River Fishing Multi-Species on the St. Croix River

Fall Fishing Adventure on the St. Croix River

Fall is prime time for river fishing, and the St. Croix is no exception. As temperatures drop, massive schools of shad congregate in deep water, creating an all-you-can-eat buffet for hungry predators. Drop your line, feel that tug, and suddenly, you’re locked in battle. Is it a walleye? A smallmouth bass? A feisty pike? On the St. Croix River, straddling the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin, the only certainty is that you're in for an adventure.

In this episode of the Ultimate Fishing Experience Show, Lund pro Joel Nelson and Brandon Eder set out on an action-packed multi-species fishing trip, proving once again that when the river gives, you take.

A River Teeming with Life

Joel and Brandon wasted no time, armed with an arsenal of jigs, blade baits, and glide-style lures, ready to capitalize on the feeding frenzy below. Walleye, smallmouth bass, buffalo fish, and even the occasional musky or flathead catfish lurk beneath the schools, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The strategy? Mimic those shad and let nature take its course.

Dropping In—And Hooking Up

From the first cast, the action was electric. Glide baits fluttered through the depths, mimicking the movements of dying shad. And when a fish hit? It hit hard.

“Boom! He was already on,” Joel exclaimed, flipping a hefty walleye into the boat.

The duo moved through prime fishing spots—deep holes, inside turns, and current breaks—where fish stacked up, waiting for an easy meal. Time and again, the telltale thump signaled another fish on the line.

It wasn’t just walleye, either. A massive drum made an appearance, followed by an acrobatic pike that bit off a lure just before the net scooped it up. “I want my lure back!” Joel joked, only to watch Brandon’s cat-like reflexes save the day, netting the pike (and the lure) in a perfectly timed scoop.

The Three Essential Baits for River Success

Throughout the day, Joel shared some expert insights on his go-to presentations for river fishing:

• Jig and Minnow: The all-time classic. A simple tungsten jig tipped with a fathead minnow can be deadly, especially when fish get finicky.
• Blade Baits: With their aggressive vibration and flash, blade baits excel in turbid water and mimic injured shad to perfection.
• Glide Baits: These hard-bodied lures dart erratically through the water, triggering aggressive reaction strikes from walleye, bass, and pike alike.

A Love for the River That Runs Deep

For Joel, river fishing is more than just a pastime—it’s a lifelong passion. From childhood days fishing a tiny creek to mapping out the mighty Mississippi for trophy fish, he’s always been drawn to the variety and unpredictability of moving water. One moment, you could be jigging for walleye. The next, casting topwater for aggressive smallmouth—or scrambling to net a surprise pike before it steals another lure.

Saving the Best for Last

A final drift over a promising spot produced the best fish of the day—a gorgeous, golden-hued walleye that capped off an already incredible outing.

“We worked hard today,” Joel said, admiring the catch. “It’s the perfect way to end.”

With the boat filled with memories (and a few keeper fish for the fry pan), the guys wrapped up another unforgettable day on the water.

Fishing the St. Croix in the fall is about embracing the unknown. With the right techniques and a bit of patience, the river always delivers. Whether it’s a trophy walleye or an unexpected encounter with a toothy predator, every trip is a story waiting to be told.

Want to gear up for your own multi-species adventure? Check out Lund's Pro-V boat models, or visit a local boat dealership near you.