St. Croix by Taylors Falls

[kais24]

I usually catfish around Stillwater and south down to the Kinni but was thinking of trying the Taylors falls area. Can you guys help me out? I was wondering about access, shallow water problems, night fishing, etc. I've heard people talking about fishing near the dam. Thanks in advance...

[SteveD]

The St Croix River is under the jurisdiction and management of the National Park Service. They have quite a bit of useful information concerning access points and river use requirements on their HSOforum. This HSOforum will provide you river maps that show the access points: http://nps.gov/sacn/visitor/brochure_rack.html

I have launched at every site and I use a 17' Alumacraft with a 70hp Yamaha. Not all the launch sites are paved. I have been able to launch my boat at every site but a good 4 wheel drive is helpful in a few of them. You should not have any trouble running the upstream sections now with the higher water but later on into the summer when the river returns to normal levels that section can get pretty shallow and challenging to run with a bigger fishing boat.

In that upstream section, just short of Taylor Falls, the best boat launches for a bigger boat are at Osceola and William O'Brien State Park. Be advised that the St Croix, upstream of the Arcola Sandbar, is considered a "Slow Speed Zone" which means motorboats may only create a minimal wake. If you follow the rules it takes you a while to get from point to point, so don't plan on getting anyplace in a big hurry. The upstream restriction on boat travel above the High Bridge just north of Stillwater has really cut down the boat traffic. This is a great section of river to get away from the hectic boat traffic of the lower St Croix.

[kais24]

That helps a lot SteveD, Thanks!

[BigWormin]

Does the "slow boat speed" include north of the Taylors Falls dam? I just started fishing that area this year, there are some pretty nice camping spots around that area! Had a big one on right by the landing above the dam that took almost my whole spool before it broke, i didn't even have a chance on her. I was fishing for smallies with a carolina rigged craw dad, wish i could've seen that fish!

[SteveD]

The "Slow Speed Zone" does not apply above the Dam. That area has some excellent channel cats. That may have been what you hooked up with.

[Pig_sticka]

I hooked up with a fish up above the (Contact US Regarding This Word) fishing crappies, smallmouth and walleyes using a good sized fireball jig, fireball being about as thick of a hook as you can get. And it bent the hook perfectly straight. Not very good on my part because I should have known better, but the drag was set tighter than I thought. Whatever the fish I was guessing to be a cat or sturgeon. Didn't move at all from the bottom and just had 3-4 very hard slow pumps. I have since learned my lesson because I am sick of not catching those trophys.

[lunker651]

Fishing the taylors fall dam is great for cat fish and sometimes those big and I mean big sturgeons stikes your bait. I used to fish there once in a while. We launch at the state park on the wisconsin side and make our way up to the dam. Caught some really big catfish up there and also get ready for the fight of a life time when those sturgeon strikes. good luck, when you are heading up there.

[TSCTSC]

Am thinking of going up there this weekend. Any recommendations on where to launch from in MN and what bait or fishing techniques would work there? Thanks!