St. Croix Falls / Osceola Reachon St. Croix River
Conditions right now
No USGS gauge is linked to this water yet, so we can't chart flows.
Cooler fall temperatures have driven most fish
- 01Cooler fall temperatures have driven most fish, including Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, and Muskellunge, to deeper water and structure.
- 02Subsurface presentations mimicking baitfish, leeches, and larger nymphs are proving most effective.
- 03Predatory species are actively keying in on larger food sources as they prepare for winter.
- 04Focus on deeper holes, slack water behind prominent points, and areas with submerged structure.
- 05Retrieve streamers and nymphs slowly to appeal to less active, cold-water fish.
What to tie on at St. Croix Falls / Osceola Reach
Picked from recent reports for this stretch.
Damsel Nymph (Olive)
Damsel nymphs migrate deeper as fall progresses, making this a great pattern to strip slowly along weed edges for opportunistic feeders like Bluegill, Crappie, and Smallmouth Bass.
Hellgrammite Fly
Hellgrammites are a year-round food source in rocky river environments, and this pattern is excellent for enticing Smallmouth Bass and Walleye in the cooling fall water.
Muskie Fly
Fall is prime time for Muskellunge, and this large streamer effectively imitates their preferred baitfish.
Perch Pattern
Perch are a primary forage fish in the St. Croix, and this pattern is particularly effective for larger predators like Walleye, Pike, and Muskellunge in the fall.
Clouser Minnow (Bass) (Chartreuse/White)
This baitfish imitation is effective for Smallmouth Bass and other predatory species keying on minnows in the St. Croix River as water cools.
Squirmy Wormy
Aquatic worms are a consistent food source, especially after any recent precipitation, making this a reliable subsurface choice for various species in the St. Croix.
Buy at AmazonPine Squirrel Leech (Olive)
This small leech pattern accurately imitates sluggish baitfish and annelids, triggering strikes from lethargic fish in the colder fall water of the St. Croix River.
Black Woolly Bugger (Bass)
The marabou tail provides life-like movement even in near-freezing water. Stripped ultra-slowly through deep pools, it mimics leeches or small forage fish.
Zebra Midge
Midges are the most active aquatic insects in the Upper Midwest during the winter. A size 18-22 Zebra Midge is a staple for any fish still feeding on invertebrates in the cold current.
Buy at AmazonMinnesota season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Fly shops nearby
Local flies, current advice and guided trips.