Water levels

I’m looking to camp on the Croix this weekend, but the water levels look to be as high as when the spring snow melts. Are there still a few islands poking their heads out?

Hey, Catillac, the river hit 681 feet today (normal level is 675.5′) and she is still going up. I’m going out fishing tonight and I will let you know if any islands are showing but I think you may be out of luck. At 681 feet most of the islands are wet and she is still coming up and I don’t know what she will crest at. This website gives you the river level at Stillwater: http://www.mvp-wc.usace.army.mil/dcp/STLM5.html

Catillac

Hey I love the name! Ya I doubt they are above water too.

Turk

Don’t they typically post no-wake on the river at 681?

they’ve got the pier pulled up at Lakefront in Hudson. going to be tough getting in there.

Earl, according to the river guide from the dnr the no wake goes into effect at 683 feet for the st croix, but it could have changed.

Hey Catillac – The river level at Stillwater is now 681.5′ and still climbing. I was out last night and the islands are all wet. There were a few that had some boats pulled up on them but they had a sand lot about the size of a postage stamp showing. I don’t think you will be able to find a usable campsite this weekend.

Catillac,
Crossed the interstate tonight and the island south of the dike road (beer can island) is still plenty exposed. Same with the island south of the depot bridge. I don’t think the water will rise enough to cover them, but with the weather this weekend (sunny), it will be very cozy on the couple islands that aren’t under water. Good luck. BZZSAW

You will need to get to those Hudson islands early…like this afternoon. Because of the good weather this weekend and the lack of islands up stream….EVERYONE will be trying to camp there. Same with the Kinni area.

Good luck!

Thanks for the reports.

I took a couple days off work and got out early to try to find high ground before there was none. Launched outta O’Brian and headed South. There are some dry sites about 3/4 of a mile past that marina in Marine, and today, every patch of sand had a boat on it. From there down to the Zebra Mussel No Pass Zone, most everything was under water.

Watched two guys troll up a few eyes in the main backwater channel. I was cattin’, and didn’t catch a one. I did find a ton of gar and they liked the cutbait. The wife and I caught two, and had plenty of runs, but those mouths are all bone and teeth. She had a blast casting a float with a hunk of sucker in front of their snouts, watch them grab it, and topedo away. We’d have boated a good dozen if the hooks could have done their job.

Hey Catillac, keep some of the “loop” side of velcro in your tackle box. Hook the velcro on then the cut bait…then the velcro again. Make sure the loops are to the outside. You’ll land “most” gar that smack it.

Thanks Brian. I’ve sharpened some trebles and tossed a roll of velco in my tackle box.