St. Croix Trout Streams

[JBMasterAngler]

I won't bother asking where some good spots are...I am curious about old mill creek though (marine on st. croix), are there any trout in the stretch between the croix and the waterfall, or are they all upstream of that? Many many years ago I've caught tiny bass and some redhorse out of there. Just wondering if maybe the DNR stocked some brookies in that small stretch, or maybe some browns swam up from the croix. Other than that I'll probably just take a drive the monday after opener and find some public spots.

[AuggieDawg11]

let us know. I have always wondered the same thing.

[goblueM]

you know i was wondering about that, i drove past the mill pond. whats the temp like? i would imagine water sitting in the pond would warm up in the summer. never been on it though

[JBMasterAngler]

I'll give it the ol' college try...that stretch down there is very similar to a stretch of a northshore stream I fish all the time. Above the pond there's not much for public access is there?

[waterbound]

Access to Old Mill Stream is very limited but you can access it through William O'Brien State Park. The DNR HSOforum says it's full of brook trout, but it doesn't say anything about the stretch below that pool. Early in the year I bet that pool holds quite a few nice fish, probably worth a shot. I'm split between trying to catch a 12" brook trout or fishing a different multi-species stream on the opener, but Old Mill is definitely worth a shot.

[JBMasterAngler]

Yeah, I'll be tackling some real trout streams a couple weeks later, but if that monday is nice it'll a good drive anyway.

[waterbound]

I don't think trout streams get much more real than Old Mill, but I get your drift. The less pressure those streams recieve, the better the fishing.

[JBMasterAngler]

The william o'brien access you were refering to...is that through the old minnow farm area?

[waterbound]

From the DNR HSOforum:

There are two public areas on the stream, one a city park in Marine on the St. Croix and the other in William O'Brien State Park.

The city park is located one block east of Highway 95 (St. Croix Trail N.) and one block south of the Brookside Tavern.

The other public area is up the hill from the village center on County Highway 4 (Broadway Street) at the site of the former Marine Minnow Farm, now part of William O'Brien Park. Anglers must park just off County 4 and walk north and east along the old driveway to reach the stream.

I tried to find the access in the city but I wasn't able to. I drove along County Rd 4 to try and find a place to park but I was hesistant to just leave my car on the side of the road and I didn't want to buy a permit for the State Park so a different stream was fished that day. This season I'm going to give it a good try at least once, though.

[waterbound]

This might be of interest to you, some interesting thing about the stream: http://cmscwd.org/Documents/Mill%20Streem%20Watershed%20Management%20Plan.pdf

[JBMasterAngler]

That was a good read, thanks for sharing Still a few weeks away, but it sounds like it'll turn into an active day.

[HookEmHard84]

I have fished that stretch 4-5 times. Turns out I was probly accessing from the wrong spot, but no one gave me any grief so they must not have been too upset. The fishing was decent, plenty of action with a bunch of tiny brookies about 6-8in. There are a few nice pools, and one time I swear I saw a realy nice fish duck under the bank, never could get him to dance but it kept me going back there a couple more times.

[the man]

I fished the old mill pond one time and I caught a 7 inch brookie it was pretty cool.

[waterbound]

I think I'll give it a shot on the Opener too, I bet it'll get a little more pressure than most years after this thread, though.

[the man]

Have any of you ever fished browns creek and caught trout because the dnr HSOforum says that it is full of trout but it is really outdated.

[waterbound]

I've never fished it, but if it's stocked every spring with 1000 browns it should produce some fish. The last survey was in 2005, but I don't know if that is what's reflected on the HSOforum. It should be surveyed again this year, though.

[pkv]

Just visited Brown's creek today but just as we got to the edge someone threw a rock or brick into the stream -- guess they didn't want us there...

[waterbound]

Could it have been a golf ball? Part of it does run through a golf course and with this weather, I'm sure somebody could have been out playing a few holes.

[JBMasterAngler]

When I was a kid I always used to see people fishing the outlet at the upper mill pond. Is that not allowed anymore? Is it private property inbetween the ponds or can you fish through there?

[HookEmHard84]

I fished Browns Creek a few times, including one year on opener. Never caught a single fish.

JB - I've wondered the same thing about the upper mill pond. Anyone know if that is private?

[pkv]

no, definitely not a golf ball, we were near the mouth by the DNR designated parking spot, didn't see anyone in sight.

[goblueM]

beaver or a 'rat

[JBMasterAngler]

Bigfoot is known to throw rocks at people

[so haaad]

Bigfoot is known to throw rocks at people

The Mill Creek Yeti. Sounds like a future show on Discovery.

[waterbound]

The Mill Creek Yeti. Sounds like a future show on Discovery.

I'd watch that!