Hello,
A bunch of us are camping on the bank of the St. Croix River just south of Taylors Falls this weekend. We are bringing canoes to try for some smallmouth. Any recommendations on what tackle to bring and what to look for in the river???
I always practice catch and release and not catch and release into a hot pan of grease.

-topwater's - near the logs and sticks / shoreline structure

-could also try a lindy rig - 12" to 18" snell and crawler jigged bottom up to 2' off the bottom floating south the speed of the current

Good luck and thanks for C&Ring those smallies, I appriciate that, they are tough to come by, The Prodigy

Shad raps, suspending baits and rattle raps will also work casting the shorelines as well as some smaller countdowns. Areas with seeps and inflowing streams will hold both pike and smallies near the structure that The Prodigy mentioned.
Tunrevir~

Good deal. Thanks for the information. I will try and post some pictures Sunday night when we get back. What is the current like in this section of the river?

Pretty slow except for a few necked down areas and even then it is slow. There is more current up by the Dalles and then again right at the first island south of the park. Where the water is churning south of 1st island there is a nice eddie that holds a few smallies, south of there it gets pretty shallow for a bit and then starts to deepen again as you head into the corner just above the 2nd island. The sticks and debris on both the Mn. side and the Wisc side will hold fish. More pike on the Wisc side and more variety on the Mn side. Once you get to the rocky cliffs the fish will be tight to the shorelines and around any shallow cover they can find. South of the 2nd islan look towards the Wisc side and for the downed trees just above the eagles nest campground. The delta area right near the campsite can yeild some smallies and also has some pike lurking. Don't forget to take your catfish rods for a little late night catting. Great way to spend the night if your camping in that area. Good luck!
Tunrevir~

Tunrevir - I tell you I have spent probably close to 50 hours out our part of the croix in the last few weeks chasing cats and have come up with nothing but softshell turtles, 10 in one afternoon actually, out of a hole south of my favorite spot. No cats! I think it is the daylight that is haunting me... got to get out at night. If you are ever free and want to try that, I am all for it! Talk to you later, The Prodigy

I was out on Monday night and fished for a bit and had some luck on the panfish and walleyes, kept a couple for the frypan and just enjoyed the night. I'll be gone up to Orr this weekend helping build a cabin and fishing Elbow lake for some eyes and pike a.m. and p.m. The catfish get more active down there in the evening and closer to fall they will be more active during the daylight hours. There are better spots down river that have more snaggy cover ect but you may have to walk the boat across a few of the shoals to get to them. I'll give you a holler when I get back and maybe we can arrange a kitty trip.
Tunrevir~

tunrevrir -

There are two canoe trips available through our campsite. They both start at Taylors Falls, MN Interstate Park. One ends in Osceola (2-3 hours) and one ends in William O'Brien State Park (5-7 hours).

Is the fishing pretty good prior to the Osceola landing or would we be better off taking the longer trip to get some of the better water?

The 2 to 3 hour trip to osceola is nice and scenic and if you are fishing hard it will take you most of the day to get there. There is some really nice water below Osceola with deep holes and woody cover that hold fish but like I said, if you plan on fishing it hard I'd do the 2-3 hour shot and when you have a whole weekend work the rest of the stretch. Depends on how much time you have to spend I guess.
Tunrevir~

I've got my tackle loaded up and im ready to roll. Hopefully the canoe does not sink with all the weight from my gear.

Thanks for all the advice Tunrevir! We'll probably go with the short trip then.