"For 28 years customers have caught fish and had fun, weekday or weekend- hooking walleye, smallmouth, sauger, crappie, sturgeon, and catfish on the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers -give me a shout you can too! "
Charlie "Turk" Gierke
Spring Bite Fishing Season - May 4
The weather has warmed, and the water is warming fast. This Spring Bite is always a fun time to be on the water, because as the water warms the fish's metabolism jumps and their activity levels and willingness to bite goes up.
The St. Croix River's water level is almost five feet higher than the normal pool level. The root beer colored water stain is a wonderful color to see and is brightest in the spring. There are some logs and debris in the river from last week's 1" rains.
I am asked a lot is the river high. That question can be answered two ways because it can be higher than normal pool level, which it is and is it high for this season? Which the answer is no, not high, its normal level for the spring.
This might seem trivial, but any condition of the water matters to the fish - in an instinctive way, so it's very important for me to know the water conditions that exist when I am on the water in real-time.
It's hard to separate above ground and below the water because though they aren't directly tied together in a relationship, what happens on the earth, the soil, meaning grow rates of plants and animal growth and breeding happens below the water.
What I am getting at is, above ground everything is coming to life.
Spawn and Post Spawn Season for Walleye and Sauger April 23
Some facts about this spring. Very low water based on no snow this winter, and no rains. The water level of the river has dropped nearly every day.
It's been a strange bite because the water went from 42 to 49 in four days. The water temp is now 50-51. Anglers as of early this week are catching prespawn walleye and saugers. We also caught sauger that had spawned out.
All the fish never spawn at the same time; it's a mystery why some do when they do and some spawn on a different day - but the spawn window for the vast majority of walleye is about 10-14 days. I think after this week of hot weather and the water temps getting 52 to 53 the walleye will be done spawning and post spawn will be the main season for walleyes located south on the Mississippi - south of the Twin Cities.
It should be noted water temps differ by latitude for a walleye in the northern part of the state they wouldn't have spawned yet because the water temps are too cold. Or they can be... Walleyes spawn in 42–49-degree water temp. Colder water than bass and crappie. I believe the northern pike spawn first, under the ice that's about to break up in the shallow bays.
Regarding temp swings of air and water, I never feel huge weather changes helps the bite. Often when you fish on a day that the temps are normally 50 degree air temp that when its 75 the next day that bite on the 75 degree air temp can be tough. Stability is often best for fishing. But the weather is what it is.
Now the day or even two days before a cold front hits your zip code, which is a prefrontal weather pattern, this prefrontal more often than not can be increased fishing actively. So changes in weather can be good. Fishing is a science and an art.
Prespawn April 2, 206
On the Mississippi walleyes and sauger are relating to staging areas right now. Prespawn eyes don't necessarily bite better, but they are often grouped up in numbers tightly which makes the bite strong.
I will be focusing on the staging areas fish use, prior to the spawn. All fish do not spawn at the same time! You can get pre and post spawn eyes during the same day. I do not believe the walleyes or saugers have spawned yet even though the water temps are 42-44. This cold front will delay egg laying.
Jigs with plastics or minnows is my main baits of choice. Also, moderate flow right now and 2.5' highwater levels. Some debris in the water.
Larger saugers have moved up on their run, and keeper male walleyes have too.
Winter Transition
Early March 26'
So, what’s happening now? We are in winter transition, a period well before ice out on inland lakes, the rivers bays and slow sloughs are iced up, but the channel is not. Huge Lakes like Pepin and Onalaska are iced over. Winter transition season that takes place in late February to early March; it is its own season one which exists before the prespawn.
Right now, the fish make smaller moves towards the spawning grounds, but largely stay back and stage before the “run.” Walleye and sauger still relate to the deep of the winter and can be found in the deepest holes or areas of higher flow. It's wise to note that flow rates from one end of the pool to the other are not the same, flow differs from local to local.
Winter Fishing Season
January 3, 2026
Happy New Year!
Winter is here and in the winter season fish relate to the deep water of the lake or river or reservoir. Fish will move yes, but they are cold blooded and want the water temperature to be as warm as it can be. 39-degree water is the densest and thus it sinks. This dense water settles deep and that's why the fish relate deep. The shallower water is colder! They will move shallower but they if you will "home base" deep. This isn't a river or a St. Croix phenomenon - fish are fish just like a deer is a deer.
Fall Fishing Season
October 20, 2025
Water temperatures are running from 59-57 degrees and have cooled 12 degrees since the beginning of October.
The St. Croix River has been at or a few inches below the normal pool level of 675.5' above sea level for two months. The Fall Fishing Season is here, one hallmark of this season is a good bite, and that daytime fish will relate to deeper depths and do so as the water continuously cools from here on.
Shad schools are still at peak levels again- like last year, with vast schools of bait still formed up.
The river water has a trace of the root beer bronze stain. Floating grass is not common. White bass activity on the surface is rare.
I haven't seen a smallmouth for weeks. The flathead catfish have been hitting the walleye rigs. Sauger catches are slow, but walleye action has picked up recently. Walleye size for eaters is running from 15" to 18." Sub surface white bass size action for these hard fighters has improved.
Fall Transition Fishing Season
October 1, 2025
Water temperatures are around 70 degrees; this is an INCREASE of 4 degrees - from my last report. Good news is the air temp drop is coming soon, the bite should improve, because it’s been slow. The St. Croix River is near the normal pool level of 675.5 for two weeks.
The shad are in enormous schools and are both on structure and offshore. There has been limited white bass chasing action recently, but really too short to "chase the bite." We did chase some "silvers" early last week and immediately boated three but then that was it.
The river water has a lot of floating grass but no floating debris. Very low flow still - annoying to this guide, hard to use my experience as a river guide with no flow... Weed beds are falling and dying off and will fall. Fish have been widespread in their depths, sturgeon action has slowed.
We have been jig fishing.
Fall Transition Fishing Season
Sept 14, 2025
Water temperatures are around 66 degrees. The St. Croix River has been about 1 foot above the normal pool level of 675.5 for a couple weeks.
The shad are in large in schools and are both on structure and offshore. Not seeing any white bass chasing action all season.
The river water has little floating grass and no floating debris either. Very low flow. Weed beds are starting their slow fall die off and will fall. Fish have been widespread in their depths, sturgeon action has picked up, and we are catching them while fishing for walleye.
We have been jig fishing.
Hot Summer Fishing Season
July 30
It's definitely still the hot summer season; the baitfish schools are dominating the fishery now and are able to be found in a lot of locations. Gizzard shad are the dominant forage base and are forage for walleye, sauger, Smallies, drum, white bass, cats, I even think the buffalo will eat them when they are still small and grouped tight - I think this because me and my clients have caught a lot of buffalo over the years with jigging raps in the mouths of buffalo, while fishing in areas where the buffalo are prevalent and the shad is as well. Yes, there is a fish called the buffalo! :) There a two kinds large and smallmouth buffalo, though nowhere nearly as well regarded as the bass named the same.
The St. Croix is 4.8 feet high and moving slowly, that is because the Mississippi is flowing really fast and a higher level than the St. Croix. For the most part there is not a lot of grass, even though the area has received a lot of rain.
The overall bite is more challenging right now than earlier in the summer, and this happens every year this time of year. Saugers can really come in handy for anglers looking to keep fish. There is also a big crop of bluegill in the river right now. Small channel cats and drum have been the most active fish as of late, but large gamefish are still being caught.
July 14
This is the time of year that my clients catch lots of differing kinds of fish while looking for walleye and bass and cats. As an example, on yesterday's trip we had a very lar gar on! It came to the boat and then cut the line, also another odd species - the mooneye - was caught.
Catching 10 species is common, my boat record for species (not fish) is 17 different species in one trip.
The water is 78-80 degrees, and shad are formed up now in many places, and can be seen easily on your electronics, but not on the surface - so, if they're not on the surface, I hate to say it, but sorry my fellow white bass fisherman, I don't see last year's great bite to be happening this year...
Shad are an extremely abundant forage base and preyed on by bass and walleye and even the freshwater drum hunt them down. The shad are here and gone the next so the fish both bait and game fish are on the move.
June 24
Hot summer just began with this heat wave that hit town, instantly water temperatures are running from 75 degrees and in the late afternoon even warmer. The St. Croix River has been from 3-4 feet high for several weeks. So, this year is so different from last year because schools of shad are not forming fast, but shad bait pods will soon form, and spots will change fast once the bait forms and moves.
Typically, this is the time of year that crankbait fishing becomes a top presentation, live bait will always catch fish, and jigging lures like jigging raps will be a great as well.
June 13
Summer is progressing in terms of the fish species we are seeing. Smallmouth bass are starting to be caught much more readily. Perch and sunfish and smaller channel catfish too. Freshwater drum have been on a strong bite and happily they are starting to slow down! lol.
No white bass caught or seen on the surface, no flatheads.
June 7
Spring is gone and, in the books, the next season to arrive is the warm summer. Here in Minnesota and Wisconsin its normally in June, but in the south its earlier and in the north way up in Canada its likely still spring. I equate catches with conditions and seasons are the biggest conditions that drives fish location. As a river guide, one of the first things I ever learned thanks to guides that have come before me and were nice enough to share is to equate catches with water levels. Fishing is all about the conditions that exist- when you fish in real time. So that's why I talk seasons- I enjoy all the details.
One tip is in the warm season fish will begin to associate with the larger areas of deep water. They won't be in the deep water exactly but be nearer to those areas and have definitely migrated from shallow spring flats. If you don't know the water you're fishing as its mapped out, then that's a concept almost impossible to follow. This seasonal location is hard to follow as well with words because concepts like "relate," or "associate," are vague - it's an art and a science, and yes, I'm learning myself still!
One more tip is in the warm summer fish begin to use points a lot more and not just the shorelines.
Spring Fishing Season Holding on - May 21
Changes happen fast in the fishing world. Up until about four days ago, I had enough of the heat - now I am wearing my winter hat again. Well, if you've been an outdoors person for long enough you know that's the way May goes.
What does this weather do to the fish? A lot! Once again, I saw firsthand the effects of weather fronts on fishing. One group of my customers saw an exceptional day of fishing before the cold snap and another group of my customers saw a big bite slow down the day after.
Also, last Friday or maybe Thursday the water temp was 68! for mid-May that is very warm. Monday it was 60! Thats a huge cold snap, and no, that kind of drop doesn't help in the spring.
On a side note, some say a cold front helps in the fall. No, the aftereffects of a cold front will help, meaning the colder water is the result of a fall cold front, but the cold front itself doesn't help the bite. Cold fronts depending on their severity take several days to clear until stable weather returns.
In the spring when the fish are supposed to be growing and highly active the water temperature drop does not increase activity.
So, you might wonder why does the fall water temp drop help turn the game fish on? That is a good question. Hard to say.
This fall water temp drop that I am talking about happens in September. There is a time in September the water drops fast and the bite goes from slow to very good. Maybe it's a biological trigger to feed heavily before winter?
Back to the springtime and water temp drop not a help. I believe it's because the fish are much shallower than in the fall and an eight degree drop in temp will kill that shallow bite.
The next fish season to come soon is the Warm summer season and it's a big transition from the shallower areas of spring to the deeper more structure related areas. You can also think of it in general terms as the fish go deeper.
The St. Croix is always a hard body of water to pick a depth to fish, and that is because most of the best spots are so steep that if the fish want, they can be in 28 feet deep in a second even though you're getting them in 8-11.'
Yesterday we got 2-3" of rain and the river is coming up four feet. Looks like we will have some flow and a bit of high water for the first time this year. It changes fast on the river, got to stay on top of it!
The weather has warmed, and the water is warming fast. This Spring Bite is always a fun time to be on the water, because as the water warms the fish's metabolism jumps and their activity levels and willingness to bite goes up.
The St. Croix River's water level is almost five feet higher than the normal pool level. The root beer colored water stain is a wonderful color to see and is brightest in the spring. There are some logs and debris in the river from last week's 1" rains.
I am asked a lot is the river high. That question can be answered two ways because it can be higher than normal pool level, which it is and is it high for this season? Which the answer is no, not high, its normal level for the spring.
This might seem trivial, but any condition of the water matters to the fish - in an instinctive way, so it's very important for me to know the water conditions that exist when I am on the water in real-time.
It's hard to separate above ground and below the water because though they aren't directly tied together in a relationship, what happens on the earth, the soil, meaning grow rates of plants and animal growth and breeding happens below the water.
What I am getting at is, above ground everything is coming to life.
Spawn and Post Spawn Season for Walleye and Sauger April 23
Some facts about this spring. Very low water based on no snow this winter, and no rains. The water level of the river has dropped nearly every day.
It's been a strange bite because the water went from 42 to 49 in four days. The water temp is now 50-51. Anglers as of early this week are catching prespawn walleye and saugers. We also caught sauger that had spawned out.
All the fish never spawn at the same time; it's a mystery why some do when they do and some spawn on a different day - but the spawn window for the vast majority of walleye is about 10-14 days. I think after this week of hot weather and the water temps getting 52 to 53 the walleye will be done spawning and post spawn will be the main season for walleyes located south on the Mississippi - south of the Twin Cities.
It should be noted water temps differ by latitude for a walleye in the northern part of the state they wouldn't have spawned yet because the water temps are too cold. Or they can be... Walleyes spawn in 42–49-degree water temp. Colder water than bass and crappie. I believe the northern pike spawn first, under the ice that's about to break up in the shallow bays.
Regarding temp swings of air and water, I never feel huge weather changes helps the bite. Often when you fish on a day that the temps are normally 50 degree air temp that when its 75 the next day that bite on the 75 degree air temp can be tough. Stability is often best for fishing. But the weather is what it is.
Now the day or even two days before a cold front hits your zip code, which is a prefrontal weather pattern, this prefrontal more often than not can be increased fishing actively. So changes in weather can be good. Fishing is a science and an art.
Prespawn April 2, 206
On the Mississippi walleyes and sauger are relating to staging areas right now. Prespawn eyes don't necessarily bite better, but they are often grouped up in numbers tightly which makes the bite strong.
I will be focusing on the staging areas fish use, prior to the spawn. All fish do not spawn at the same time! You can get pre and post spawn eyes during the same day. I do not believe the walleyes or saugers have spawned yet even though the water temps are 42-44. This cold front will delay egg laying.
Jigs with plastics or minnows is my main baits of choice. Also, moderate flow right now and 2.5' highwater levels. Some debris in the water.
Larger saugers have moved up on their run, and keeper male walleyes have too.
Winter Transition
Early March 26'
So, what’s happening now? We are in winter transition, a period well before ice out on inland lakes, the rivers bays and slow sloughs are iced up, but the channel is not. Huge Lakes like Pepin and Onalaska are iced over. Winter transition season that takes place in late February to early March; it is its own season one which exists before the prespawn.
Right now, the fish make smaller moves towards the spawning grounds, but largely stay back and stage before the “run.” Walleye and sauger still relate to the deep of the winter and can be found in the deepest holes or areas of higher flow. It's wise to note that flow rates from one end of the pool to the other are not the same, flow differs from local to local.
Winter Fishing Season
January 3, 2026
Happy New Year!
Winter is here and in the winter season fish relate to the deep water of the lake or river or reservoir. Fish will move yes, but they are cold blooded and want the water temperature to be as warm as it can be. 39-degree water is the densest and thus it sinks. This dense water settles deep and that's why the fish relate deep. The shallower water is colder! They will move shallower but they if you will "home base" deep. This isn't a river or a St. Croix phenomenon - fish are fish just like a deer is a deer.
Fall Fishing Season
October 20, 2025
Water temperatures are running from 59-57 degrees and have cooled 12 degrees since the beginning of October.
The St. Croix River has been at or a few inches below the normal pool level of 675.5' above sea level for two months. The Fall Fishing Season is here, one hallmark of this season is a good bite, and that daytime fish will relate to deeper depths and do so as the water continuously cools from here on.
Shad schools are still at peak levels again- like last year, with vast schools of bait still formed up.
The river water has a trace of the root beer bronze stain. Floating grass is not common. White bass activity on the surface is rare.
I haven't seen a smallmouth for weeks. The flathead catfish have been hitting the walleye rigs. Sauger catches are slow, but walleye action has picked up recently. Walleye size for eaters is running from 15" to 18." Sub surface white bass size action for these hard fighters has improved.
Fall Transition Fishing Season
October 1, 2025
Water temperatures are around 70 degrees; this is an INCREASE of 4 degrees - from my last report. Good news is the air temp drop is coming soon, the bite should improve, because it’s been slow. The St. Croix River is near the normal pool level of 675.5 for two weeks.
The shad are in enormous schools and are both on structure and offshore. There has been limited white bass chasing action recently, but really too short to "chase the bite." We did chase some "silvers" early last week and immediately boated three but then that was it.
The river water has a lot of floating grass but no floating debris. Very low flow still - annoying to this guide, hard to use my experience as a river guide with no flow... Weed beds are falling and dying off and will fall. Fish have been widespread in their depths, sturgeon action has slowed.
We have been jig fishing.
Fall Transition Fishing Season
Sept 14, 2025
Water temperatures are around 66 degrees. The St. Croix River has been about 1 foot above the normal pool level of 675.5 for a couple weeks.
The shad are in large in schools and are both on structure and offshore. Not seeing any white bass chasing action all season.
The river water has little floating grass and no floating debris either. Very low flow. Weed beds are starting their slow fall die off and will fall. Fish have been widespread in their depths, sturgeon action has picked up, and we are catching them while fishing for walleye.
We have been jig fishing.
Hot Summer Fishing Season
July 30
It's definitely still the hot summer season; the baitfish schools are dominating the fishery now and are able to be found in a lot of locations. Gizzard shad are the dominant forage base and are forage for walleye, sauger, Smallies, drum, white bass, cats, I even think the buffalo will eat them when they are still small and grouped tight - I think this because me and my clients have caught a lot of buffalo over the years with jigging raps in the mouths of buffalo, while fishing in areas where the buffalo are prevalent and the shad is as well. Yes, there is a fish called the buffalo! :) There a two kinds large and smallmouth buffalo, though nowhere nearly as well regarded as the bass named the same.
The St. Croix is 4.8 feet high and moving slowly, that is because the Mississippi is flowing really fast and a higher level than the St. Croix. For the most part there is not a lot of grass, even though the area has received a lot of rain.
The overall bite is more challenging right now than earlier in the summer, and this happens every year this time of year. Saugers can really come in handy for anglers looking to keep fish. There is also a big crop of bluegill in the river right now. Small channel cats and drum have been the most active fish as of late, but large gamefish are still being caught.
July 14
This is the time of year that my clients catch lots of differing kinds of fish while looking for walleye and bass and cats. As an example, on yesterday's trip we had a very lar gar on! It came to the boat and then cut the line, also another odd species - the mooneye - was caught.
Catching 10 species is common, my boat record for species (not fish) is 17 different species in one trip.
The water is 78-80 degrees, and shad are formed up now in many places, and can be seen easily on your electronics, but not on the surface - so, if they're not on the surface, I hate to say it, but sorry my fellow white bass fisherman, I don't see last year's great bite to be happening this year...
Shad are an extremely abundant forage base and preyed on by bass and walleye and even the freshwater drum hunt them down. The shad are here and gone the next so the fish both bait and game fish are on the move.
June 24
Hot summer just began with this heat wave that hit town, instantly water temperatures are running from 75 degrees and in the late afternoon even warmer. The St. Croix River has been from 3-4 feet high for several weeks. So, this year is so different from last year because schools of shad are not forming fast, but shad bait pods will soon form, and spots will change fast once the bait forms and moves.
Typically, this is the time of year that crankbait fishing becomes a top presentation, live bait will always catch fish, and jigging lures like jigging raps will be a great as well.
June 13
Summer is progressing in terms of the fish species we are seeing. Smallmouth bass are starting to be caught much more readily. Perch and sunfish and smaller channel catfish too. Freshwater drum have been on a strong bite and happily they are starting to slow down! lol.
No white bass caught or seen on the surface, no flatheads.
June 7
Spring is gone and, in the books, the next season to arrive is the warm summer. Here in Minnesota and Wisconsin its normally in June, but in the south its earlier and in the north way up in Canada its likely still spring. I equate catches with conditions and seasons are the biggest conditions that drives fish location. As a river guide, one of the first things I ever learned thanks to guides that have come before me and were nice enough to share is to equate catches with water levels. Fishing is all about the conditions that exist- when you fish in real time. So that's why I talk seasons- I enjoy all the details.
One tip is in the warm season fish will begin to associate with the larger areas of deep water. They won't be in the deep water exactly but be nearer to those areas and have definitely migrated from shallow spring flats. If you don't know the water you're fishing as its mapped out, then that's a concept almost impossible to follow. This seasonal location is hard to follow as well with words because concepts like "relate," or "associate," are vague - it's an art and a science, and yes, I'm learning myself still!
One more tip is in the warm summer fish begin to use points a lot more and not just the shorelines.
Spring Fishing Season Holding on - May 21
Changes happen fast in the fishing world. Up until about four days ago, I had enough of the heat - now I am wearing my winter hat again. Well, if you've been an outdoors person for long enough you know that's the way May goes.
What does this weather do to the fish? A lot! Once again, I saw firsthand the effects of weather fronts on fishing. One group of my customers saw an exceptional day of fishing before the cold snap and another group of my customers saw a big bite slow down the day after.
Also, last Friday or maybe Thursday the water temp was 68! for mid-May that is very warm. Monday it was 60! Thats a huge cold snap, and no, that kind of drop doesn't help in the spring.
On a side note, some say a cold front helps in the fall. No, the aftereffects of a cold front will help, meaning the colder water is the result of a fall cold front, but the cold front itself doesn't help the bite. Cold fronts depending on their severity take several days to clear until stable weather returns.
In the spring when the fish are supposed to be growing and highly active the water temperature drop does not increase activity.
So, you might wonder why does the fall water temp drop help turn the game fish on? That is a good question. Hard to say.
This fall water temp drop that I am talking about happens in September. There is a time in September the water drops fast and the bite goes from slow to very good. Maybe it's a biological trigger to feed heavily before winter?
Back to the springtime and water temp drop not a help. I believe it's because the fish are much shallower than in the fall and an eight degree drop in temp will kill that shallow bite.
The next fish season to come soon is the Warm summer season and it's a big transition from the shallower areas of spring to the deeper more structure related areas. You can also think of it in general terms as the fish go deeper.
The St. Croix is always a hard body of water to pick a depth to fish, and that is because most of the best spots are so steep that if the fish want, they can be in 28 feet deep in a second even though you're getting them in 8-11.'
Yesterday we got 2-3" of rain and the river is coming up four feet. Looks like we will have some flow and a bit of high water for the first time this year. It changes fast on the river, got to stay on top of it!
