Danger spots on the Croix

I am heading out on the St Croix tonight in the search of some crappies and I need some good advice. I have NEVER ice fished on the Croix and I want to stay as far away from danger spots as possible. I would like to go in the Bayport or Prescott areas, as I have read the bite might be best in those areas.
I went to Bayport last night at about 7pm to see what was up, and it looked like there is an easy access just north of the Bayport Marina that looked quite used. I saw multiple vehicles going straight accross the river in a few spots, going along both borders at 30+mph. I did not see enough to just head out for a quick drive on the river though. I know enough not to venture toward the swing bridge to the south of Bayport or by the bridge in Prescot, but any other advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
STCROIXER

Word on the street (from a local baitshop) is to stay on the well beaten path as ice conditions are good in Bayport as of today.

Hey Stcroixer – That access point north of Bayport Marina is called Hubbs Point. You can access there to get on the ice. The ice road there goes straight across the river to Ferry Landing in North Hudson. In the winter time this ice road is used by some people as a short cut from Hudson to Bayport once the ice is deemed safe. Ferry Landing has a steep unimproved road up to the top of the river bank on the Wisconsin shore and that climb up the bank can get tricky depending on winter conditions. This year it should not be a problem.

I haven’t been on the St Croix river ice yet this year but I normally access through Hubbs Point. There should be an ice road that branches off to the north from the Hubbs Point to Ferry Landing road. This ice road normally heads north usually closer to the Wisconsin shore than the Minnesota shore. When you are almost straight across from the Bayport Beach there should be a few permanent shacks in a cluster. They will be located in the vicinity of the 40′ hole that most people fish for crappies. The ice road should continue north going all the way up to the High Lines across from the Allen S. King Plant. The High Lines is another well fished ice fishing spot.

From the Hubbs Point to Ferry Landing road you may also find another branch road that heads south. Normally that road is nearer the Wisconsin side. People fish along that shore towards the south a short way. You should be able to see tracks and ice holes along that stretch when looking for places to fish.

The danger areas in this stretch are directly out from the outlet of the Allen S. King Plant. This year that spot will be froze over because the King Plant is shut down. Normally that spot does not freeze over due to the warm water being discharged from the plant.
Other danger areas are to the south of Bayport in the vicinity of the Mallalieu Dam and the Hudson Swing Bridge. Both of those areas are usually open water but with this cold snap I would be careful if you are not familiar with the area. I wouldn’t go too far south until you learn the area.

That should be enough information to get you started.

Steve,
Thank you for taking the time to reply to my thread, although you posted it right after I left for the river. You were extremely accurate as to the current conditions, could have used it last night, we might have ventured farther out than we did.
We ended up fishing the MN side and hand augered (ugghhh) a bunch of 8″ holes south of the tip of the point accross from the access, 18″-24″ of ice.

We were in water from about 17′ to 30′ and could not mark many fish at all. Needless to say, we did not catch anything, but gave her a go for a few hours.
Looks like were going back to South Center for a 10 crappie night

All and all, it was a cool experience, 1st time on the river in the winter, but no where as relaxing as a Croix summer night.
See ya on the open water!

STCROIXER

Steve, very good info as always Stcroixer sorry I didnt reply but I have olny been in the bayport area once myself this year. But dont give up on it. Typacally it gets better as the season moves on. Like Steve said the plant is shut down this year and that bite has been strange up there. But if you head back out seek the deepest water and try to stay away from the crowd!! Even if it means going just a bit shallower that the groups out there. The main basin area is about 34-36 fow. If you can find a dimple of deeper water out there in no mans land it usually holds crappies. Even if its olny a foot to foot and half difference in the area. Am bite is usually best out there but again thats the last few years and this year is different than the rest with the plant shut down. Good luck out there!

Quite a crew in Prescott this weekend. They are driving out now. Wonder if anything is happening?

I drove down to prescott sunday and at 8am there were 4-5 houses out there, only two in the main portion of the lake area, the rest were close to the mn shore past the marina. Somebody told me they were getting crappies and were getting random sturgeon hits.
STCROIXER

Wonder if anyone was fishing when that house blew up? That would have been a little skeeeery. Very close.

What house blew up?
STCROIXER

Are you kidding me? The one that blew up on Pearl street killing one person and injuring a cop. All over the news for days now. Happened Sat. I saw the house Sun in person and basically its gone.

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Are you kidding me? The one that blew up on Pearl street killing one person and injuring a cop. All over the news for days now. Happened Sat. I saw the house Sun in person and basically its gone.

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You’re talking about the house that went up when a truck plowed into it, right? Not a fish-house but a ‘real’ house!

http://wcco.com/local/local_story_049115037.html

Must have been kidding, I thought we were talking about fish houses.
STCROIXER

nah, I just think Mike gets confused sometimes

Well yea, since I mentioned it was on Pearl Steet I assumed all would know it was a land based building…..

Thanks for posting the link king. I heard about this but haven’t been able to watch the news much lately.

Is Pearl St near the stop lights?

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Is Pearl St near the stop lights?

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I have no idea… I don’t know much about Prescott (don’t get out much ).

Read an article in the paper that said the officer was trying to get her out of truck by breaking in the rear window. He looked in and saw her turn the key to start the truck and BOOM!. They think by turing the key, she caused a spark that lit up the natural gas. He was blown 20 some feet through the air! What a tragedy – she was killed (I hope instantly) and the cop will live with those images in his mind…

ewww!

I had a girl friend that was driving, went into the ditch and rolled the car over. Niether of us were seriously hurt…but to this day…I can see her turning the key to try and start the car…as I yelled at her not to try. I remember thinking that was going to be the last image I saw.

Luckily…the car just didn’t start.<whew>