That was the question I asked myself when I emailed Turk Gierke from Croixsippi Fishing Guide Service http://www.croixsippi.com
I figured he would take me to the same old places without much luck…maybe a crappie or two. If we were lucky maybe a small sauger or walleye. I made a mental note to try to get his secrets on how he managed to place 1st four times in Beanie River Rat Tournament since 1999; along with 1st in the 2001 World Walleye Association National Championship also held on the St. Croix River.
I’ve been fishing the Croix mostly in the summer months, but I’ve made it out a few times the last couple of winters. I thought I had a good handle on where to drill a hole.
We met at 3 pm and after talking about strategy for a few minutes, left our meeting place, unloaded the gear and hiked out on the ice. At times the snow was around 6 to 10 inches deep. (Note to self…get rid of the 40 year old Sorrels for a lighter pair of boots.) All the way out, he was talking about how many fish we were going to catch. Yeah right, was my thought.
Turk cut about 6 holes in the ice and pointed me to the hot hole in about 28 feet of water. He set up about 10 feet way. With a strong suggestion from Turk, I cut off my lucky walleye tear drop (didn’t have any minnows anyway) and put on Turks favorite jigging rap. I’ve never fished a jigging rap without at least a minnow head on it.
To be honest, I thought that I would be lucky to have a bite at all. But with all those hooks, maybe I could snag something.
It seemed like he just got his line in his hole, with excitement in his voice he said he picked up a fish on his Vexilar. I went over and watched behind his shoulder while he was showing me his technique to get lookers to bite, but said it was too early yet and this fish was likely just be a looker. About that time…he set the hook and we had our first legal walleye on the ice.
I told him earlier that we would practice C&R, mainly because I didn’t think we would hook into anything legal. So, down the hole she went as I thought to myself, I haven’t had fresh walleye in a while. But one fish, not quite enough for a meal anyway.
I had a couple fish come into my hole look and take off. I figured this is what it’s going to be the rest of the day…except for the one crazy one Turk nailed.
It was getting close to the “golden hour” from 4 to 5 pm and Turk said we need to move shallower, to 25 feet. After a few minutes of move the sleds we were both set up. First thing I noticed on my Vexilar was that there was a fish at the bottom in my hole. Sent my rap down there and with some instructions on making that fish bite…out he came. Nice eating 14 inch sauger. A few jigs and up comes another one – and then another one…It was unbelievable! Had I not missed a hit we would have had a double. It was like fishing for sunfish!
Total fishing time…two hours with 9 fish (eyes and saugers in the 17 to 14″ range) caught. Released six and kept three for my family and myself I picked up a few tips for ice fishing and a couple for summer fishing. What more can a guy ask for?
This trip proved to me that a couple hours with a quality guide on your own water, can really open your eyes…(pardon the pun!)
Would I do it again? In a heart beat. Turk is a great guy, knows his fishing and even has a sense of humor.
But most of all, put me on fish when everyone I talk to says they aren’t biting on the St. Croix!
What time is dinner?
Oh d-d-d-d-dear-dear-dear………….the next time we go chasing for piggies……………. stumps, one-liners, and jigs “Oh My”! 
And you caught some eyes too. 
all the way to the bank. 
