"For 25 years, I've guided customers of all ages, working with schedules, weekday or weekend...to hook walleye, smallmouth, sauger, crappie, sturgeon, and catfish on the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers.
I will do my best on every trip to put you on fish too!"
Charlie "Turk" Gierke
I will do my best on every trip to put you on fish too!"
Charlie "Turk" Gierke
The St Croix River morning fog.
Fall Transition Fishing Season
October 1, 2024
Water temperatures are running from 68-71 degrees still! The St. Croix River has been at or a few inches below the normal pool level of 675.5' above sea level for a month. There has been no rain, large algae blooms are starting to go away, we have been in this Fall Transition period for weeks.
This has been the most unusual shad year however they are looking more normal size for this season, and they are forming up in large schools, but it is by what I can see a low shad population in n terms of the amounts of large schools as compared to any year prior.
Often, we have so many shad that there is too much, and bait is everywhere.
So similar to what I wrote upon last entry, the Fall Transition leaves start to yellow, and time doesn't' stop leaf color is clear to see and trees like the Walnut have already lost half their leaves. Weed bed growth has ended and are falling and laying down.
The river water has a trace of the root beer bronze stain and now more of a green tint from algae blooms. Floating grass is common, but there is virtually no floating debris such as wood. White bass activity on the surface has slowed in regard to them eating on the surface and busting minnows.
Fall Transition Fishing Season
August 30, 2024
Water temperatures are running from 73-75 degrees. The St. Croix River has been staying about 1 foot above the normal pool level of 675.5 for a month. Recent rains from storms will bring the water up a foot again by Labor Day.
This has been the most unusual shad year I have witnessed. I am seeing shad 10-12" large in schools and shad that are 1-2" in length!? Most years those large shad aren't around, and the little ones are twice as big. What's going on you may wonder?
I estimate that the lack of winter last year did not create the "shad die off." Shad as a species will die in the winter in huge numbers. Shad also can spawn (according to what I have read) 2-3 times a year. So, pair up the lack of winterkill and multiple spawns and that's why I think the current sizing of theses ever-important bait fish is such a rarity.
This is the Fall Transition leaves have started to yellow. Weed beds will slow in growth and begin to lay down, this is important on the river and even more important on lakes with larger weed beds, because gamefish will for a short time hunt these dying vegetative areas and return shallower to forage with better success.
The river water still has a root beer bronze stain but has a green tint from algae blooms as well. Floating grass is still nearly absent, and there is virtually no floating debris either. White bass still eating on the surface and busting minnows.
Hot Summer Fishing Season
July 28, 2024
Water temperatures are running from 77-80 degrees. The St. Croix River is on a slow level drop and now just 3 feet high from a 12-foot peak of water above normal pool levels.
Shad are now formed up in bait balls and fish like walleye will roam and chase them and where the bait go, they go, just like a pack of wolves following a herd of caribou. Of course, the entire population of walleye do not move in one massive school, they have their own packs and follow baitfish in the area they range. Also, oddly the harder the gamefish get to catch is when they are feeding the most - on their natural prey that are abundant.
The river water is starting to clear, and the root beer bronze colored water is becoming more transparent. Floating grass is still on the low side and there is virtually no floating debris either. One neat event was the white bass eating on the surface and busting minnows, I fear that will end with the water clearing now, they will still feed but deeper.
Hot Summer Fishing Season
July 12, 2024
Water temperatures are running from 75-77 degrees and in the late afternoon even warmer. The St. Croix River has been from 12 to 10 feet high for several weeks. Life is evident everywhere on the river there are schools of shad forming, small minnow pods that look like perch are in the shallows, and even a few mayflies on the surface can be seen. One fact about the Hot Summer season is that fish - all game fish will focus more and more of the baitfish- making fishing harder... Above ground critters that signal this fish season are toads and grasshoppers, plants like tiger lilies have been flowers now for two weeks, but plants like wild bee balm are just now showing their pink flowers, wild daisies are also blooming.
Warm Summer Fishing Season
June 18, 2024
Water temps are reaching the high 60's degrees, everything is green, Iris's have already bloomed and are now fading flowers, trees are plainly leafed out, tiger lily's are about to open their orange colors and flower soon. Rains and rains have raised the St. Croix River and creating good flow. Walleyes and bass are looking to take advantage of the highwater and use flow to their preys' demise.
In a matter of about a week when the heat of the hot summer comes the river will jump water temps about four degrees fast and this Warm Summer season will be over, and the Hot Summer will arrive and deeper water spots will pick up.
Spring Walleye Fishing Season
May 18, 2024
Water temps are reaching 60 degrees, trees are 80 percent leafed out, and you can't help but smell the sweet lilac fragrence from their lavender colored flowers. Rains last night in the St. Croix Valley popped life open. Is it me or are you being attacked by demon gnats this year like no other? Morel mushrooms hunters are peaking harvest. All this above ground life is indictive of down below. Walleyes are looking to devour the last of last year's yearlings. When the shad gets gone and eaten, as seen as a byproduct of huge fat deposits in the walleyes, the shad have been eaten and perch and sunfish and young drum are targeted. These yearlings are hard to catch and so your offering is well received.
Spring is charging onto the Warm Summer season.
Spring Walleye Fishing Season
May 6, 2024
St. Croix River
Water temps are finally starting to increase from an extended period of a 50–52-degree plateau. The weather would cool and drop the water to 49 degrees, but now the sun and day length work together to click up water temps slowly and be about 55 in a week. When the water and earth heat up in spring, it is simply a good time to be on the water, especially for walleye as they have come completely out of the post spawn and are biting.
October 1, 2024
Water temperatures are running from 68-71 degrees still! The St. Croix River has been at or a few inches below the normal pool level of 675.5' above sea level for a month. There has been no rain, large algae blooms are starting to go away, we have been in this Fall Transition period for weeks.
This has been the most unusual shad year however they are looking more normal size for this season, and they are forming up in large schools, but it is by what I can see a low shad population in n terms of the amounts of large schools as compared to any year prior.
Often, we have so many shad that there is too much, and bait is everywhere.
So similar to what I wrote upon last entry, the Fall Transition leaves start to yellow, and time doesn't' stop leaf color is clear to see and trees like the Walnut have already lost half their leaves. Weed bed growth has ended and are falling and laying down.
The river water has a trace of the root beer bronze stain and now more of a green tint from algae blooms. Floating grass is common, but there is virtually no floating debris such as wood. White bass activity on the surface has slowed in regard to them eating on the surface and busting minnows.
Fall Transition Fishing Season
August 30, 2024
Water temperatures are running from 73-75 degrees. The St. Croix River has been staying about 1 foot above the normal pool level of 675.5 for a month. Recent rains from storms will bring the water up a foot again by Labor Day.
This has been the most unusual shad year I have witnessed. I am seeing shad 10-12" large in schools and shad that are 1-2" in length!? Most years those large shad aren't around, and the little ones are twice as big. What's going on you may wonder?
I estimate that the lack of winter last year did not create the "shad die off." Shad as a species will die in the winter in huge numbers. Shad also can spawn (according to what I have read) 2-3 times a year. So, pair up the lack of winterkill and multiple spawns and that's why I think the current sizing of theses ever-important bait fish is such a rarity.
This is the Fall Transition leaves have started to yellow. Weed beds will slow in growth and begin to lay down, this is important on the river and even more important on lakes with larger weed beds, because gamefish will for a short time hunt these dying vegetative areas and return shallower to forage with better success.
The river water still has a root beer bronze stain but has a green tint from algae blooms as well. Floating grass is still nearly absent, and there is virtually no floating debris either. White bass still eating on the surface and busting minnows.
Hot Summer Fishing Season
July 28, 2024
Water temperatures are running from 77-80 degrees. The St. Croix River is on a slow level drop and now just 3 feet high from a 12-foot peak of water above normal pool levels.
Shad are now formed up in bait balls and fish like walleye will roam and chase them and where the bait go, they go, just like a pack of wolves following a herd of caribou. Of course, the entire population of walleye do not move in one massive school, they have their own packs and follow baitfish in the area they range. Also, oddly the harder the gamefish get to catch is when they are feeding the most - on their natural prey that are abundant.
The river water is starting to clear, and the root beer bronze colored water is becoming more transparent. Floating grass is still on the low side and there is virtually no floating debris either. One neat event was the white bass eating on the surface and busting minnows, I fear that will end with the water clearing now, they will still feed but deeper.
Hot Summer Fishing Season
July 12, 2024
Water temperatures are running from 75-77 degrees and in the late afternoon even warmer. The St. Croix River has been from 12 to 10 feet high for several weeks. Life is evident everywhere on the river there are schools of shad forming, small minnow pods that look like perch are in the shallows, and even a few mayflies on the surface can be seen. One fact about the Hot Summer season is that fish - all game fish will focus more and more of the baitfish- making fishing harder... Above ground critters that signal this fish season are toads and grasshoppers, plants like tiger lilies have been flowers now for two weeks, but plants like wild bee balm are just now showing their pink flowers, wild daisies are also blooming.
Warm Summer Fishing Season
June 18, 2024
Water temps are reaching the high 60's degrees, everything is green, Iris's have already bloomed and are now fading flowers, trees are plainly leafed out, tiger lily's are about to open their orange colors and flower soon. Rains and rains have raised the St. Croix River and creating good flow. Walleyes and bass are looking to take advantage of the highwater and use flow to their preys' demise.
In a matter of about a week when the heat of the hot summer comes the river will jump water temps about four degrees fast and this Warm Summer season will be over, and the Hot Summer will arrive and deeper water spots will pick up.
Spring Walleye Fishing Season
May 18, 2024
Water temps are reaching 60 degrees, trees are 80 percent leafed out, and you can't help but smell the sweet lilac fragrence from their lavender colored flowers. Rains last night in the St. Croix Valley popped life open. Is it me or are you being attacked by demon gnats this year like no other? Morel mushrooms hunters are peaking harvest. All this above ground life is indictive of down below. Walleyes are looking to devour the last of last year's yearlings. When the shad gets gone and eaten, as seen as a byproduct of huge fat deposits in the walleyes, the shad have been eaten and perch and sunfish and young drum are targeted. These yearlings are hard to catch and so your offering is well received.
Spring is charging onto the Warm Summer season.
Spring Walleye Fishing Season
May 6, 2024
St. Croix River
Water temps are finally starting to increase from an extended period of a 50–52-degree plateau. The weather would cool and drop the water to 49 degrees, but now the sun and day length work together to click up water temps slowly and be about 55 in a week. When the water and earth heat up in spring, it is simply a good time to be on the water, especially for walleye as they have come completely out of the post spawn and are biting.
