St. Croix Ice

Went out yesterday to try to find some crappies between Bayport and Stillwater. Had plenty of ice up to 9″ and found fish in 25-30 feet. Found them but did not catch them. Going back out tomorrow.

Hello roadhunter,

Have you been out recently? I’m looking to try out that area of the st croix but have never been out on that ice before. Searching for recommendations on where to start, trying to fish crappies and walleye. I’ve mostly done lake ice fishing before this but would like to get on the river.

Any info is helpful!

Most people are going out of the ferry landing launch in North Hudson to fish near the King Power Plant. There were about 20 houses out there tonight when I crossed the Stillwater bridge.

I have seen a few trucks on the ice but I would not want to be first until I knew the ice was safe.

I saw a nice sturgeon caught today so I will get out tomorrow.

Good Luck!

Yeah I drove to lakeside park in bayport this afternoon and could see plenty of shacks, then went over to north hudson and talked to the guy at village liquor, he sold me some minnows and told me about the ferry landing launch. Planning on going out tomorrow morning. I saw plenty of trucks out there too, I mean I know I’m new to river ice but when its 40+ degrees I’d be holding my breath coming off the landing and driving with my window open. They must have it down, though.
Thanks for the info!

Is there any sort of truck and trailer parking. I wanna haul my shack and wheeler so I’d have to pull my snowmobile trailer. Just worried about where I’d be able to park

There is a limited amount of parking at the top North Hudson Ferry Landing boat launch. From what I saw, it filled up pretty early. So people were driving onto the ice and parking along the shore. There are ‘no parking’ signs all around the boat launch, nobody seemed willing to tempt fate with the chance of being ticketed/towed. Also for what it’s worth, North Hudson streets are legal 4 wheeler trails (posted when you come into town).
The Bayport side may be a better option for parking, a lot more space over there and with a wheeler you can just drive on the ice from Lakeside Park. I cant comment on the legality of driving a wheeler around in that park, but there are tracks from them so other people are doing it.
Good Luck!

kazanskisice wrote:

There is a limited amount of parking at the top North Hudson Ferry Landing boat launch. From what I saw, it filled up pretty early. So people were driving onto the ice and parking along the shore. There are ‘no parking’ signs all around the boat launch, nobody seemed willing to tempt fate with the chance of being ticketed/towed. Also for what it’s worth, North Hudson streets are legal 4 wheeler trails (posted when you come into town).
The Bayport side may be a better option for parking, a lot more space over there and with a wheeler you can just drive on the ice from Lakeside Park. I cant comment on the legality of driving a wheeler around in that park, but there are tracks from them so other people are doing it.
Good Luck!

Was out at ferry landing 3 weekends ago, followed the crowd and parked below and all 15-20 cars ended up with tickets. The village made some change that day.

Hey uninc4709 – Were they parked on the beach or on the ice when they were ticketed? When I was there people were still parking on the ice, but nobody parking on the actual beach around the launch, that was clearly marked no parking. I’d be interested to know if you’re fine as long as you stay off the beach or if they are really enforcing parking in that area even on the ice. I don’t think anyone ended up with tickets, none that I saw when I pulled off anyway.

yeah, I think as long as you are on the river you are fine. Ice was only about 8 inches when I was out.