I would like to launch my 14 foot lightweight boat with a 10 HP outboard and use it in search of wallies and smallies north of Taylors Falls. Does anyone have any experience using small motorized craft in the Upper Croix? If so, are there stretches that are realtively safe from prop busting obstructions? I am thinking about launching and then motoring directly upstream few miles and drifting back to do the fishing.
Thanks

The Upper Croix from the Taylors Falls dam to Never's dam (approx. 7 miles) is all navigable with the boat you described. I have a 17' with a 90 hp and I never have any trouble on that stretch of river. Just be careful of deadheads (partially submerged logs) and sandbars. Go slow and watch your depth finder and you will be fine.

Snagger, thanks for the quick reply. Can you suggest a good put-in spot for that stretch of river? ? Is there navigable water above the Nevers Dam?
Thanks

The launch out of pine city where the snake river enters isn't too bad. You can actually go downstream farther than you can go upstream though. Lot's of smallies to catch with bonus walleye and pike.

Just north of Taylors falls on the way out of town there is a Lions park launch which is a good spot for a craft of your size. If you go across the bridge to St. Criox Falls and head through town, just North of town there is a nice launch site there as well. Work the banks and the submerged brush for crappies as well as look for crappies suspended in the 18-20 range. The lily pads will hold bass and some pannies as well as you ruise upriver there are some rocky and log strewn areas that will hold a variety of fish as well. Nice scenic stretch. Can't go wrong with a jig and minnow.
Tunrevir~

You can also put in at the ramp at Wild River State Park. Turn at the gas station in Almelund off of 95 to get there. You will need either a sticker or day permit being you would be in the park there. Decent ramp for your boat and just south of Nevers Dam area.

Thanks to all who have responded. I will try to get up there ASAP and enjoy some great scenery and diverse fishing opportunities.

Good luck and give us the report. Regarding your question of navigating north of Nevers Dam (there is no dam structure any more...it was tore down years ago)......it may be difficult to navigate north of there. I know the water is low and that area has a lot of obstructions. I don't think you will have a problem keeping busy fishing the area from Taylors Falls north to Nevers. There is a lot of river to cover there. There is also a launch on the Wisonsin side at Nevers Dam. Go north through St. Croix Falls about 7 miles and you will see a sign directing you to go west to Nevers Dam. It's about 1 mile south of the town of Cushing. There is a really deep spot where the old Nevers dam used to be. That area holds a lot of fish. I would stick to areas with current, wood, and rock if you're looking for bass. Good luck.

There is also a landing at the confluence of the Sunrise River and St. Croix that small boats make use of. It can be a bit shallow. It's in the north end of Wild River State Park and I think you'll need a park pass to use it.

About a month ago, I took my Alumacraft Lunker 16 upstream from Norway Point to Nelsons Landing. We made it down fine with obvious scouting being necessary. I would have gone back up a little easier had my 2nd trolling motor not broken for the day. There was a lot of 1.2 ft and sand. Your boat should be fine if you can tilt your motor high.

As requested, i am posting an update on my St Croix motorboat outing above Taylors Falls. My son and i went out last fridayt aftyernoon ( 7/18) and chose to put in at the southern landing in Wild River State Park. Te water levels were pretty low. We carefully motored up stream about 2 miles then floated back down. It was fairtly slow, but near sunset we started to have a lot of fun with Smallies on topwater lures ( POP'R, SkitterPops, etc).
My next St Croix adventure will be from a weekday evening launch at WM O'Brien State Park. I am hoping that,by fishing south of the Taylors Falls Dam, I will have a shot at encountering some schooling white bass. If anyone has any tips on angling the stretch of the Croix just above Wm O'Brien, please let me know.
Thanks

Last night I put in at Interstate Park with my 15' with 25 horse motor. River channel is 4-6 feet deep. Found a couple of 10 foot holes. Lots of 1.5 to 2 foot sand flats in the area to watch for. Didn't do much for fish.

This time of year the white bass will be in deeper water. The area south of the Taylors/St. Croix Falls is relatively shallow and is mostly canoe country. A better option in my opinion would be to fish from the power plant in Bayport to around the RR bridge just north or Hudson.

Look for the Gulls diving into the water. They will be chasing shad. The Whites get under the shad and force them to the surface. The gulls then dive on the shad while the whites attack from under the school of shad. Under the white bass you will sometimes find a few bonus walleyes. Look for the gulls on the surface.

Went to the Snake River launch with the 16' and had 6 inches to 7' of water. Musky fishing got 1 pike and 2 smallmouth between us. Not enough water for a full day of casting there, fyi.