Is there a “Minnesota Side” of the River

Is there a such thing a MN or WI side of the St. Croix. With the whole two opener things, I just wanted to make sure I am fishing the the rigth side if there is one.
Thanks
Chip
Good luck to all tomrrow!

Yep. Its on the right side of the boat. thats if you are going down river. Left if you are going up.

Sorry about that. This little remark was my best hope for entertainment for the weekend as I am not able to get out and fish at all.

Welcome to the site. Read back threw some of the post and you will find info on the river. You should be able to fish the entire river.

Just for further confusion….

The WI DNR will tell you there’s the “imaginary line” in the St Croix. Anyone with a WI resident or non resident license can fish using WI rules on “their” side of the river.

HOWEVER

When talking with the MN DNR, they will tell you there isn’t any imaginary line as the border waters are from shore to shore.

If you are from MN or have a MN non resident license you will have to follow the MN rules as they are more strict.

Hey! I’m just repeating what the two DNR offices told me.

So I’m wondering…if I was on the WI side of the imaginary line with a WI non resident license…fishing 3 lines…and the MN DNR gave me a ticket….do you think I could pay the fine with imaginary money???

Good Luck to all MN and WI folks fishing the opener in the morning!

In my opinion, based on my interpretation of the MN Fishing Regulations on page 51 under Border Waters – Wisconsin – Minnesota, there is not such thing as MN or WI side of the river. Here is the regulation – you read it and tell us what you think:

“Wisconsin – Minnesota: The seasons and regulations listed below apply to the following waters: Mississippi River (downstream of Prescott, Wisconsin and all waters between the Burlington Northern (Wisconsin) and Chicago Milwaukee (Minnesota) railroad tracks), Lake Pepin, St Croix River, Lake St Croix, St Louis River, St Louis Bay, and Superior Bay.”

In addition you should read the Border Waters regulations on Page 43. It states:

Minnesota has a reciprocal agreement with each of its bordering states: Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota and North Dakota. Residents of Minnesota or a bordering state may fish throughout the waters bordering the two states only if they possess a valid resident license from their resident state. Nonresident anglers who have a nonresident license from either Minnesota or the bordering state may also fish throughout the border waters between the two states. Anglers may launch and fish from either shore and may transport their catch by the most direct route to the state in which they are licensed.”

Comanchero15, you and I read the rules the same. I do not think there is a MN or WI side reading the MN rules. Just wanted others opinions. Just trying to stay within the rules and the rules just make everyone think a little bit more on what they do.

Thanks
Chip

Steve, I wonder if a call to Madison would reflect the same?

But then again, a MN CO booted a few guys out of a tributary while sturgeon fishing on the Rainy… a call to the fisheries office found that the CO was in error and corrected.

Interesting conversation, I have fished a lake in Northern Minnesota along the Canadian border for the last 19 years, and believe it or not there is an imaginary line that divides U.S. from Canada. The only entry into the Canadian side of the lake is from entry points within the U.S., so you have to follow the U.S. bag limits while adhering to Canadian rules. One of these rules is that you are not allowed to use leaches, but you can on the U.S. side Hello, doesnt anyone realize that leaches can swim?
Sorry to drag on, but my point is that there are some screwed up rules out there so I wouldn’t doubt anything.

bjacks…Welcome to IDA…

Now I’m getting started!

The closure of up stream boating on the St Croix at the high bridge is to slow or stop the infestation of Zebra Mussels.

I keep looking for the line of “sharp shooters” taking out all the waterfowl that cross that line.

Once a person reads up on Zebra Mussels and find out that part of their life cycle is in the gills of fish…(and fish move up stream), the whole thought of closing up steam movement on the Croix is moot.

But it does keep the boat traffic down!

Just for clarification…. zebra mussels do NOT require a fish host for their life cycle — this is the biggest difference between zeebs and our native mussels. Fish basically don’t move zebra mussels. Zebra mussel larvae drift with current – thus, they can’t move upstream without help (usually from humans). Boats can move zeebs by the adult form attached to the boat, OR with zebra mussel larvae floating in water within your boat (such as livewells).

And for trivia, a larval form of zebra mussels is called a “veliger”

Thanks for the clarification Big E, I stand corrected.

Quote:

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Understanding Its Lifestyle: General Life Cycle of the Zebra Mussel

A mature female zebra mussel can produce 30,000 to 50,000 eggs which hatch throughout the spring and summer months at water temperatures above 54°F. The eggs are released into the water and fertilized outside of the female’s body cavity (external fertilization). Fertilized eggs develop into freeswimming larvae (veligers) that drift in water for 10 to 30 days before attaching to a suitable hard surface. Strong, sticky glue secreted at the tips of their fine string-like fibers (byssal threads) is used for attachment to nearly any submerged object, including rocks, boat hulls, and docks. Dense colonies (zebra mussel beds) containing as many as 70,000 mussels per square yard have been found on the bottom of Lake Erie. Adult zebra mussels generally spend their entire life at one site, clinging to suitable bottom surfaces

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