I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday season. I had a little vacation time to burn after the festivities were over, and it was time to hit the lower St. Croix river to see what she was willing to offer up.
After drilling lots of holes on foot checking ice thickness, it was time to grab the wheelers and the otters to check spots that were hot this fall for walleyes and crappies. Although the walleyes are still in hiding, the crappie bite has been pretty consistent if you’re willing to put in the time to figure out what flavor they prefer that day.
Targeting steep shoreline breaks with deep water adjacent to these breaks we found the crappies to be holding tight to the bottom. Being a new Marcum Lx 5 user, I have really enjoyed fishing with that flasher. With the fish holding tight to the bottom, the narrow beam transducer, super fine line on and zoom that baby all the way down, it really makes fishing fun, when you’re able to adjust the unit to see exactly what you want to see. A big thanks to Chris Tuckner and Dan Miller (Sauger) for giving me a “how to” with this unit. Although Sauger could have offered up these tricks before he had iced some nice fish, but better late than never!
The walleye bite has been really slow for us so far, there is still a ton of shad in the system, when a school of shad comes through, the flasher lights up like a Christmas tree rendering it useless, and you either have to wait it out, or move to get away from them. In due time, the eyes will find their way on the ice yet…
Hot baits, well it depends on who you ask, we’ve all had our favorites the last couple of days. For me, it was a custom jigs and spins demon tipped with a crappie minnow head, followed by genz bug tipped with a minnow head, and last but not least, the good old dead stick just plain put fish on the ice. Must be the kid in me, but I do enjoy watching the ice bobber ever so slowly getting pulled down the hole followed by the set and a slight drag pull!
Just a quick note to those venturing out on the river, please make sure you check ice thickness! We’ve had varying ice thickness from 9.5 inches down to 4 inches in spots; there is also open water on the Minnesota side from the Kinni almost down to rose beach! So please be careful out there.
Jami
Some more photos. Bobby Miller getting in the action, Z with some dandies destined for the pan. This was tricky trying to take a picture and setting the hook at the same time.
Nothing better than a fish fry and a few
after a day on the water.
Not sure how I caught that, just goes to show you’re never sure what you’ll catch on the river!
Otter rod case with 6 rods.
My wheeler setup. The 3 five gallon pails have a bungee over the top, and the propane tank is ratchet strapped down to the rack. All stays on the wheeler while trailering, except for the Marcum of course, that goes in the truck.
The last picture is how I use the otter rod case as a table in the otter. Dead stick sits on the front, beverage, ipod tackle tray, phone and whatever else I need out.
Jami
As you said Jami, it was nice getting on the ice during this Holiday break! Hot lures for my shack were Diamond Jigs from CJ&S, Little Cecils from BFT, and Pimples. Unlike you guys, dead stick for me were just that!
DEAD! 99% of my fish came on waxies or larvae jigged.
BK (Baiders) even got into the act today with a nice white and a spec. 
I did get to Zumbro a couple times…here is Chappy and Big E with some dandies!
Nice fish and report guys!!
Nice job on the specks guys
Looks fun guys.
Nice report guys!
Nice report Jami…looks like they fried up pretty well
Jami,
beach or any place up that way is a little far.
nice report makes a guy want to get out there but being a foot soldier “ROWE’S”
Nice fish!
I wasn’t gonna say anything…
Thanks for the clarification Slack….
Being a transplant to Hastings, I’m still trying to figure out all the townies names for things…. 
Jami
just trying to help out, i figure your a little bit younger and don’t know every thing like i do.
You are correct!
Great Report Jami