Question about sturgeon seasonal

I fish the croix around grantsburg / danbury. Usually chuck for other species, but I’ve caught a few sturgeon when I was in the mood to soak some crawlers. That’s about all I know about sturgeon though, throw some crawlers in the biggest hole in the river, (preferably sandy bottom with some moderate current) and wait.

I’m generally curious about their seasonal activity, specifically in a traditional moderate-sized river situation like the upper st. croix. (I’m sure they have more complex movements in the big water down south, but that doesn’t pertain to me much). For example, obviously the LOTW fish run up the Rainy in the spring for the spawn, and you guys catch a lot of fish then. I’m guessing 30% of that is because they are putting the pre spawn feed bag on (like all species), and the other 70% is just because a ton of fish from an enormous lake all congregate in the river?

Anyway, my questions:

1. In a scenario like the upper croix where the fish aren’t funneling in from a larger system, is there a massive pre spawn spike in action like on the Rainy, or less noticeable? And do they run many miles up river to a major congregating location or stay more local to their summer holes?
2. I know the MN season used to only be in the fall, do sturgeon feed MUCH more actively in the fall compared to summer? Or was that just when the season was, for no specifically rational reason?

I’m just curious about how moody these bottom feeders are; I’d think that if a sturgeon is swimming along and an easy meal of worms passes 2 inches from their mouth, it’s gonna get inhaled no matter the month on our calendar?

Interested to hear from the experts.

I don’t think there are many “experts” on the spring run with the exception of the DNR and it’s reports and the Rainy die hards.

I was asked a lot of questions over the winter about Spring sturgeon and it’s hard to answer questions since this is the first year we have a spring C&R season.

I’ve been leaning on the DNR reports for answers even though I’m trying to stay in my “normal” routine of flats first then roll into Sturgeon towards August.

I think I can answer the one question. If there’s a worn in front of a sturg, I think it would be the exception more then the norm for it to not be eaten.

Lake Sturgeon Profile<

I think they’re moody on bait choice. But have no idea on the Croix in the spring. I guess i try to always have Worms, Fatheads, Shad and Sucker on board when i’m fishing sturgeon…Never know which one is going to work best. Best to have a lot of all of it!

I have no idea how water temperature affects their metabolism and feeding habits. I know water temps from 38-55 degrees they are going nuts! But, that’s when i have historically fished them too. They do bite all seasons, but more or less during one or the other? Time will tell.

I have a Blind Squirrel theory on sturgeon. Just spend a crap ton of time in the boat with lines efficiently fishing for sturgeon and you’re bound to catch a bunch. Sit ontop big marks on your depthfinder and your odds of catching a bigger one go way up. I’m off to the rainy in a little over a week. Got to go worm hunting this week.

I read a study a few years ago…forgotten most of it.

Anyway there is a spring spawn movement even for upper St. Croix…however it’s not like per said, that they have a spot to funnel into. They do have a spot to congregate – where ever the spawning grounds are preferable in comparison to water level and bottom siltation. However I know pretty much nothing of them, except yanking on that rod when I hook up with one.

As so far from Taylors fall…well there’s a dam so there’s also a Spring congregation there. In past years, when the sun is warming up, sometimes we get a huge feed bag and it’s easily one sturgeon after another. A person would hook up with one fish per hour easily – that includes all of your fish fight time. Assuming your fish fight is kept to around 20-30 minutes for decent sized fish. Bigger monsters, well all I can say is, you’ll get spooled from shore, if your line doesn’t break from hanging up. Plenty of smaller ones under 40″ in length you can pull in in less than 10 minutes.

They don’t always bottom feed. Caught them just crappie fishing on a bobber as well. Even catch them night fishing, but the bulk of the action is pretty much a day feed. All of this is from lindy rigging for spring walley fishing or cat fishing. So the gear is under prepped unless it’s little immature sturgeons.

Yeah, Taylors Falls is obviously a stopping point for the fish below the dam. North of TF there’s no similar obvious location.

Thanks for the input. Spring is an interesting time, considering how all the fish in a system tend to congregate in the same location. I remember reading many years ago about how most all of the Muskies in the Chippewa Flowage gather in just a couple spawning locations. It’d be real interesting to watch that DNR fyke net operation.

I’m going to experiment with cut bait more this year. Biggest issue targeting cats / sturgeon with crawlers on the upper croix is that the suckers will pick your hook bare constantly. Especially if you are using a sturgeon sized circle hook. I’m sure that’s an issue everywhere, but on the upper croix they’re everywhere.

croixski wrote:

Yeah, Taylors Falls is obviously a stopping point for the fish below the dam. North of TF there’s no similar obvious location.

Thanks for the input. Spring is an interesting time, considering how all the fish in a system tend to congregate in the same location. I remember reading many years ago about how most all of the Muskies in the Chippewa Flowage gather in just a couple spawning locations. It’d be real interesting to watch that DNR fyke net operation.

I’m going to experiment with cut bait more this year. Biggest issue targeting cats / sturgeon with crawlers on the upper croix is that the suckers will pick your hook bare constantly. Especially if you are using a sturgeon sized circle hook. I’m sure that’s an issue everywhere, but on the upper croix they’re everywhere.

Use cut bait. Cut sucker works well. Any abundant forage will work.
WOrms are just annoying when any other fish species is present!

Please use appropriate sized gear when fishing sturgeon.
50# fish should be caught in under 7 minutes.
That means than anything under 10 pounds pretty much gets reeled in like bait.

Bass gear has no place here.
Heavy to Extra heavy musky rods.