Lake Saint Croix Fishing
A 7,696-acre Wisconsin lake in St. Croix County and Pierce County, down to 60 feet.
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About Lake Saint Croix
Count on 7,696 acres of lake water at Lake Saint Croix, which sits in St. Croix County and Pierce County. Its deepest sounding is 60 feet. The closest town on the Census list is Prescott, under a mile off. WDNR places it in its West Central Region. WDNR calls it a complex warm dark lake by class.
Wisconsin lists it as an Exceptional Resource Water. Anglers can look for smallmouth bass, walleye, catfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge and northern pike, per the WDNR. 2 public boat landings serve the lake. Landsat estimates give about 8 feet of clarity (2017).
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The Lake Saint Croix fish groups below carry their WDNR abundance rating.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | Common |
| Walleye | Common |
| Catfish | Present |
| Largemouth Bass | Present |
| Musky | Present |
| Northern Pike | Present |
| Sturgeon | Present |
What the lake class means for Lake Saint Croix
“Complex warm dark lakes often support great action fisheries for black crappie, and have potential to produced quality walleye, northern pike, and/or muskellunge fisheries.”
WDNR Find a Lake fish list and abundance, WDNR lake classification and fisheries designation layers, checked October 2026.
Public ramps at Lake Saint Croix
- Lakefront Park Boat Ramp2 lanes, 16 to 20 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Parks & Recreation Department
- Cove Boat Ramp1 lane, 11 to 15 trailer stalls, boarding dock, Town of Troy
More boat ramps around Lake Saint Croix
- Jacques landing ParkMississippi River, under a mile southeast
- Diamond Bluff LandingMississippi River, 11 miles southeast
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
The water in Lake Saint Croix
The WDNR describes the bottom of Lake Saint Croix as 50% sand, 35% gravel, 10% rock, 5% muck.
In WDNR terms Lake Saint Croix is a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
Confirmed invasive species at Lake Saint Croix include asiatic clam (corbicula), curly-leaf pondweed, eurasian water-milfoil, rusty crayfish and zebra mussel. Inspect trailers before moving to another lake.
Boaters on Lake Saint Croix follow ordinances on state boating laws adopted only.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
WDNR rules posted for Lake Saint Croix
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | 3 in total; minimum length 15 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Northern pike (south of Hwy 10) | 2; minimum length 26 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Largemouth bass | 5; minimum length 14 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Smallmouth bass (Southern Bass Zone) | 5 in total with largemouth bass; minimum length 14 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Muskellunge | 1; minimum length 40 inches | May 2, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 (open water only) |
| Panfish | 25 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Catfish | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Cisco and whitefish | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Rock, yellow and white bass | No bag limit; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Bullheads and rough fish | No bag limit; no minimum length | Open all year |
For Lake Saint Croix the regulation search is empty, so statewide inland rules apply.
The guide adds for St. Croix County: St. Croix County is in the ceded territory (see page 13 for additional ceded terri- tory information). The countywide daily bag limit on panfish in all inland waters is 10 in total. Motor trolling is permitted countywide (three hooks, baits or lures per person).
By map position Lake Saint Croix sits south of the Hwy 10 pike line and in the Southern Bass Zone.
WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.
Measuring Lake Saint Croix against nearby water
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Saint Croix | 7,696 | 60 | 2 | complex warm dark | |
| Kinnickinnic Pond, Lower | 11 miles northeast | 18 | 13 | 0 | simple trout pond |
| Upper Kinnickinnic Pond | 11 miles northeast | 12 | 9 | 0 | simple trout pond |
| Gantenbein Lake | 14 miles southeast | 123 | 5 | 0 | simple harsh has fishery |
| Mallalieu Lake | 17 miles north | 289 | 17 | 1 | simple riverine |
| Little Falls Lake | 19 miles north | 170 | 18 | 1 | simple riverine |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Next to Lake Saint Croix
Nearby lakes to try after Lake Saint Croix
- Kinnickinnic Pond, Lower11 miles northeast
- Upper Kinnickinnic Pond11 miles northeast
- Gantenbein Lake14 miles southeast
- Mallalieu Lake17 miles north
- Little Falls Lake19 miles north
Bait counters near Lake Saint Croix
- Leo's Landingmarina, Prescott, under a mile
- Pt St Croix Marinamarina, Prescott, under a mile
- Miss-Croix Yacht Harbormarina, Prescott, under a mile
- Custom Rod Building by Davebait and tackle shop, River Falls, 11 miles
- Lunds Fly Shopbait and tackle shop, River Falls, 12 miles
- Fleet Farm Hudsonfarm and general store with fishing gear, Hudson, 15 miles
Overnight towns handy to Lake Saint Croix
- Prescottunder a mile
- Diamond Bluff11 miles
- River Falls12 miles
Which counties Lake Saint Croix touches
- St. Croix Countyseat: Hudson
- Pierce Countyseat: Ellsworth
Reels and a scale grip to bring to Lake Saint Croix
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Photographs from waters near Lake Saint Croix
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Lorie Shaull, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Lorie Shaull, CC BY 2.0
Lake Saint Croix, answered in a line or two
What part of Wisconsin holds Lake Saint Croix?
You will find it in St. Croix County and Pierce County, WDNR West Central Region, under a mile from Prescott.
What size is Lake Saint Croix on the WDNR record?
7,696 acres and 60 feet at the deepest.
Where is the ramp on Lake Saint Croix?
2 mapped landings, including Lakefront Park Boat Ramp.
Which fish live in Lake Saint Croix?
The DNR list shows smallmouth bass (common), walleye (common), catfish (present), largemouth bass (present), muskellunge (present), northern pike (present) and sturgeon (present).
What daily bag limits does the WDNR post for Lake Saint Croix?
No lake rule; statewide limits.
Do I need a Wisconsin license for Lake Saint Croix?
Anglers 16 and older need a Wisconsin fishing license: $20 a year for residents and $55 for nonresidents, with a $5 first-time buyer rate for residents.
What kind of lake is Lake Saint Croix?
Satellite clarity about 8 feet (2017). Bottom: 50% sand, 35% gravel, 10% rock, 5% muck. WDNR class: complex warm dark. Type: drainage.
Who sells bait near Lake Saint Croix?
Leo's Landing, under a mile away.
Is Lake Saint Croix free of invasives?
Confirmed: asiatic clam (corbicula), curly-leaf pondweed, eurasian water-milfoil, rusty crayfish and zebra mussel.
Mark Lake Saint Croix on the Wisconsin calendar
Licenses, stamps and statewide rules are on the license page.