I saw Ferny’s post about Open Water and I had to see for myself. I drove out to the Boomsite Public Access north of Stillwater and the boat launch and bay are clear all the way out to the main channel. I drove up to the Boomsite Wayside Rest and the main channel looks clear up as far as you can see. Here is a picture from the public access.
Batteries are going in the boat tomorrow – it has been a long winter, I need to get on the water. Water elevation is 676.4′, normal pool elevation for Stillwater is 675′. The water temperature at Stillwater is a balmy 37 degrees, she has gone up a degree a day for the last few days.
I need to do some scouting while I still have low water levels. I may chase a few channel cats while I am out. Catfish have an open season on the St Croix so it is OK to target them. It is really early to chase cats, Channel cats usually don’t start prowling until the water temps are about 45 degrees and high 50’s are even better. We caught some yesterday in Mpls and the preferred bait was small chunks of cut bait (sucker and shad) and fatheads on about a #2 circle hook. The best luck seemed to be on chunked fatheads hooked through the head with 2 or 3 to a hook. It is worth a try, it will be nice just to get on the water.
Like Ferny said, the river still has a lock on the ice from Stillwater south but she looks like it won’t last long. I will add a pic taken from the Gazebo near the Lift Bridge looking south.
