St.Croix ice

I’ve got to know…. I’ve seen a few people out on the ice between Hudson and Stillwater. What are the ice conditions? Thickness and consistancy, And how’s the bite?

I haven’t been out there yet myself, however; one of my friends went out and this was his report:

We went out on the river instead,
fished north of the Hiline in 25′ of water. We got about 18 crappie, 10 nice keepers. We got most of them using the tiny jigging raps without any bait. We also got a 3 lb smallie, a couple silver and a rock bass as well.

The ice on the river is really good this year.

I can’t decide between the Croix or Big marine for my day off on Friday this week, choice….

hey wade how thick is the ice. honestly i always thought it would be unsafe because it is a moving river. but I think i will give it a try this year.

sorry forgot to post that 5-8″ of good ice I will add it to my post, but here it is again, I was skeptical of it as well but got on it last year and was amazed in jan and feb having 24″ + ice out there and it’s a blast….

There’s a good 6+ inches up that way, definitely more than out from Bayport and village area. It looks like it busted apart and refroze in a couple of places towards the hi-line, but it is thick. It looked like a good 5″ all the way across the river from the Park to the wooden umbrella. There is a seam of sketchy ice going across the river basically running a couple of feet north of the Andersen road path, nothing too bad this is as of this past Sunday

Be sure to be careful down stream from the warm water discharge and near it as well. I watched the river freeze this year and that area to me seems unstable.

I agree still to thin for me to get out there I am going to hit Big Marine on Friday instead I can wait for the river until the village sets up

I saw a couple people out just south of the 94 bridge, a little scary for me to try it. There were a couple areas that stayed open much later than the main sheet, it looked like there was an upcurrent that kept it open, either way that ice was darker under the snow. No way I would be out there yet.

I seen those guys south of 94 tonight. Ummm all I can say is that is very dumb and there is no fish or amount of fish in that river worth risking your life over like that .

BE SMART USE YOUR BRAIN!!!!

I would guess they have a lack of a brain or don’t have one at all or they have a death wish….but then again sometimes we need natural selection…

Today there was open water very close to where they were fishing yesterday. Seen another “person” heading out across the bay from the boat launch near 94 spud bar-ing is way across the (I’m sure) thin ice

In the Bayport area it was 6+ inches and backwater areas were up to 10 inches. There where lots of wheelers out there too.

Anything biting out there?

I was in the bayport area before light and stayed until 9 and couldn’t get a bite. Talked to another guy that moved a few times and he was doing the same as I was. I went back in the afternoon for a few hours and got 1 bite but got so excited that I managed to screw it up, maybe next time I can actually catch something. I had 8″ of ice and was in 32-34 FOW. Can anyone tell me what I’m doing wrong??? I’ll try again next weekend.

In a backwater area I managed lots of smaller Gills and perch. No keepers but I am scouting out new areas and located fish between 2-9 FOW but only fished in the 9 foot area.

Quote:

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Can anyone tell me what I’m doing wrong??? I’ll try again next weekend.

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I would say you are fishing in the wrong spot

Try drilling holes from the shore out and look for depths that are holding fish. Then once you find the fish drill your holes parrallel with the shore. ( a little tip I learned sunday morning around 8’ish ) My guess is you were a little to deep and in an area that was not holding any fish. My best bite on the river is usaully between 7am and 11am. Hope this helps

Where are you accessing the river in bayport?? The private drive?? and where are you parking?? Just a little curious.

There is a PUBLIC road in Bayport that is “OPEN TO THE RIVER” in the winter. I seen about 8 trucks parked on the ice last sunday. Looks like someone was CRAZY enough to drive across the river as well. I get on the river in North Hudson at the landing.

As JJ said, there are 2 different places to get on in Bayport, people walking typically use the lot to the north and the ATV’s use the 2 lots to the south. Once the ice gets thick enough I’ll be using the north hudson access as well.

Thanks for the info guys.

Well the ice IS NOT CONSISTANT!!!! It varied (that I verified) from 8″ to 11″ with SLUSH POCKETS (scary driving). I highly do not recommend driving on the Croix yet. I know people are doing it, I did it but I got VERY VERY LUCKY. I personally would stick to foot traffic, ATV, or snowmobile.

PLEASE BE SAFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is no fish in that river worth a vehicle through the ice with a person in it