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Ryan Bunnell
Captain

Ryan Bunnell

Stillwater, United States
Veteran owned
Angler's choice
25+ reviews
I've had a love and passion for fishing since I was a young child. Fishing has been a generational addiction for me and my family, and I have enjoyed teaching my friends and customers the techniques for fishing the St. Croix River. Check out the Croix Boys on PBS Prairie Sportsman!

Charters

Rating

5.0
45 reviews
5.0
Boat & Equipment
5.0
Captain & Crew
5.0
Fishing Experience

What anglers say

98%
Recommend this charter
95%
Caught fish

All reviews (45)

Showing 1 – 5 of 45 reviews
  • Bryan Hickman
    Bryan Hickman
    Repeat angler
    us
    Ohio, US
    Member since 2026
    2 trips
    5.0
    Verified
    NEW

    Fantastic fall fishing experience

    Full Day Guided Fishing Trip • 2 adults • 1 child

    I sough out Captain Ryan to guide my 11 year old sone and I on a trip looking for big fish - catfish and sturgeon. Captain Ryan is incredibly knowledgeable and experienced. Fall fishing conditions can be dicey, and we had a lot of wind for our excursion. Captain Ryan had a plan knowing the weather conditions in advance, and he set us up in a great position to succeed. We caught catfish, sheepshead, and most impressively, a 57" sturgeon and a 60" sturgeon. Captain Ryan's knowledge of the St. Croix was amazing. His boat and equipment were pristine and helped us land some massive fish. Our day on the water was fantastic. I highly recommend a trip with Captain Ryan!

    Reported catch:
    Sturgeon
    Catfish
    Response from Captain

    Thank you for the stellar review, Bryan! I’m glad I could make something happen for you and your son. thanks for coming all the way from Ohio to fish with me. I am honored, and it was definitely a pleasure!

  • Kerri Neidt
    Kerri Neidt
    us
    Georgia, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified
    NEW

    "Best birthday ever"

    Half Day Afternoon Fishing Trip • 2 adults

    Ryan took our newly turned 14-year-old and his buddy out for their very first sturgeon fishing trip, and what an unforgettable experience it was! They managed to land not one, but TWO 50-inch sturgeon! The smiles on their faces, their excitement, and their inability to stop talking about the experience say it all. Ryan helped make this birthday truly special, creating memories these boys will be talking about for years to come. Definitely a birthday he’ll never forget! We can’t thank Ryan enough for such an amazing experience!

    Reported catch:
    Sturgeon
    Response from Captain

    Thank you for the kind review, Kerri! I’m glad I could get the boys on some good fish! Thank you for the trip!

  • Jeffrey Doerr
    Jeffrey Doerr
    us
    Colorado, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    First Timers

    Full Day Guided Fishing Trip • 2 adults

    Today was our first Trip with Croix Boys and Captain Ryan Bunnell. if youre wondering what a first trip would be like, let me tell you: He was waiting for us when we got to the launch. the boat was spotless, he was genuinely welcoming and it was a very comfortable experience and felt like we were long time friends! My adult son and I went walleye fishing on an 8 hour trip with Captain Ryan. We had to most fun in years. Ryan knew where the fish were and what they were biting on. We caught 35 fish by my count and bagged our limit of beautiful walleyes! We had so much fun, I couldn’t believe how fast the day went by! When we got to the dock, we took our gear to our vehicle, when we went back to get our last stuff Captain Ryan had already cleaned all the fish and had them bagged up. Super fun, super nice guy and a fair price! I hope this helps you decide if this sounds like fun to you. It sure checked all of our boxes!

    Reported catch:
    Walleye
    Sauger
    White Bass
    Smallmouth Bass
    Response from Captain

    I loved our time together! Thank you for the kind and thoughtful review, Jeffrey. Hope to see you and Jason again soon!

  • Walker Knox
    Walker Knox
    us
    Minnesota, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Great trip with an easy going guide.

    Half Day Guided Fishing Trip • 2 adults

    Ryan was a pleasure to fish with. He is very personable and easy to talk to. I think he would be great with families/children. His equipment, including boat and gear, was top notch. I have used many guides for both salt and freshwater fishing, and none have had gear as nice as Ryan's. We will definitely use his services again in the future and highly recommend him to anyone looking for an enjoyable outing on the St. Croix.

    Reported catch:
    Walleye
    Response from Captain

    Hey Walker, it was a pleasure having you, Dick, and Jerry on board. Thank you for the kind review. I look forward to having you guys on board again and hopefully the fish cooperate better next time. Thanks! -Ryan

  • Adam Klimek
    Adam Klimek
    Repeat angler
    us
    Illinois, US
    Member since 2021
    6 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Great trip

    Half Day Afternoon Fishing Trip • 5 adults

    This was a great trip. Captain Ryan put us on fish almost right away. Weather was hot and it was an afternoon trip, but the captain found the bite and we had a blast. We caught a bunch of great small mouth bass, along with a bunch of other fish. This was one of the greatest trips I've been on in awhile. Captain Ryan was great to fish with, will definitely book again with Croix boys next time I'm inthe area.

    Reported catch:
    Catfish
    Smallmouth Bass
    White Bass
    Response from Captain

    Hey Adam, Thanks for the awesome review and awesome afternoon. I had fun fishing with you all! Thank you for coming out. I’m super happy you all had fun!

Real catches shared by our community

  • Croix Boys Guided Adventures
    Croix Boys Guided AdventuresStillwater, MN
    Young angler poses beside a large shark-like catch on the carpeted deck of a fishing boat.
    Bryan H.
    Bryan H.
    I sough out Captain Ryan to guide my 11 year old sone and I on a trip looking for big fish - catfish and sturgeon. Captain Ryan is incredibly knowledgeable and experienced. Fall fishing conditions can be dicey, and we had a lot of wind for our excursion. Captain Ryan had a plan knowing the weather conditions in advance, and he set us up in a great position to succeed. We caught catfish, sheepshead, and most impressively, a 57" sturgeon and a 60" sturgeon. Captain Ryan's knowledge of the St. Croix was amazing. His boat and equipment were pristine and helped us land some massive fish. Our day on the water was fantastic. I highly recommend a trip with Captain Ryan!
  • Croix Boys Guided Adventures
    Croix Boys Guided AdventuresStillwater, MN
    Adult and young angler proudly hold a large sturgeon aboard a covered fishing boat on open water.
    Kerri N.
    Kerri N.
    Ryan took our newly turned 14-year-old and his buddy out for their very first sturgeon fishing trip, and what an unforgettable experience it was! They managed to land not one, but TWO 50-inch sturgeon! The smiles on their faces, their excitement, and their inability to stop talking about the experience say it all. Ryan helped make this birthday truly special, creating memories these boys will be talking about for years to come. Definitely a birthday he’ll never forget! We can’t thank Ryan enough for such an amazing experience!
  • Croix Boys Guided Adventures
    Croix Boys Guided AdventuresStillwater, MN
    Two Walleye displayed on a cleaning table, showcasing a successful fishing trip.
    Walker K.
    Walker K.
    Ryan was a pleasure to fish with. He is very personable and easy to talk to. I think he would be great with families/children. His equipment, including boat and gear, was top notch. I have used many guides for both salt and freshwater fishing, and none have had gear as nice as Ryan's. We will definitely use his services again in the future and highly recommend him to anyone looking for an enjoyable outing on the St. Croix.
  • Croix Boys Guided Adventures
    Croix Boys Guided AdventuresStillwater, MN
    Two anglers proudly displaying their catch of Sturgeon aboard a fishing boat, showcasing a successful day on the water.
    Fish 1
    Dogfish
    The sturgeon bite is heating up!
  • Croix Boys Guided Adventures
    Croix Boys Guided AdventuresStillwater, MN
    Two anglers proudly displaying their catch of Sturgeon aboard a fishing boat, showcasing a successful day on the water.
    Marvin D.
    Marvin D.
    Stergeon fishing was good till the rain came. We got a 52 and a 45 inch fish and several smaller ones. Our Captain did a great job and was very knowledgeable!!!!
  • Croix Boys Guided Adventures
    Croix Boys Guided AdventuresStillwater, MN
    A family group proudly displays their catch of Walleye and Catfish on a fishing trip, with a scenic backdrop of the water.
    Kali A.
    Kali A.
  • Croix Boys Guided Adventures
    Croix Boys Guided AdventuresStillwater, MN
    Two anglers joyfully posing with a large Black Drum while fishing on a lake.
    Fish 1
    Black Drum
    Tiffany S.
    Tiffany S.
    Captain Ryan was an absolute blast! We went on a girls trip during the day and had the best time! We highly recommend doing this as an activity with friends or family and we will do it again!!
  • Croix Boys Guided Adventures
    Croix Boys Guided AdventuresStillwater, MN
    A variety of fish, including Walleye, stored in a cooler with water bottles, showcasing a successful fishing trip.
    Carrie M.
    Carrie M.
  • Croix Boys Guided Adventures
    Croix Boys Guided AdventuresStillwater, MN
    Adult angler holding a large catfish aboard a fishing boat on a calm freshwater lake, with rods and landing net visible.
    Dena S.
    Dena S.
    My boyfriend from California caught his first walleye!
  • Croix Boys Guided Adventures
    Croix Boys Guided AdventuresStillwater, MN
    A young angler proudly displaying a large striped bass while wearing a life jacket on a fishing boat.
    Fish 1
    Hybrid Striped Bass
    Michael N.
    Michael N.
    This trip was amazing. We caught alot of different species of fish including a sturgeon. My niece is was so excited that she is ready to do it again. Captin Klye was amazing he made sure we always had lines in the water and took care of everyones needs. I would recommend him if you want to have fun and catch lots of fish.

Fishing reports

Two anglers proudly displaying their catch of Sturgeon aboard a fishing boat, showcasing a successful day on the water.

Sturgeon Bite Heating Up

Sep 27, 2026 • Stillwater
The sturgeon bite is heating up!
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A cooler filled with freshly caught Walleye, showcasing a successful fishing trip.

Limited out this morning way too fast!

Jun 1, 2026 • Stillwater
An easy 30 walleye morning! Had to stay light so we were throwing keepers back so we didn’t have to stop fishing. Another great day on the Croix!
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Two anglers proudly displaying their catch of Walleye while enjoying a day on the water.

Trolling bite producing quality eaters!

May 15, 2026 • Stillwater
Normally, this time of year, I’m pulling crawlers with great success. Although, crawlers are putting fish in the boat, they aren’t producing fish that make the box. So trolling it is! Can’t beat an aggressive trolling bite that produces “boxed” fish. Salmo Hornets have been killer on the Croix!
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Three anglers proudly displaying their catches of catfish while fishing on a pontoon boat in a scenic river setting.

60 incher on an ice rod and a double!

Oct 27, 2025 • Stillwater
Sturgeon fishing on the St Croix River!
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A young angler proudly displaying two Walleye caught while fishing from a pontoon boat on a sunny day.

Another Great Day on the Croix!

Jun 18, 2025 • Stillwater
I had an awesome time with Ronnie and Ann in the morning. We caught keeper walleyes on our first pass and limted by 10:45. That was a great sign for how the afternoon was going to go. The afternoon did not disappoint. 2 minutes into the trip we hit a double and Jackson catches his PB walleye. 2 hours later Jackson ties his PB. Limited out near the end of the trip, and sent these guys home with a bag of fish, and smiling ear to ear. Another great day on the Croix!! #croixboysguidedadventures #guidedfishingtrip #fishing #walleyefishing #riverrats #walleyeslayer #gamakatsu #stcroixrods #stcroixvalley #riverrats #walleyewillys #bayportmn #stcroix #seaguar #humminbird #walleye #garmin #riverfishing #stillwatermn #lewsreels #powerpro #nightcrawlers #livescope #stcroixriver #lews #croixboys #captainryanbunnell #guidedfishing #hooksets #stillwater Walleye Willy's
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An angler proudly displaying a catch of four Walleye while fishing on a pontoon boat, with a scenic river backdrop.

Jiggin’ the MEAT!!!

Jul 6, 2024 • Stillwater
With a full boat of anglers, jigging crawlers and leaches has been very productive for catching walleyes. Covering water at .2-.4 mph dragging and jigging the MEAT has gotten even the newest fisherman a bite. So bring your family and friends, because we are going to have a great time!
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