May 27th smallie opener

[7Pines]

We're into the 2nd week of April already, so I thought I'd plant the smallie seed now.  Smallie opener on the St. Croix River (north of the dam at St. Croix Falls/Taylors Falls) is 5/27.
If you've never drifted the upper Croix, it's incredible.  Arguably one of the most underlooked, underfished, pristine wildernesses our state (and WI too ) has to offer.
With some planning that can take place on-line and on the telephone, you can put together a day trip or overnight or multiple overnight.  Here are some very helpful business sites run by very nice people.
If you're looking to run the river around the Hwy 70 (Grantsburg) area, John Edstrom at Headwaters Fly Fishing Company and his minions know the smallie fishing up there like the back of their hands: http://www.headwatersflyfishing.com/
If you can swing it, hire a guide from Headwaters and knock your learning curve down by a couple of years.
If you'd like to hit the Namekagon, visit Larry Mann and his wife, Wendy Williamson at the Hayward Fly Fishing Company: http://www.haywardflyfishingcompany.com/home/
They can also put you on muskies and know the Namekagon like nobody else.
Both outfits run drift boats, so it's got an out west, big water feel.  Very classy.
Lastly, you gotta know the National Park Svcs. site: http://www.nps.gov/sacn/
Poke around the site and you'll find downloadable river maps that include where to put in, where to take out, where to camp, where the whitewater sections are, portages, etc.  They're also staffed with guys and gals that really know the fishing too (and fish it often).  On this site, pay particular attention to the river levels pages that'll inform you of CFS (cubic feet per second flows), depth gauge readings and how to interpret these readings.  It'll give up to the minute readings so you'll know where the water levels are at without leaving your home!  Pretty slick!
Anyway, to get to the river levels section in the site, hit "In Depth" on the home page, then click "Trip Planning" on the next page, then hit "River Levels" on the third page.  Take some time to read that page which will explain how it works.
If all else fails, call anybody at the sites I mentioned and just ask...they'll know and tell you whether or not conditions are good or otherwise.
Fishing this area is well worth a bit of planning.  If you have any questions, IM me.
Dan