St Croix Report – 20 Sep 06

I was out last night for a few hours chasing sturgeon. St Croix water level is stable at normal pool elevation 675.2′. Water temp was 63 degrees. The winds were calm and the water was flat as glass last night so you could really see the shad schools near the surface. It is easy to understand how the shad have become the primary forage base on the St Croix. The shad are everywhere in pretty good sized pods and you can watch fish chasing them all over the river. I’m hearing mixed reports of success from fisherman – lots of complaining about there being too much bait. I think the key to success right now is figuring out how to exploit all the shad. In my opinion the shad can help you target fish and the challenge is coming up with a presentation to trigger the fish you are after.

Last night I picked up 4 sturgeon and one nice 29″ channel cat from 7:00pm to 9:30pm, all on cut sucker. The sturgeon bite is pretty hot right now. It is a great way to listen to a good Twins game and do some fishing at the same time. Twins won a great game in Boston with the help of a Torii Hunter 3 run homer. Go Twins.

The weather for the next 3 days sounds wet. 60% chance of rain today; 70% chance Friday; 60% chance on Saturday. Highs in the low 60’s and overnight lows of about 49 degrees. You may need your rain gear for the Beanies fish tourney on Saturday.

Steve, any size to those sturgeon? We were just upstream from you 100 yards in the bass boat. The three of us got 19 sturgeon and 1 channel cat between 3:30 and 10:00. The bite seemed to really slow after sundown. Biggest sturgeon was 41″ with the rest in the mid to upper 30s. The channel was a chunk–didn’t get a measurement as it flopped out of my friend’s hands, but I would guess 27″ and thick.

Hi Ryan – This was from my log: 27″ sturgeon at 7:30pm; 36″ sturgeon at 7:55pm; 29″ Channel Cat at 8:25pm; 31″ sturgeon at 8:45pm; and a 36″ sturgeon at 9:00pm.

What is the reason for such small sizes in the Croix? I see the reports and pics but no giants? Just wondering if the population was deicmated a few decades ago and there are no super old fish or what? Enlighten me.

There are a few! Take a look at the Sturgeon Photo’s thread or the St. Croix 9/20/06 Fishing report on the front page.

Suzuki.. there are definately some big fish out there. All the small fish are a very good sign for the future.. it takes little ones to make big ones.

Its possible that there are so many small fish its hard to keep a bait in long enough for a larger fish to get it. Every day isa little different out there. The days with the highest number of fish seem to be the smallest fish, and often nightcrawlers were the bait. I have been using larger bait and not catching large numbers of small fish, although I still get my share, but we are getting more large fish in the mix.

Its a huge river out there full of food, it would be naive to think there are not some true monsters lurking the depths, and probably a good number of them.

Mike – You asked why so many small sturgeon on the St Croix? Not sure there is an answer to that question. Like any fish species, there are always more small fish than trophy fish. Sturgeon haven’t really been fished that hard on the St Croix except for the last couple of years. The St Croix sturgeon population seems pretty healthy. We see lots of numbers with the majority in the 30″ range. It is not uncommon for a couple of anglers to boat 15 – 20 fish in an afternoon or evening of fishing. I can understand the 50″ minimum size limit – I would consider a 50″ St Croix sturgeon to be a big fish and the 60″ plus fish to be trophy sized fish. You have a good chance of hooking at least one 50″ fish each time you go out. It is pretty simple fishing – toss out a hunk of cut bait or a gob of crawlers and wait for a fish to find it.

With the 50″ minimum for harvesting a fish and the majority of anglers being catch and release it will be interesting to see how the increased fishing pressure affects the sturgeon fishery. In a way I’m sorry to see the increased pressure but I also appreciate the fact that they are a legal fish species that is managed and regulated. I sure enjoy fishing them during the short fall season. Here is a pic of my son with a 53″ sturgeon he caught on 12 September. We only caught 3 fish that evening but he got that beauty. You have to admit – that’s not a small fish.

Steve-

I wanted to comment on your thoughts about the fishing pressure. In 2 words… “Dang Internet!” There would NOT be the fishing pressure out there if it wasn’t for fishing forums. Heck, the only time I made it out there this year, I knew half the other boats.

With that said, I really do think the sturgeon population can handle the pressure as long as anglers practice strict C&R. I know there is another topic going but I just don’t think we need to be keeping these critters.

Thank god the St. Croix doesn’t look like this yet. This photo was from Lake of the Woods/Rainy River earlier this spring. What is that, 50 some boats. The cool thing is everyone is catching fish as well. The sturgeon up on the Rainy are relentlessly pounded and I believe they are doing just fine. Time will tell on the St. Croix but the Rainy River sturgeon fishery appears to be healthier than ever while fishing pressure and popularity continues to climb.

Thanks. Just needed some perspective. If 50 and 60 inch fish are adults then you guys are definetly getting into some quality fish. Nice.