Stillwater area questions

2 questions actually:

Is there a place that sells bait right on the river near Stillwater. I’ve been to Jimmy’s, but wondering if I can get some bait at a marina or gas dock?

My other question: Anyone know the rules about boating north of the high bridge? I thought it was off limits to go past it, but I see lots of boats and pontoons going back and forth. Even the Park Service Patrol boat heads up there?

Thanks.

There’s one place that I can think of that you can get bait right on the river and that is at Beanie’s. It is just south of the 94 bridge on the MN side. You can dock up and they should have anything you need in their bait shop.
As for your other question, I’m not sure. I don’t get up that far very often.

I may be mistaken, but I believe the cut off point is the Arcola sandbar, which is just north of the high bridge. Any clarification on this would be nice.

Chowdski that may be true, at least it used to be that way. But they have buoys under the bridge that say something about no travel past this point…?

Thanks for the info walzer.

It is OFF LIMITS to proceed north of the High Bridge due to the Zebra Mussels infestation. The National Park Service boats you see are enforcing the restrictions. The National Park Service has a station just north of the High Bridge on the Wisconsin side of the river. Here is the link to the boating rules for the St Croix River. I recommend printing a copy and keeping them in your boat.

Boating Rules for the St Croix River

As far a getting bait while on the St Croix. Beanies sells bait, they are located across from Hudson just south of the I-94 Bridge. You can also get bait at Jimmies while on the river – just tie up to the shore near his bait store and it is a short walk up and across Highway 95 to his bait shop.

About fishing upriver of the High Bridge. You can launch your boat upriver from any of the access points above the Stillwater DNR Boomsite launch (William O’Brien, Somerset Landing, Copas, Osceola, Franconia, Interstate Park) and come down to Stillwater. You just cannot launch from downstream and go up past the High Bridge. It is kind of a pain to launch above and come down but it is worth the effort. That area above the High Bridge does not get much fishing pressure. A word of caution – at normal pool elevation, like right now, it is pretty shallow running upriver and you should proceed with caution. One other thing to consider: you are restricted to SLOW SPEED, above the Arcola Sandbar. Read the Boating Rules for a definition of SLOW SPEED. It takes you a while to get anywhere if you follow the rules.

I will stop in from the river to get bait from the Jimmy’s location, but I will only do it with someone else that can occupy the boat and drive around until i’m back. I have seen some of the worst boat damage to boats tied to those rocks. The worst comes from a calm day, glass calm, then comes the Tuna boats and huge rollers… that rip rap is very very nasty, plus theres a concrete slab about two feet below the surface there. I’ve seen boats blow up on that slab and pogo sticks up and down as the skag slams on the top of that!!! In a perfect world you’d have all the bait you need before you launch.
Keep catchin’
Turk

Good point, Turk. That piece of shoreline is pretty rugged, you have to even be careful getting out of the boat when the tuna boat wakes are pounding that shoreline. I’ve only had to do it a couple of times and both times somebody stayed with the boat off shore while I ran up for bait. For the guy staying with the boat that piece of shoreline has some nice fishing while you wait – we have caught some nice white bass and a few smallies along that riprap shoreline.

I have fished that shoreline from shore a few times and done better than from the boat. But last week I went to go down there and there were no trespassing signs posted.

C15,

How’s the flathead bite been? I would think now that the walleyes are in the summer spots the flats will be getting regular now? I’ve been getting channel cats pretty good for about a week or more, while targeting walleyes. Those little one pound channel cats are good eating in my opinion.

I used to drift a channel north of Stillwater, years ago, actually aimlessly drifting and clueless, but I’d hammer little 3/4 to pound channels. They were light blue and silver with a few spots, really good looking healthy fish. And oh so good on the grill with butter and Paul Prudhommes blackened redfish magic! I’m already hungry.

Good luck keep catchin’the big ones!
Turk

Hey Turk – Flathead bite is starting up. I’ll be out tonight on the St Croix if the weather doesn’t run us off. We’ll chase channels until just before dark and then setup for flatheads. Turn on the Twins game and plunk out a bullhead and enjoy the river.

With the water temp up and the pool elevation back to normal range about 675′ it is time to chase flatheads. I’ve got a bucket full of perfect sized bullheads with flathead written all over them.

I was down to Pool 2 on Tuesday with RatherBfishin and he got one nice flat and we had some good hookups and misses. That is some pretty flathead water – I need a place to fish on the weekends when the Croix gets nuts with tuna boats.

Thanks for all the info!

Just got back from 2 nights camping on the Croix with the kids. Slow fishing from the shore for channels north of Taylor Falls, but had a nice time out.

Hope you got something tonight Comanchero.

I got skunked. Pretty night but no fish.