What you can catch
The lower St. Croix is a mixed warm- and cool-water fishery. Anglers near Marine target smallmouth bass on rocky banks and current breaks, walleye and sauger in deeper runs (especially in spring and fall), and northern pike in weedy backwaters. Panfish — bluegill, crappie and perch — are common in sloughs and in Lake Alice. The river is also home to lake sturgeon, an ancient, slow-growing fish; sturgeon have their own special seasons and rules.
The cards below come from naturalists and anglers who photographed their catch and shared it on iNaturalist — a good picture of which species really turn up around Marine.
Where to fish
- From shore: the riverbank trail in William O’Brien State Park and the village riverfront give access to current seams and eddies.
- Lake Alice pier: a short, accessible pier near the lake’s outlet in William O’Brien — the easy choice with children (check whether the lake has been refilled after the 2025–26 drainage and reconstruction).
- By boat or canoe: drift the outside bends and island tips between Osceola and Marine. See paddling the St. Croix for launches.
Licenses and rules
Anglers 16 and older need a Minnesota fishing license. The St. Croix is a boundary water between Minnesota and Wisconsin, and the two states share special regulations on it — always read the current Minnesota DNR rules for “Minnesota–Wisconsin boundary waters” before you go, including size and bag limits and sturgeon seasons.
Water level matters: fishing is usually best when flow is near or a little below normal and the water is clear. Check the river dashboard — when the St. Croix is running “much above normal,” it is muddy, fast and full of debris.
Last reviewed October 1, 2026.
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