Croix fishing update

Anyone been fishing the Croix? Word on the ice is things are terribly slow. SIVee and I got out friday between 1pm-4pm and iced 4 crappies. I got out again sunday between 2pm and 4pm and iced 3 crappies. I fished for about 2 hours this morning and got 1 crappie. I hear a 3-4 fish day rite now is a good day. The bite has been extremely tough lately although I am sure someone is on them out there some where. Fish seem to fly up to the jig real aggressively but then do nothing. I found that minnow size matters. What size minnow you ask, I wish I could tell you but the fish are the ones that dictate that as it changes from day to day. There really hasnt been any kind of pattern. I see alot of permanent shacks being shuffled around, more so than last year. When I stick some consistent fish and put together a little bit of a pattern I’ll put up a post but for now the bite remains a crap shoot. Let me know how you’ve been doing out there

Same here.

Size has been a little better than usual, but I can only seem to get 2-4 fish per outing…Now that the ice is shaping up a little better, I plan on venturing out a little more and trying a couple of my proven spots when the bite gets tough…I’ll let ya know what I find.

JJ,how much ice up there after the big freeze last week?

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how much ice up there after the big freeze last week?

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I had 15 inch. everywhere I went on Sat. and Sun. Tried a few new spots and found alot of lookers. I switched to tiny jigs and did alot better.

Went down to croix tonight, had a mudpuppy up in hole and came off.
My dad went out and fished his usual spot and took home 3 crappies all around 12-13″
The bite was at 3:15- 4:00 and then it was over.
I fished south of him about 3-350 yds.Lots of lookers.
I will be out again tomorrow after work, and my father will getting into his routine now , the fish will be setting his on ice schedule.Looking like early afternoon may be it right now.

Small jigs/minnows were the ticket, caught the puppy on my favorite spoon
I”ll send a text with any reports.
Hopefully be able to post a good report soon

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how much ice up there after the big freeze last week?

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I had 15 inch. everywhere I went on Sat. and Sun. Tried a few new spots and found alot of lookers. I switched to tiny jigs and did alot better.

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I had any where from 15-18″ depending on where I was, lots of moving looking for those active fish

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cought mine from 10:30am till noon then nothing

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Those fish are on the move

to Wendy’s or McDonalds or what?

Just like deer it is not always they are on the move..the fish have to eat and from past on Lake Zumbro everyone and I mean everyone would fish 5AM till 8 AM and 4 PM to 6 PM……same type of bite then all of a sudden I had a mid day bite going..this was 2 years ago but either way I would not so much say they are on the move but possibly patterning the traffic/presure as well? Just a thought

Hard to get enough ambition to hit the Croix given these reports. Fun to just go through the motions if you dont get out much but no fun if you hope to catch fish.

One stink’n bite at 2:45, missed ’em..
Stayed till 4:15 and packed up.
It’s time to move on,the spot is NOT producing?
I may have to try community hole
I watched several vehicles drive right up to within 30-40yds. of the open water near power plant tonight.Maybe thats the place to be?????

I think a guy needs to fish uncharted water. Obviously thats risky and hard to do because of the vastness of the Croix but there is a ton of safe ice south of Hudson and a lot of structure that must hold the sacred Walleye in the winter not to mention everything else. You wouldnt believe where they “used to” drive cars on that river and people just dont anymore because they think they cannot. One of these days I’m taking the wheeler or sled down the edge of the river and fishing some of the water I fish in the summer. Some people do. Those that have access via friends or relatives homes and believe me they keep a lid on their success.

I hear ya Suzuki. I have been thinking about that water all winter. Last year I seen a Blazer out there and it got me pondering the thought but I never followed through with it. I have seen some shacks way,way south of the bridge and it just got my curiousity into getting out to that area up again. I would sure like to venture out there, isnt there a public Beach in Lakeland that a guy could access the river from?

There is an access down there (Wi side)
Its for locals but Im not sure if enforced in winter. I did notice a plowed road from there a few years ago! Road my sled on it. If you can drive on the river at all there then illegal parking would not be an issue. Still a long ways from where I want to fish. Its not easy getting around on that body of water in the winter! May have to knock on some doors

Fishing down here south of afton has been slow. rockbass and crappie are common, with an ocaisional small walleye/sauger. not too many brave soldiers out seeking the ellusive walleye. The ice is 20″ in some spots and open in others so be careful. Remember you could be the only fisherman for miles down here so make sure you are prepared for equipment problems. i.e. your 3 wheeler breaking down 3 miles from home

Fished last night in Bayport area from 7pm-midnight.
no fish. Tons of lookers, but no takers. Tough night bite, might have to explore a little more, but tough on the Croix when you show up after dark.
note to self: next time and bring a power auger (hand auger)

You fished 5 hours and didn’t catch a fish. How did you drive home?