I was out this afternoon. The drum are in fine form!

A buddy and I were out that day and saw most of the fight from about a hundred yards away. They started at the top of Andersen Bay and ended down at the point. Took a long time chasing it around with the troller. Well fought. It was about as long as the boat is wide. Very impressive.

I’ve stayed there a couple times. Never done a sleeper, as I’ve never really seen much of a night bite there in the winter. They have nice little cabins and good access to the lake.

throwing my name in the hat

Leech and a slip bobber anchored in 10-18′ of water will get you channels pretty much anywhere from the RR bridge down to Prescott. Best I’ve done this year is about 8#.

I have yet to catch a flathead on the Croix. Grew up in New Ulm. Lots of flatheads there. See attached.

My brother-in-law caught this beauty last spring. It wouldn’t come up off the bottom. He, of course, thought it was 10#+ Walter. I thought it was a cat. We were both wrong. Went about 15#. UGLY. I now call him the Little Drummer Boy. Oh, caught it on WI side of Bayport.

I’m most disturbed by the fact he seems to have removed his clothes already. I love walleyes as much as the next guy, but sheesh.

Boy, you guys sure are tough. What’s wrong with a city council voting to gift its members some free lake shore? The one guy says he’d more than happily pay for it, but it’s not allowed by law. We wouldn’t want our respectable (or otherwise) public officials breaking the law, would we? Especially if it would cost them money to do so, would we? Especially if they can just get the land for free, would we?

Steve,

Pretty sure they were tulibee, but when it comes to species like that, I guess I never look too close. I thought maybe the DNR’s site would help so I went here:

Look at the pretty fishies

Turns out they don’t identify ANY of those species. Also turns out what I thought had been sunfish were actually flatheads. I guess you learn something new every day.

Oh, and my brother-in-law and I did manage to find a few crappies in the last few days.

Say, that reminds me: have you guys been catching tulibee? I’ve caught quite a few this winter, usually around 20′ in 35-40′ of water. Never knew they were there, but, of course I forgot that anything that swims in Minnesota swims in the Croix.

And does anyone know why the Croix is listed under ‘Wisconsin Rivers’? Let’s remember it’s we Minnesotans who provide all the fodder for this site (e.g., the Red Wing Boot chumps who tried to gate off the river). How about a little love for the North Star State FTR? [just doesn’t sound right now that the stars play in dallas, but i think you know what i’m saying.]

There’s plenty of houses out there, from the high lines down to the swing bridge. There’s plenty of room for more, too. Bite’s on again, off again. Good luck.

Oh, and bring your sheepy marinade. They’re much tastier if you can get ’em soaking while the muscles are still twitching.

Some suggestions:

1) Stike up a conversation. Some suggested topics: “You want to know what the most annoying sound in the world is?”, “Remember that time when you were with the Beatles? That was awesome.”, “Ever seen a grown man naked?”. The possibilities are endless.

2) Share a story about how you did really well over on another spot with exactly the jig they’re using. Sadly you’ve lost all your jigs of the same kind, but suggest they might want to give the spot a try.

3) Bad gas. I suggest eating turkey, cole slaw or sloppy Joes and then standing upwind. I’m told I have a particular talent for this (to the point my wife and my father both insisted I seek medical attention), but give it your best shot.

4) Sing show tunes (stuff from Cats is VERY appropriate in a situation such as you describe). If you can actually sing, pretend you can’t.

5) Punch holes, baby! In front of them, behind them, next to them.

Note to self: try to find a synonym for ‘suggest’.

I was out yesterday. Pulled two limits plus many littles, a bunch of whities and a couple dandy smallies. Fished the Hudson no-wake and the Kinni narrows. Trolled blue & silver shad raps. Better bite was a.m. from about 6 (still quite dark) until 830-900. Fished crappies during the high sun (8 keepers) and then went back to cranks. Off the water by 1800. Higher speed is better – 2.7-3.5 mph. Keep working it and you’ll find them.

I’m with you Has. Went out Sat morning for about 2 hours. Blue & silver shadrap is the ticket. My buddy was dragging lil rippers and got one whitey. i got 2 legals and a nice sauger dragging #5 and #9 shad raps. fished the kinnie narrows. 13 boats stacked up there, half were jigging and half were trolling. trollers were the only ones with nets out. all fish we caught were in 13-16′ and speeds between 2.4 and 3.3 mph. fish on, boys!

I’ve been out Wed, Thur, Fri and will be going out this p.m. Generally fishing from Stillwater bridge up to the railroad trestle. Water level’s up quite a bit and there’s lots of stuff floating down (some of those deadheads are nasty), but there are fish to be had. So far all have been males and anywhere from 15 to 18″. They hit like a ton of bricks when they hit, but it’s only been about 1 fish per hour. Seemed to do best after the lightning stopped Wednesday night. Didn’t try it during the lightning for some reason

As for your dirty girl issue, I think a little no-scent soap is generally VERY helpful.