Muskie on the St Croix- Only 2 Baits?

I live by some pretty good ski waters and will have some evening time during the week.

If you were heading to the St Croix for an evening of fishing…
what would be your top two lures/presentations?

I want to stay away from dead sticking a sucker unless you guys say I’m missing the boat.

Thanks for the help.

1. Super shad rap.(i caught a nice one with Turk trolling it)
2. Bucktail

Suckers die quickly when water temp is above 70 degrees

Thanks Steve. Any special colors for the Croix?

black bucktail
yellow bucktail

1.Dynamite
2.Match.

Works for gills too I heard…in case you weren’t aware.

<devil>

If you’re planning to fish shallow, say around Hudson, bring a topwater prop bait like a Bucher Topraider. If you want to troll, try an Esox Research DD (the shallower of the two models, the other being the DDD). Otherwise, magnum bulldawgs and double cowgirls work well there just like they do everywhere else … but you need some serious muskie gear to throw them for any period of time. Bright-ish perch style patterns and golds seem to work. The Croix isn’t the easiest muskie water in the world. Good luck!

What John said on the topwater, if they ain’t shallow, use the other bait!!! I think the PMTT event was won there on topraiders…

Mark

Believe it or not . Purple
I do believe top waters were hot during the PMTT. Thrown right against the shore.
What do i know ? I have only caught one Croix muskie. We were speed trolling a natural SS Rap. It was over 40″

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For trolling I would use a buck tail (I like the Trolling Girls) and some type of a crank bait that dives about 10 ft deep. I like to troll in less than 15 ft of water.

Casting I would use a buck tail or a rubber bait (bull dawg).

Why only 2 baits Brian? I bet you don’t limit yourself to only 2 bull heads.

5 bullheads would be one bait. Five BH’s and one sucker would be two baits.

Why only two? ’cause a guy could spend all day buying different flavors of bait. I was hoping to get by with the top two. If I would buy 8, well that’s half the price of a guide! LOL!

steveo wrote:

1. Super shad rap.(i caught a nice one with Turk trolling it)
2. Bucktail

Suckers die quickly when water temp is above 70 degrees

Just Curious do you fish this Super Shad Rap as a crankbait or a jerk-bait?

1. Perch flavor 6″ Grandma twitch bait. Versatile- can crank it, twitch it – whatever and is a straight up musky catcher. DOZENS of muskies in my boat on Grandma’s, one of my all time favorites- giant bass like them too. Perch crank baits catch fish anywhere, even if there are no perch present. Think contrasting colors…

2.Black or black/orange or black/chartreuse Mepps tandem musky killer. Has caught more muskies than we can collectively count.

These choices, while admittedly not currently “popular”, straight up put muskies in the boat and won’t break the bank or leave you feeling like you need wrist surgery the following day. Windells Harrassers are an excellent choice too for bucktails and have accounted for numerous muskies in my boat. Garrish colors like “BROWN” & “BLACK” don’t catch many fishermen anymore but sure do catch fish….

I own a couple hundred muskie baits and am not knocking double cowgirls, Spanky baits etc… they work great and are quality products, but the “old fashioned” baits still work, and fish just don’t see ’em that often anymore, which is another reason to use ’em. I got a soft spot for big plastics too, but but you said two baits… Super Shad Rap is also a great choice.

Forgot… this is important- Whatever bait you choose, file the hooks scary sharp before you use them.

Thanks all. I’ll let you know how it goes.. after if goes.

Gary Sanders wrote:

Forgot… this is important- Whatever bait you choose, file the hooks scary sharp before you use them.

True dat!!!

Mark

Soooo….

I’ve spent two late afternoons pounding the water. Well, actually I was trolling around in 6 feet (mostly) of water with a madusa (or whatever it’s called) That put a good twist in my line. Did a little casting but not much.

Yesterday the water looked so smooth I beat the water with a double cowgirl. Casting casting and more casting above sand in 2 fow. Above weeds in up to 6 fow.

I have to say when the lure gets close to the boat and those blades start bulging the surface…well, a person doesn’t get sleepy! When doing a figure 8 and I notice the hair behind the blades…I have to settle myself down again. <whew>

So I’m looking for the high % location.

Should I be fishing the weed edges where it drops into 9-10 feet of water?

The other side of the weed edges where it drops into the deeper 20-30 fow?

Stick with over the weeds?

I’ve been stopping at dusk to toss out a couple sturgi baits.
Would I be better off pounding the water after dark then the daylight?

Any other words of wisdom for this sore back armchair muskie guy?

Yeah, I know…fish of 10,000 casts. <coffee>

Bulldawg umbrella rig.

I would like to do a pug umbrella rig.

Just my $0.02 from my “St.Croix Fishing Map” from Fleet Farm, I would give the Kinnickinnic Narrows a try. My top lures this time of year include the Musky Innovations Invader in Walleye or Reflex Blaze colors, and the ERC Hellhound glide bait in Black Sucker or Walleye colors. Looks like Walleyes are indeed good for something…bait!

Thanks RB rat. I’ll be out Saturday afternoon for a short time and that’s were I’m going to point my nose.