St Croix is Open north of Stillwater

I drove up to the DNR Boomsite launch north of Stillwater and there were a couple of kayaks paddling around in the bay. There was still some light ice off the boat launch but you could probably break it open to get into the bay and out to the main channel. Those kayaks looked cold!! I’m not sure that is a comfortable way to enjoy early season open water.

You could probably get a boat out to the main channel with some effort. A few more warm days should open up the Boomsite Bay completely and then you can make the main channel pretty easy. The river’s main channel looked open as far as I could see up towards the high bridge.

The river was froze in from about Stillwater Marina downstream to Hudson. We have a ways to go on that ice – it is going to be a while yet for the Lake St Croix to open up.

The river is slowly but noticeably opening up from the train bridge in Hudson towards Stillwater. With the amount of ice on the river this year I’m thinking its going to be towards the very end of the month before any river traffic. Hopefully it will be wide open for opener

Thanks for the update Steve! I drove over the Stillwater bridge last night as was pretty pumped up to see the chunks of ice floating downstream along the wall…it wont be long now

I swung around thru the Boomsite this afternoon, there was a guy backing in a trailer with 2 jet skis on it. WOOOO! Chilly jerr

I launched out of the DNR Boomsite launch this morning and ran up to the High Bridge. Water is up slightly and the water temp is a cool 36 degrees. River is wide open upstream but still locked in with ice from Stillwater south. This rain today should help break up the remaining ice. It sure felt nice to be running on the St Croix again. Come on Spring!!

ice is going very quickly down here in Hudson. looks like the main channel is clear from the swing bridge down to the 94 bridge. won’t be long now. looking forward to some of those pre season crappie

Thanks for the update Steve.

Did you see much debris in the water?

Afton is still pretty froze up but I did get the boat out for a Sturgeon Excursion Test Run. Still a lot of ice north of Afton to flow south. Did see a couple BIG fish (my best guess would be muskie ?!?!?) surfacing in the shallows.
It won’t be long now.

Yes there is debris in the water as always this time.

I managed to find an ice chunk during the rain on Sunday!

I talked to Steve before he launched and was glad to see his boat started…and you were worried Steve.

No fish but a nice day out there!

Looking at the King Plant Osprey cam , she’s opening up!