How late into the fall dose the sturgeon bite keep going? I have read peak feeding takes place when water temperature is between 50˚F and 65˚F. Large sturgeon seem to feed little when the water is cooler than 42˚F and also are less active in water over 65˚F, though small fish may bite any time.
What is the current water temperature on the St Croix by Stillwater?
Fish that big need to eat. A lot. They’ll need to eat more when the temps are warmer. What they eat and where they eat is the question.
Regarding how cold? FBRM fishes until he can’t get his boat in the water any more. And seems to do very well.
They are also targeted through the ice with good success.
My best success has come in the temperature range you mentioned only because that’s what temp it was during the 2 month open season, historically.
On both the Rainy and St. Croix I have had the best success in the low 40’s to 50 degree water temp range. I think this might have more to do with other factors than that’s when they are the most active.
For the rainy, we are fishing shortly after ice-out and that increased water-temp to the low 40’s is part of the trigger for them to make their way up the river to spawn. This causes a higher concentration in the river and increased chance of catching one.
On the St. Croix, I have only fished in the fall starting around this time of the year so I can’t speak to how active they are in summer water temps but as we move into the fall and dropping water temps have seemed to coincide with more fish for me. Shad schools are at their biggest and will seek out warmer water from feeder creeks among other things which brings the sturgeon with it.
The last thing I think about it temperature.
I think about bait more than anything because there are times one bait works much better then another and of course when all the baits work well.
This 64″ was caught on Halloween on crawlers on Pool 4 last year. Water was in the low 40’s by looking up the historical records.
http://www.brianksworld.com/Photos/2015/bob%20naomi%2064%20355×267.jpg
How late into the fall dose the sturgeon bite keep going? I have read peak feeding takes place when water temperature is between 50˚F and 65˚F. Large sturgeon seem to feed little when the water is cooler than 42˚F and also are less active in water over 65˚F, though small fish may bite any time.
What is the current water temperature on the St Croix by Stillwater?
They’ll eat all year long bro.
You need to keep in mind past seasons have been short, thus any info extending beyond the season very unreliable.
Ok honestly, with the lack of people fishing for them, most reports aren’t worth reading.
It’s like hearing how good rain gear works… That one time I wore it. Lol.
Largely misunderstood, the sturgeon. But what I can understand is they bite anytime they want to. 
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