08/12/04 Lower St. Croix fishing is good for smallmouth bass currently and even though the recent cold spell dropped the water temperature the bass are still active. Slow presentations are working best with plastic and real worms being a top choice to hook bronze backs. Size of the smallies is average for the St. Croix with many being 14 to 16”s with smaller and a few 18”s and larger being reported. Walleyes and saugers remain on a fair bite, though the sauger bite is good actually, but the size of the saugers are mainly small. Walleyes are hitting but not at spring like pace. Almost all presentations are working – though from one day to the next, the techniques that are tops differ from day to day. Lately trolling spinners with minnows and crankbaits have produced as well as drifting livebait. Schooling white bass still appear scattered and the August time staple is tough to find. Water temperature 70 degrees and the river elevation in feet above sea level in Stillwater, Minnesota is 675.4.
Good luck!
Turk