Croixsippi Fishing Guide Service

Croixsippi Fishing Guide Service is the one boat operation of Charlie Turk Gierke, who has guided the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers east of the Twin Cities for 28 years and runs trips five days a week. The name is a contraction of the two rivers he splits his season between, and the St. Croix work covers the lower river below Stillwater where walleye, sauger and smallmouth hold along current seams and wing dams. Sturgeon, crappie and catfish also turn up in the mix. Gierke fishes from a custom built river boat rigged with four fishing seats, each with its own drink holder and personal storage box, so a party of four can all fish at once rather than rotating. Two trip lengths are published: a half day of four and a half to five hours, and a full day of seven and a half to eight hours, each priced one rate for one or two guests and a slightly higher rate for three or four. Corporate and client outings are a regular part of the calendar.