July 15, 2007
St. Croix River walleye and sauger summer patterns are established and walleyes are in multiple depths from 10 to 30 feet of water. Depths to find walleye are based on the baitfish (shad), but a solid depth is 21 foot range. Walleyes are still very good sized and though not numerous, big walleyes are still being caught (my boat has had 26 and 27+ inch walleyes on 5 out of the last 6 straight walleye trips, these big ones are mixed in, release walleye over 20 inches, don’t be a fish hog), plus the wide shouldered eating sized walleyes in the17 and 18 inch are being caught. Limits are not uncommon for anglers, so all of this the bite is still good. As a bonus the saugers are still biting and should continue to be on the bite for the entire summer for anglers trying to catch walleye.
Top techniques continue…both walleye and sauger are being caught by anglers rigging livebait (minnows, crawlers, and leeches) and anglers trolling spinners with the same livebaits. Excellent catches by vertical jigging are happening as well. Trolling crankbaits is also effective with firetiger being a proven river color.
Smallmouth bass continue to bite well, and the bronze backs are putting up memorable fights. Once the day hits and the bait drops the bass hold in the deeper water. Though bass can still be caught in the shallows from 2 to 6 feet of water. These shallow holding fish are prime for topwater lures twitched on the surface. For smallmouth on the breaks look for a Carolina rig or tube worm on a leadhead jig to pluck them off the breakline. The smallmouth bass are good sized on the St. Croix and 18” fish are not uncommon.
White bass are going well, and can be the most fun of all fish to catch because of the action and numbers of fish in the white bass schools. To find these heavily grouped fish look for baitfish jumping and surface activity. Catch these fish with surface lures, cast minnow imitator crankbaits, jigs with twister tails, spinners, spinner baits, and blade baits.
Keep catchin and have fun!
