I took last week off and started the weekend by hosting my brother's bachelor party. It can pretty much be summed up with this time lapse video.
Matt and I snuck away Saturday for the St Croix by Cty Rd T. We had really good luck for it being overcast. Probably got a dozen SMBs and some nice pike. Everyting on top-water.
The pike must really hide went the water is high - because Saturday when it came down we caught a bunch - and this nice 30 incher.
Sunday morning I took Jon out on the St Croix before he left and was able to land this beauty - biggest of the year for me - 19 inches.
Right away we turned around and hit the Namekagon from Cty K to Whispering Pines. I don't know why I've never done this stretch of river before - it is possibly the best in the area. Flows were fast and the SMBs were slow because of the high water. But the plus side was the musky maddness. Matt landed this 36 incher before the middle split ring was about to give.
Matt's hit a Skitter Prop mid stream with a cool slow take. We floated with it for awhile to tire it out before netting. Lou had one hit at the boat while Matt and I were recovering from his fish.
I also had 3 bit offs with the fly rod. Unfortunatley I wasn't prepared and didn't have my 20 lb floro for a bit leader and lost some nice fish that took the Bart-O-Minnow.
The rest of the week I explored some nearby musky lakes and also floated the Totagatic from the County I Dam to Lake Nancy Road - and the St Croix from the Gordan Dam down to Cty Rd T. Both were awesome water and hopefully I can fish this next week.
I have a guide trip Friday on the St Croix above Grantsburg. The flows should be prime with the Kettle falling quickly after the Duluth area rains - the 4th is shaping up for a good weekend.
Fished the St Croix for a full day float last Friday and short float Saturday. The flows had come down from the record highs after the Memorial Day and the fishing was great.
Friday I had Matt and Mitch in the boat - who were both in the casting zone. We hit a stretch above 70 in Grantsburg and caught fish entirely on top-water. Mitch casted a Skitter-Prop and Matt a Hula-Popper. Matt took the oars I had great success on boogle-bugs and JJ-Specials.
We caught at least 50 and even caught them shortly after a passing thunderstorm.
Mitch caught the biggest fish of the day - right around 17 inches - right after the storm. There was nothing bigger than that but a lot in the 16-17 inch range. The real excitement when both Matt and Mitch hooked muskies on their top water lures. Matt's fish hit and swam right at the boat - we both got a look and he was gone. Mitch's took the Skitter-Prop right in front of us with an aggressive take. He got good hooks into him and he jumped straight out of the water. We estimated him at 45 inches - and after a pretty good battle with the landing net ready he bit through (or the knot slipped - it's still not fully know).
Anyway the following day I hit the St Croix with Donny up by Cty Road T. The flows were at 1400 (in Danbury) which is about as low as it can be for me to float there. Donny casted great as well and was rewarded with a dozen SMBs in about 2 hours. We also finally got some pike. I hadn't seen many all year and was getting a little concerned. My thought is they really hide in the grass in the those high water situations.
I have some good video to put together - but next week I have off up at the cabin - hopefully I can get some good fishing and footage in - if Lou participates.
