July 24th MFL Event

[Steve Wood]

This event was originally planned for the upper St Croix river (above Taylor's Falls), but there have been suggestions made that more teams would commit to fish if we move it to a lake rather than the river. (See Bufflalo Results thread for more details if you're interested in who made what comments). For the purposes of deciding which venue will attract more teams, the MFL officers would like to know which teams will commit to fish the event if it is held:

On the St Croix River from Taylors Falls downstream to the Apple River channel
On Bald Eagle Lake
Either of the above

It doesn't matter whether you opt into the "pot" of $20 per team or the pot of $5 per team for big fish or whether you choose to stay afterwards for a BBQ, but IF you register a vote on this thread we do expect you to show up with a partner and fish with us from 6 to 12 at whichever location you committed to fish. If you are only a "maybe" or a "like to" then you don't get a vote in this.

Once we've determined which teams are committed to fish and who they are, we'll make a final decision on which lake or which section of river that is agreeable to all. (At worst, you will all have agreed to one of the above choices).

For the record, Dan and Steve's (team Fish Tales) answer is #3. We will be fishing either venue although we would both prefer the river option. We also want to maximize the participation and find a decision that appeals to the most AI members.

[rjruda]

I will for #3, with preferring the river, but will fish a lake system if that will attract more teams.]

[Dan Wood]

option 2 for the lake event hasn't been decided which lake if it comes to that.. for now we just want to know who would fish it (for sure) if we held it on a lake vs. the river that was planned. Seems to be a few concerned about fishing a river. Which lake it is I don't expect will sway anyone's decision. It would be a Metro lake.

[JohnWayne]

My team will be in for sure for a lake. Likely a "no" if the river is voted in.

[ScottPugh]

Keep it on the St Croix but make it near stillwater / Bayport.

[rjruda]

Keep it on the St Croix but make it near stillwater / Bayport.

Will you be able to make then Scott? we haven't seen you at an event for awhile

[Uncle Smash]

I will not make this event but I will chime in about the river.

I would run a big boat from the TF dam to the north a ways up with out worry (not sure of the cut off you would place but the further north you go you would need a jet) Launching at Lions park in WI would be fine.

You can run larger boats at times in the TF to summerset stretch but I personally would not, even with my knowing this river well. (we run the jet in this stretch) How long do you have to fish??? as from TF to the apple inlet is a LONG way and one would have to know where the sand bars, shallow areas and how the main channel runs in this stretch!

Then I would go back to big boats from the Arcola bridge (just north of Stillwater) and anywhere back to the south.

In summary This event would be safe above the TF dam and to the north a bit (or) from the Arcola bridge and south if you want to run big boats (in my opinion)

P.S.The water has been up quite high a couple times since this spring but it is now coming down again after the rainfalls over the past couple of weeks.

[ScottPugh]

Will you be able to make then Scott? we haven't seen you at an event for awhile

I should be able to.

[joefish]

I have fished this stretch of river before , the only real shallow area is just south of Nevers by the island. Both sides of the island it gets shallow . There are some dead trees along the stretch but you have to watch where you are going. There has been lots of larger boats on here running fast up the river so if you watch where your going it shouldnt be a problem. To fish Nevers you would have to launch there. The St. Croix dam is deep and has a rock island and has a marina and some timber posts toward the Mn side. I will go if it stays the river.

[AllenW]

Keep it on the St Croix but make it near stillwater / Bayport.

Not sure, but isn't there a lot of big/performance boat traffic in that aera??

Al

[Dan Wood]

yea it is, pretty good fishing but it would be a zoo.. Allen, would you fish if it's a river or a lake?


Not sure, but isn't there a lot of big/performance boat traffic in that aera??

Al

[AllenW]

yea it is, pretty good fishing but it would be a zoo.. Allen, would you fish if it's a river or a lake?

Couple things are going on, I'd rather fish a lake, we were on the St Croix a few weeks ago trying to help the DNR tag catfish and it took two days for the seasickness to go away, well not really, but it was rough fishing with the big guys going by, also its a pretty big strech of water isn't it?
What about getting a big fish wieghed so it can be released?

But prob more important, is the partner thing, wife says she'll fish it with me if we don't go on a river, she ain't fond at all of big boats and doesn't like fishing the river anyway.
Prob is she don't know if she has to work that weekend yet.

Short version is...if I find another person to go, either is ok, but I prefer a lake way over the river there.
If not, then its up to the wife's work schuelde and it'd have to be a lake.

Trying to get to at least one of these GTG's...sigh..

Al

[rjruda]

hopefully you'll be able to find a partner Al.

[kschell02]

I will vote for number 3, and prefer a lake. All in all it doesn't matter my father and I are in for sure either way. On a side note can we use live bait in these or not, cant remeber if it was usable in the MFL event I did last year. I usually don't use it but if its on a river it might come in handy.

[rjruda]

Live bait is allowed, looking forward to seeing you on the 24th

[Steve Wood]

By my count we have 3 teams that would fish either lake or river, one that will only fish if it's a lake and two that will fish if it's the river.

[c_rannow]

I would have to vote for a lake unless someone else has room in there boat if it's on the river.

[ScottPugh]

Not sure, but isn't there a lot of big/performance boat traffic in that aera??

Al

From my experience... Better fishing when the big boats come out. Put some hours on that T8 of yours and you will do better out there.

[AllenW]

From my experience... Better fishing when the big boats come out. Put some hours on that T8 of yours and you will do better out there.

Ya, maybe..if they ain't running you over...:)

I do have three ways set up, and the trollmaster works great, but I wonder how snaggy it is?

Probably don't make any difference as the wife has to work that day...grrrrr

Al

[joefish]

This is above the St.Croix falls dam isn't it? The tuna boats are down by the 94 bridge and south of there, thats where there is alot of traffic. Check a map. From Stillwater on down it is busy.

[AllenW]

This is above the St.Croix falls dam isn't it? The tuna boats are down by the 94 bridge and south of there, thats where there is alot of traffic. Check a map. From Stillwater on down it is busy.

Thanks, I was thinking 94 bridge area and it gets to be a zoo there.


Al

[c_rannow]

It would probally be more helpful for everyone if you would confirm a lake choice. Or atleast put a poll up on a couple different lakes. I am in forsure if we fish a lake and it's not to far of a drive for me and my partner.