St. Croix River-Stlwtr-Prescott

A gill net survey was conducted on Lake St. Croix in 2024 and sampled 970 fish represented by 28 different species and one hybrid. Over 51% of the fish sampled were considered game fish species (those species which have defined creel limits). Composition of the top five game fish species sampled were 29.8% Yellow Perch, 13.9% Channel Catfish, 13.7% White Bass, 12.1% Sauger, and 10.1% Walleye. Of the 473 non-game fish sampled, 58.6% were Gizzard Shad, 12.9% were Longnose Gar, 7.8% were Silver Redhorse, 5.3% were Freshwater Drum, and 4.2% were Shorthead Redhorse. The 2024 Walleye catch rate of 2.27/lift was down almost 40% from the 2023 survey but was within the range expected for the 2016-2023 surveys in the new net locations. Sauger catch rates were highly variable over the last 30 years but have been relatively stable from 2016-2023. The 2024 catch rate of 2.73 Saugers/lift was 31.8% lower than the 2023 catch rate of 4/lift. It is believed the lower catch rates for Walleye and Sauger was a function of elevated water temperatures late into the fall. Many fish were being observed on sonar in deeper water. The existing net sets were not able to sample fish in those areas. In 2024, average weight for Walleyes sampled in gill nets was 1.36 pounds, which is slightly below the average from 2016-2023 (1.43 pounds) but within the range expected. Walleye average length-at-age was the lowest observed for ages 1-3 since 2014 which is likely related to a down year for young-of-year Gizzard Shad production. The average length for all measured Walleyes was 15.99 inches, slightly above the 2016-2023 average of 15.58 inches. 68% of Walleyes sampled were over 15 inches and over 24% exceeded 18 inches. The largest Walleye sampled in gill nets in 2024 was 20.87 inches and 2.76 pounds. Average weight for Saugers caught in gill nets was 0.93 pounds, just below the 0.94 average from the 2016-2023 surveys. Average length for all Saugers sampled was 14.42 inches, slightly above the average of 14.13 inches from 2016-2023. 90% of the Saugers sampled were 12 inches or larger, and almost 37% were 15 inches or larger. The largest Sauger sampled was 21.14 inches and 2.54 pounds. Black Crappie catch/lift (0.73) was above the average for the last seven surveys from 2016-2023 (0.59) and last 14 surveys going back to 1992 (0.71). Sixteen Black Crappies were sampled in 2024 which is the most since 2018. Their lengths ranged from 5.83 to 12.83 inches. Only one White Crappie was sampled in 2024 and it measured 5.79 inches. Gill netting is not a good indicator of the crappie population present in the St. Croix River. The importance of crappie to the winter fishery on Lake St. Croix may warrant further sampling, such as spring trap netting, to evaluate a population of such importance to the winter creel. The first spring crappie trap net assessment was conducted in 2024. This survey was largely unsuccessful due to increasing water levels and decreasing water temperatures over two weeks of sampling. Only 38 Black Crappie were sampled (0.78/lift) in that survey. The Yellow Perch population remains relatively strong as it has improved in the last few years. 2024 had the third highest catch rate (6.73/lift) of Yellow Perch since fall gill netting began in 2014. The recent increase in catch rate isn't attributed to a large catch of small fish, rather a significant increase of larger, more desirable fish to the angler. Almost 40% of the Yellow Perch sampled exceeded 8 inches and 9.5% exceeded 10 inches. The largest Yellow Perch sampled was 11.42 inches and 0.65 pounds. The 2024 White Bass catch rate (3.09/lift) decreased for the second straight year, down over 36% from 2023. Although the later survey time frame again resulted in fewer White Bass sampled, they were still the fourth most abundant fish sampled and comprised over 7% of all fish sampled. Ages ranged from 0 to 10-years-old with 3-year-olds the most abundant age-class sampled. 2020 and 2021 appear to be the strongest year-classes driving the fishery. White Bass exhibit fast growth. By fall of their third year, age-2 White Bass are generally 12 inches and larger. Over 75% of the White Bass measured were 12 inches or larger. The largest White Bass sampled in 2024 was a 16.77 inch, 9-year-old female, and weighed 2.0 pounds. Sex and maturity data collected since 2014 shows over half of males are mature at age-1 and females mature at age-2. The Channel Catfish catch (3.14/lift) was above the average (2.35/lift) of the last nine surveys since gill netting was shifted to fall sampling. Almost 61% of the Channel Catfish sampled in this survey were at least 16 inches long. Average weight of Channel Catfish was 2.4 pounds which was slightly above the average of 2.08 pounds from the fall surveys conducted in 2014-2023. The largest Channel Catfish sampled in this survey was an impressive 30.94 inches and 10.47 pounds. No Lake Sturgeon were sampled in this survey. That was the first time a gill net survey had not sampled a Lake Sturgeon since 1971. There is no concern over this as the experimental gill nets used have smaller mesh sizes that don't typically catch larger bodied fish, like Lake Sturgeon. The average Lake Sturgeon per lift from 2014-2023 is only 0.2, which includes an anomaly year in 2015 when the Lake Sturgeon catch was 0.47 per lift. Smallmouth Bass are typically caught in such few numbers in Lake St. Croix gill net surveys that they rarely deserve mention. However, the 2021, 2022, and 2023 surveys had the highest catch rates observed since standardized surveys began in 1992. While 2.62 Smallmouth Bass/lift in 2023 was still a low number, the average catch/lift (1.28) from the fall surveys from 2014-2023 is more than double the average catch/lift (0.41) in summer surveys from 1992-2009. Later in the fall, the catch rate increased 113% from the September 2021 survey to the November 2021 survey and experienced a similar increase of 133% from the September 2022 survey to the October 2022 survey. Unfortunately, this trend did not continue in 2024 as only 12 Smallmouth Bass were sampled (0.55/lift). It is possible the elevated temperatures late into the fall negatively affected the Smallmouth Bass catch the same way that it was believed to affect the Walleye and Sauger catch. The largest Smallmouth Bass sampled was a 10-year-old male measuring 19.45 inches and 3.58 pounds. The 2025 fishing forecast looks average for Walleye, Sauger, White Bass, and Channel Catfish. If Gizzard Shad have a more typical spawn in 2025, that should improve growth rates of Walleye under 3-years-old. Yellow Perch may expand as a potential target for anglers as the quantity and quality have been improving over the last five years. Since Yellow Perch are not a typical target in Lake St. Croix, it is unknown how long it will take for anglers take advantage of that developing fishery. Conversations with anglers at boat ramps indicate that some anglers have already noticed the larger Yellow Perch. Gill net surveys are not a good barometer for Smallmouth Bass. However, there should be plenty of Smallmouth Bass angling opportunities. One unknown is how the Gizzard Shad population can affect fishing. 2024 did not appear to have a good year-class of Gizzard Shad, likely due to extended flooding in late spring through mid-summer. However, due to a mild winter, the 2023 year-class grew large and was very abundant. If conditions are favorable for a large 2025 year-class, the young-of-year Gizzard Shad may be so abundant that fishing could be difficult. The positive aspect is that younger game fish would likely exhibit much better growth rates than were observed in 2024.

In spring 2024, a trap net survey was conducted in Lake St. Croix to sample crappie and Muskellunge. Another goal of the survey was to collect fish for annual disease surveillance, specifically testing fish for Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS). While some efforts have been made to sample Muskellunge in the spring, no targeted sampling has occurred for crappie in Lake St. Croix. There has long been a desire to assess the crappie population, especially after the 2012-2013 creel survey indicated crappie were the main target for ice anglers. A total of 420 fish were sampled represented by 22 species. The most abundant species sampled were Yellow Perch (145), Gizzard Shad (42), Black Crappie (38), Rock Bass (36), and Bluegill (30). The remaining fish species sampled were typical river species that are sampled in annual fall gill net surveys. Other notable catches included 23 Northern Pike, of which five exceeded 30 inches, five Lake Sturgeon, and 20 White Bass, 19 of which exceeded 12 inches. The largest White Bass sampled was an impressive 16.97 inches. Five of the 145 Yellow Perch sampled exceeded 10 inches. Only one Muskellunge was sampled, a 33.11-inch mature male aged as 5 years old. No White Crappie were sampled in the trap nets. Six of the seven trap nets caught at least two Black Crappie. The 38 total Black Crappie sampled ranged in size from 3.50 to 13.31 inches with an average length of 9.56 inches. Eight Black Crappie less than five inches were all immature and 1-year-old. No age-2 Black Crappie were sampled. The sex distribution for Black Crappie age-3 and older was 50% male and 50% female and all were mature. Average length-at-age 3 was 9.7 inches for females, 9.9 inches for males. Average length-at-age 4 was 10.6 inches for females, 11.1 inches for males. Average length-at-age 5 was 11.7 inches for females, 11.6 for males. Only one male Black Crappie was older than age-5 (7 years old). There was one female Black Crappie each that were 6, 7, 8, and 10 years old. Over 63% of the Black Crappie sampled were at least 10 inches long and over 13% were over 12 inches. Trap netting results were disappointing. Enough fish were sampled to be used for VHS surveillance testing. However, rising water levels and decreasing water temperature is believed to have negatively influenced catch of crappie and Muskellunge. It is recommended to duplicate this survey in 2025, paying close attention to the extended forecast. Another year of sampling with better timing of net sets will help determine if other sampling locations should be explored.

A gill net survey was conducted on Lake St. Croix in 2023 and sampled 524 fish represented by 24 different species. Over 67% of the fish sampled were considered game fish species (those species which have defined creel limits). Composition of the top five game fish species sampled were 26.9% Yellow Perch, 17.9% White Bass, 14.7% Sauger, 13.9% Walleye, and 9.6% Smallmouth Bass. Of the 171 non-game fish sampled, 24% were Silver Redhorse, 24% were Longnose Gar, 12.9% were Freshwater Drum, 12.3% were Shorthead Redhorse, and 8.2% were Mooneye. The 2023 Walleye catch rate of 3.77/lift was up 1.6% from the 2022 survey and the second highest catch/lift in the last 30 years. Sauger catch rates were highly variable over the last 30 years but have been relatively stable from 2016-2022 with an average catch rate of 3.29/lift. The 2023 catch rate of 4 Saugers/lift was 96.1% higher than the 2022 catch rate of 2.04/lift. The average length for all measured Walleyes was 15.69 inches, slightly above the 2016-2022 average of 15.56 inches. Over 61% of Walleyes sampled were over 15 inches and over 14% exceeded 18 inches. The largest Walleye sampled in 2023 was 21.38 inches and 3.58 pounds. Average weight for Saugers was 1.12 pounds, significantly higher than the 0.91 average from the 2016-2022 surveys. Average length for all Saugers sampled was 14.88 inches, well above the average of 14.01 inches from 2016-2022. Almost 87% of the Saugers sampled were 12 inches or larger, and almost 54% were 15 inches or larger, both large increases from 2022. The largest Sauger sampled was 18.23 inches and 2.24 pounds. Only four Black Crappies were sampled in 2023 but their lengths ranged from 10.83 to 12.52 inches. No White Crappie were sampled. Gill netting is not a good indicator of the crappie population present in the St. Croix River. The importance of crappie to the winter fishery on Lake St. Croix may warrant further sampling. Tentative plans exist to target crappie using trap nets in the spring of 2024 to better assess the population. The Yellow Perch population continues to improve. 2023 had the highest catch rate (7.31/lift) of Yellow Perch since fall gill netting began in 2014 as well as the highest catch rate in the last 31 years. The increase in catch rate wasn't attributed to a large catch of small fish, rather a significant increase of larger, more desirable fish to the angler. Just over half of the Yellow Perch sampled exceeded 8 inches and 6.3% exceeded 10 inches. The Yellow Perch average length was 8.09 inches and the largest individual sampled was 12.52 inches which was the largest sampled since at least 2014. Most of the Yellow Perch were aged using otoliths. Ages ranged from 0 to 5 with over 73% of the Yellow Perch aged as 2 to 3-years-old. The vast majority of Yellow Perch sampled were mature. The 2023 White Bass catch rate (4.85/lift) decreased almost 52% from 2022 and was expected. The dual surveys in 2021 and 2022 had significant decreases in White Bass catch from September to late October. White Bass catch decreased 59% between the 2021 surveys and 57% between the 2022 surveys. Although the later survey time frame resulted in fewer White Bass sampled, they were still the second most abundant fish sampled and comprised over 12% of all fish sampled. Over 66% of the White Bass measured were 12 inches or larger. The largest White Bass sampled in 2023 was a 17.2 inch, 10-year-old female, and weighed 2.76 pounds. Sex and maturity data collected since 2014 shows over half of males are mature at age-1 and females mature at age-2. The Channel Catfish catch (1.92/lift) was the lowest observed since 2015. It is not clear if the later fall survey has any effect on the Channel Catfish catch rate. A decrease of 26% was observed in the later fall survey in 2021, while there was a 15% increase in catch in the later fall survey in 2022. Sixty-eight percent of the Channel Catfish sampled in this survey were at least 16 inches long. Pectoral spines were removed from all 25 Channel Catfish sampled for aging. One spine was not able to be aged accurately. Ages ranged from 2 to 14-years-old with age-3 the most abundant age-class sampled. The largest Channel Catfish sampled in this survey was 28.74 inches, 8.98 pounds, and aged as 14-years-old. Two Lake Sturgeon were sampled in this survey (0.15/lift), both were tagged and released. At least one Lake Sturgeon has been sampled in every gill net survey since 1973. There are plans to increase targeted Lake Sturgeon sampling and tagging in the coming years. A standardized large mesh gill net survey is also being planned to better categorize the existing Lake Sturgeon population and track changes over time. Smallmouth Bass are typically caught in such few numbers in Lake St. Croix gill net surveys that they rarely deserve mention. However, the 2021, 2022, and 2023 surveys had the highest catch rates observed since standardized surveys began in 1992. While 2.62 Smallmouth Bass/lift is still a low number, the average catch/lift (1.11) from the fall surveys from 2014-2022 is more than double the average catch/lift (0.41) in summer surveys from 1992-2009. Catch rates appear to increase later in the fall as the catch increased 113% from the September 2021 survey to the November 2021 survey and experienced a similar increase of 133% from the September 2022 survey to the October 2022 survey. All Smallmouth Bass sampled exceeded 9 inches and all were mature. Almost 68% of the Smallmouth Bass sampled exceeded 14 inches with the largest being 19.17 inches and 4.03 pounds. The 2024 fishing forecast looks average for Walleye, Sauger, White Bass, and Channel Catfish. Yellow Perch could be a potential target for anglers as the quantity and quality have both improved and are the best that has ever been documented in Lake St. Croix. Since Yellow Perch are not a typical angler target in Lake St. Croix, it is unknown how long it will take for anglers take advantage of that developing fishery. Gill net surveys are not a good barometer for Smallmouth Bass. However, this survey sampled the most Smallmouth Bass since 1992. This may be partly due to the transition to netting later in the fall which appears to increase the catch of Smallmouth Bass. One wildcard that could impact angler success is the Gizzard Shad population. Given the mild winter, survival of Gizzard Shad is expected to be higher than typical winters. This could result in a larger than normal spawning population with the potential for a large year-class. Abundant Gizzard Shad could make fishing difficult as they are the main forage for many predator species in Lake St. Croix. However, the drivers for Gizzard Shad recruitment are not fully understood in Lake St. Croix.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, Channel Catfish, Northern Pike, and Walleye in St. Croix River-Stlwtr-Prescott. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for St. Croix River-Stlwtr-Prescott. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

St. Croix River-Stlwtr-Prescott has a maximum depth of 78 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in St. Croix River-Stlwtr-Prescott is from 2012. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Yes — St. Croix River-Stlwtr-Prescott has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.