New to the river

[graf703]

I have a very light 14' boat and moved closer to the river. I'd love to get in to some smallies over a weekend camping. I fished the river once a couple years ago and put in at the wild river landing and went North until we couldn't make it through a expansive section of rocks. We were shallow the whole time and managed 2 fish: a 20" SB and a 19" eye.

Where do you guys recommend putting in for a camping weekend? Is there anything fishable/passable below Osceola? We really struggled last time and were pretty disappointed.

[tunrevir]

The interstate parks at Taylors falls would be a good area to try out with fishable water from shore around the parks and good smallie water both above and below the dam with accesses to both areas nearby if you want campground style camping. If you want roughing it type camping then I'd look at the eagles nest campground south of the Franconia landing which is off hwy 95 and Franconia trail. Campground is a boat in site about a half mile south of the landing first come first serve. The surrounding water is all good for smallies. Key on downed trees and of course the rip rap shoreline areas.

Tunrevir~

[DonBo]

Be aware, the river is very high right now and may be dangerous for a smaller boat, but will allow access to areas you couldn't previously get too. You can usually camp on the islands north of Stillwater, but most are under water right now.

[skee0025]

There was a death on the river last night. A boat struck rocks on the WI side by Kinnickinnic State Park beach.

[graf703]

Great advice everyone! The first trip is probably a couple weeks out still. Hopefully the water gets safer.

[TRZ II]

The river is a dangerous place. People die on the river every year from a variety of causes. Generally speed, drinking and drowning are the lead causes.

[hagcel]

Anyone been out between boomsite and high bridge?

I see USGS lists stillwater as:

679.21 ft about sea level.

Discharge: 5,150.

Stream velocity: 0.30

What would be considered safe for smaller (16 ft V bottom 35HP) boats? Obviously this is a bad weekend with all the rain we've had and expected to fall. Just trying to figure out what good levels would be.

Also is boomsite the best place to launch and go north as your first time out? I've been on the river many times just never driving my own boat. I live in Saint Paul so if there is a better part of the river to start out I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks!

[TruthWalleyes]

If you go to boomsite, you can only go about ?5 miles north before hitting the zebra mussel no travel line (railroad bridge).

It is a good stretch of river.

I caught the fish in my avatar in that stretch.

The St. Croix is quite the lazy river in that stretch. Your boat will work fine.

Not sure if you can travel under the stilwater bridge right now or not. I imagine it's pretty tight.

[hagcel]

Yeah I wouldn't go on the other side of the stillwater bridge. Some pretty big water down there and with the huge boats there have been some pretty big waves when I've been out there before. I've camped around boomsite 4 or 5 times so I'm familiar with it just never with my boat.