Rock Island fishing

After almost 2 weeks of not fishing I was able to get back over to the croix on saturday. Started out arond rock island checking the usual spots around the cliffs and found that the crappies are stacking up in that area. There is lots of varity in size to them with plenty of 10 to 12″ crappies mixed in.
After a couple of hours of fishing around rock island I decided to hit some of the other holes on that streach of river. Every hole I hit had fish in them. Crappies, walleyes, bass, catfish. The fish really seemed to be on the chew yesterday. Most fish came in on jigging a jig/minnow since this is what I fished the most. The jig/crawler had no problem taking fish either. I even picked up 3 more walleyes at the end of the trip trolling cranks back up to the landing.
I sure hope this is the start to a great fall bite again and also hope the water levels stay at where they are. That is about a 1′ higher than the last trip over there. The larger boats didnt seem to be haveing any problems getting around yesterday. 2 weeks ago there was a wooden house boat near Eagles Nest that had been speared by a log and was sitting half sunk on the bank. They dig get it fixed and out of there a couple of days later.

Any one else been out lately?

Thanks for the report. Been fishing pool 3 and 4 lately waiting till the fall croix bite picks up. Any depths working better than others. I have not heard of the rock island before. I am guessing that is in the bluffs area?

Rock Island is about 2 mles south of Taylors falls. The crappies seemed to be hanging at about 10′ down but Im sure this varys on the day and what structure you find them on.

Thanks for the location info Mike. I don’t know the river very well up that far. Thanks for the depth info too. Good luck on your next trip.

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Crappies, walleyes, bass, catfish.

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Catfish????? Please expand!

Catfish: Dark colored fish with wiskers that feed on hooks of guys that cant catch walleyes. You left the door open for that one Brian.
Yes there are a few catfish on the upper croix. You wont find the numbers of large fish that are in the lower part but there are still a few 20+ cats in the area. My personal best came from Osceola a few years back. She was a flat that was in the low 40″ range.
Rock Island is a 40′ hole that is rumered to have some large fish in the area. There is a great population of small sunfish in the backwater there for them to feed on.

Let me know what night you want to give it a try. Lots of nice sandbars to set up on where you can hit the good spots from.

I know that area, but only from a canoe. I did try launching my boat from Franconia once, but without 4 wheel drive, I couldnt get out and had to take the boat down to Osceola.

I drive a 16 ft, small alumacraft- where can I launch?

I am suprised that you could not get out at Fronconia. It is all gravel there and very shallow but with 2 wheel drive I have never had a problem. As far out as you can go it is all gravel. It is not uncommon for the front tires of my van to be 10′ to 20′ out in the water from shore when loading or launching. When the water gets really low you can back in of the point there. The gravel can be a little softer there.
With the water up a little you might be able to get in at Osceola. The channel has shifted towards the landing and has made the deep water a little closer to shore there. Just dont get your tires off the cement or you will be sunk without 4 wheel drive. That sand is very unforgiving and getting the bottom of your vehicle hung up on the cement is not uncommon.
There is some good fishing around Osceola right now also. The dock at the end of the park should be good for just about what ever swims in that area. Cats included. I am hoping to get over to the dock in the near future and do some lighted bobber fishing again some time soon.

It is about 5 miles from Osceola to rock Island and that can be along way in the shallow river.

Mike?

“CATFISH?”