………..17.78……..7.60………..6
..6 Kirk.Klund/Kraig.Klund…………..13.96…………………..6
..7 Hess/Zeuli……………………..13.88…………………..6
..8 Schwintek/Schwintek……………..13.80…………………..6
..9 Luett/Sager…………………….12.50…………………..6
..10 Goble/Blomquist…………………12.48…………………..6

I don’t think they fish the Sippi, but I could be wrong.

I’ve two eyes over 27″ in 15 years. I do not target them much.
I read a study on the growth rate of SMB on the Croix. It is slower than comparable bodies of water. Forage base issues.
I hear of a few 8 and 9 lb fish caught out there every year

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2011.Ham.Room.Results
…………………………………………Total………………..Fish
Place.Team………………………….Weight….Big.Fish…..Weighed.
..1 Aaron.Wells/Olson……………….29.00…….10.50………..6
..2 Dave.Hale/Dean.Fisher……………26.04…………………..6
..3 Mark.Johnson/Fritzy.Klund………..20.06……..5.88………..6
..4 Turk.Gierke/Denver.McKinnon………18.48…………………..6
..5 Scott.Hale/Dave.Kortum…………..17.78……..7.60………..6
..6 Kirk.Klund/Kraig.Klund…………..13.96…………………..6
..7 Hess/Zeuli……………………..13.88…………………..6
..8 Schwintek/Schwintek……………..13.80…………………..6
..9 Luett/Sager…………………….12.50…………………..6
..10 Goble/Blomquist…………………12.48…………………..6

I don’t think they fish the Sippi, but I could be wrong.

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No Sippi . The guys that fish that Tourney are some of the best St.Croix River Rats. Those guys grew up on that river. Could they repeat those weights on a “pattern” style basis? I highly doubt it. Somedays the pre or post spawn bite is hot others it is not. I have had multiple fish over 8lbs myself off the Croix. They are there but I honestly have not been able to pattern them. 13″-22″ all day long you can pattern those. I’m not going to say it’s impossible to pattern them but when they range in depths from 1FOW to 45FOW in the same month how do you pattern that ?

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2011.Ham.Room.Results
…………………………………………Total………………..Fish
Place.Team………………………….Weight….Big.Fish…..Weighed.
..1 Aaron.Wells/Olson……………….29.00…….10.50………..6
..2 Dave.Hale/Dean.Fisher……………26.04…………………..6
..3 Mark.Johnson/Fritzy.Klund………..20.06……..5.88………..6
..4 Turk.Gierke/Denver.McKinnon………18.48…………………..6
..5 Scott.Hale/Dave.Kortum…………..17.78……..7.60………..6
..6 Kirk.Klund/Kraig.Klund…………..13.96…………………..6
..7 Hess/Zeuli……………………..13.88…………………..6
..8 Schwintek/Schwintek……………..13.80…………………..6
..9 Luett/Sager…………………….12.50…………………..6
..10 Goble/Blomquist…………………12.48…………………..6

I don’t think they fish the Sippi, but I could be wrong.

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No Sippi . The guys that fish that Tourney are some of the best St.Croix River Rats. Those guys grew up on that river. Could they repeat those weights on a “pattern” style basis? I highly doubt it. Somedays the pre or post spawn bite is hot others it is not. I have had multiple fish over 8lbs myself off the Croix. They are there but I honestly have not been able to pattern them. 13″-22″ all day long you can pattern those. I’m not going to say it’s impossible to pattern them but when they range in depths from 1FOW to 45FOW in the same month how do you pattern that ?

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Yep, we can only fish the Croix for this tourney. A couple years prior to this, 36 lbs won it with 6 fish. The winning team had 4 fish pushing 8 lbs each.

I agree with Jon… I tell people it is a numbers fishery with big fish in it.

Good luck on opener!

Most of the guys that fish that tournament grew up on that river . I for one did not fish the Croix until 2005 and consistently from 2007 to 2010. to make the statement that it isn’t a big fish fishery is a false statement.. The time of year to locating numbers of these big fish is crucial and almost as crucial is location and water level.. as some spots w low level will not produce as it does in high water.. As far as a consistant pattern I would say there is some consistence to each and every pattern but very few fisherman work hard enough to dial in more then one or two presentaions.. I myself focus most of my time on pool four and have yet to see a post spawn female weigh in on the scales at 10.5 lbs and the fish from 2011 was a legit post spawn giant.. point being spend your time figure out a program and then spend some more time if you locate one big girl theres more not far away..