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jwartman59
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Deer ticks are already active. Agree that the grassy campsites on the st croix have an incredible number of ticks, most of them end up on my dog.
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DrBobDg
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don't screw up like I did and leave an article of clothing on the ground outside your tent during the day like I did.... We were pitching ticks out the tent all night long.... They are beyond incredible in the grassy campsites on the St Croix. I was in so much trouble with the war department.
dr bob
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WhereRwe
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Well noted DrBobGg. Thanks for the heads up!
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plexmidwest
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The Namekagon has got my attention and I think I will try it in May or June. Six hours due north, no portages. I would start at K past Trego Dam either solo or 2 of us. Thanks for posting about this area.
John
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lundojam
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You are going to love it there. That stretch of river has full-sized muskies and walleyes in addition to the bass. Good channel cats too. Find a little hole and pitch small jigs as it gets dark. Here are a couple appetizer pics of fish from that area.      
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WhereRwe
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Thanks Plexmidwest, we are looking forward to this trip too!
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nicek
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What a catch lundojam !!!
Do you have any advise for fishing St.Croix between Danbury and Grantsburg, I am going to try my luck there in two weeks, any advise greatly appreciated.
thanks.
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lundojam
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Those are all from the St. Croix. Look for any slack water, holes, eddies and wait until dusk. Sometimes the walleyes and usually the cats will go all night.
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WhereRwe
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Thanks Lundojam!!!!
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plexmidwest
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For those who have paddled the Namekagon, is the 4th week of May too early to camp, or should I wait until June? Comfort is second to good fishing, but high water or cold weather are considerations.
John
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Lundojam's pulling all your legs, save the cat there's NO FISH in the St. Croix other than suckers and lamprey! RIGHT LUNDO?!?!?!
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nooneuno
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plexmidwest: "For those who have paddled the Namekagon, is the 4th week of May too early to camp, or should I wait until June? Comfort is second to good fishing, but high water or cold weather are considerations.
John" There are no camping spots in this high water so you'll at least have to give it a couple weeks, My favorite time to go (paddling only, not fishing) is when the Croix is at the highest flood stage, you can paddle through the trees and it's just like being in the bayous.
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jhb8426
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butthead: "That's down by HY 8. and where motor boat trafic picks up.
"
The motor boat traffic from Taylors Falls to Wm Obrien is not a problem. There are a few pontoon boats and some fishing boats, but nothing to be concerned with. The reservoir above the dam at Hwy 8 is quite busy, however.
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plexmidwest
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Are there tables at the Namekagon sites? I will bring a small roll up table and helinox chair if not, but would be nice to pack as light as possible.
John
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Frenchy19
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I have used my kevlar on the Nam many times, and the rapids should not be a problem with your kids; I brought my girls through there when they were young a couple times with no issues.
Butthead's link is the best to use for maps of this area.
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WhereRwe
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Looking for suggestions on camping areas and canoeing the St. Croix River? Camping areas and trip route advice, please. Looking for a 3-day trip.
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lindylair
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Start on the Namekagon River in WI, absolutely gorgeous river smaller and more secluded than the ST. Croix. Joins up with the St. Croix for your last day of canoeing. Don't remember much for specifics, been a long time, but there are campsites along both rivers that can be found on a map of the area.
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sns
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I hear the Taylor Falls portage is a long one!
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WhereRwe
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Thanks Lindylair!
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butthead
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sns: "I hear the Taylor Falls portage is a long one!"
That's down by HY 8. and where motor boat trafic picks up.
A 4 day trip from Trego dam down the Namakagon into the St Criox and take out at HY 70 has no treal portages except for possibly some rapids. The Namekagon and Upper St. Croix as described here, maps 2-3-4-5-6-7
Saint Croix National Scenic River
Many landings have campsites, iffy section from the confluence Namakagon and St. Croix to HY 77 thur the Tamarak River area.
butthead
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OldFingers57
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We've done the Namekagon river several times. We have done all the sections from Hayward, WI down to the River Landing on the St. Croix. Lots of great campsites to camp at. Good fishing on it. Crystal clear water. It does get busy in some sections above Trego with inner tubers.
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nooneuno
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: "Lundojam's pulling all your legs, save the cat there's NO FISH in the St. Croix other than suckers and lamprey! RIGHT LUNDO?!?!?!"
Last year a few of us were ice fishing Devil's Lake,ND the guide asked us where we were from we replied WI a couple miles off the St. Croix his jaw dropped open, and one could see the perplexed look on his face and his reply was " and you came here, we drive the 8 hours twice a year to fish there".....
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WhereRwe
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That's awesome Nooneuno!!! I'm looking forward to this trip!!!
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analyzer
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Question for those who have camped on the St. Croix. Are the campsites on the WI side, above the taylors falls dam:
1. First come first serve?
2. Free, or do you need some sort of permit?
3. Is it ok to just park a car, and walk in from the frontage road?
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nooneuno
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analyzer: "Question for those who have camped on the St. Croix. Are the campsites on the WI side, above the taylors falls dam:
1. First come first serve?
2. Free, or do you need some sort of permit?
3. Is it ok to just park a car, and walk in from the frontage road?"
The river road that runs North of St Croix Falls up past the old Nevers Dam ferry landing follows close to the river and those sites are regularly used by car campers. (if you go by car bringing bicycles is a good idea as the river road gets very little traffic and is a great place for a bike ride)
Camping on the St. Croix and Nami from Hwy 8 to the North are first come first
serve with no permit needed. the sites in this zone have pit toilets and metal fire rings similar to the BWCA
The Riverway is divided into three different sections each with specific rules
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analyzer
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nooneuno: "analyzer: "Question for those who have camped on the St. Croix. Are the campsites on the WI side, above the taylors falls dam:
1. First come first serve?
2. Free, or do you need some sort of permit?
3. Is it ok to just park a car, and walk in from the frontage road?"
The river road that runs North of St Croix Falls up past the old Nevers Dam ferry landing follows close to the river and those sites are regularly used by car campers. (if you go by car bringing bicycles is a good idea as the river road gets very little traffic and is a great place for a bike ride)
Camping on the St. Croix and Nami from Hwy 8 to the North are first come first
serve with no permit needed. the sites in this zone have pit toilets and metal fire rings similar to the BWCA
The Riverway is divided into three different sections each with specific rules"
Thank you.
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plexmidwest
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Impressive! All those came from the Namekagon? I don't usually take a depth finder, but I have a small side mount Humminbird fish finder and wondering if it would help find the holes. I won't take it unless it would really help.
Yesterday I just scored a Wenonah Fisherman 14' canoe, looks unused, $500. I think I'll take that and paddle it solo. End of May ok, or water levels too high? I'd prefer to avoid the July & August tubers and crowds. Maybe first of June?
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mags459
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I have been tripping on the st croix at least one camping trip a year for about the last 35 years. You are getting a lot of good advice my favorite is from Riverside (north of Danbury) to Hwy 70. (west of Grantsburg) Unless you go on the 4th of July you will hardly see any one, great fishing and consistent water levels. This is my family's go to trip. I also love the Namakogan but water levels can be iffy certain times a year and not a fan of tubers up by trego area. I like the quiet.
The past 4 years we have done 3 night trips on the st croix and see less people than the bwca. If you need a shuttle for canoes I recommend Wild River Outfitters. He will keep your vehicle at his place until your out day. Better than parked at a landing.
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sns
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I need to do this trip too.
Like the fact that if I deal with Taylors Falls portage, I can also take out in Afton and walk home.
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AG4
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I grew up in Grantsburg and have been on the St. Croix many times. The stretch from Danbury down to Norway is generally pretty sandy. From there, the elevation drop has the river pick up some speed and becomes rocky down to the sand rock cliffs. It's no secret that the smallmouth fishing through that area can be really good.
It's a beautiful stretch of river and I would encourage everyone to give it a try.
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pamonster
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lindylair: "Start on the Namekagon River in WI, absolutely gorgeous river smaller and more secluded than the ST. Croix. Joins up with the St. Croix for your last day of canoeing. Don't remember much for specifics, been a long time, but there are campsites along both rivers that can be found on a map of the area. "
+1 I did this with my family probably 20 years ago, it was a real fun trip!
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WhereRwe
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Sounds like Namekagen is a great stretch of water. I will have small kids with on this run. Are the rapids kid safe on this river? Also we are in a MN 3 so turning and manuvrability, is not great. Namekagen still a good choice for us, knowing the above, or should we stick to a route on the Croix?
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HotDog
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There are a few riffles on the Namekagon that can get a little shallow to float over during a dry summer; especially near the end where it dumps into the the St. Croix. We dust off the old Grumman for those trips, but as long as you pay attention, you can probably avoid scraping the kevlar. Also, the fishing is good enough to make buying a WI fishing license worthwhile. There are some deep holes in eddies and near rapids that hold some killer smallmouth.
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bposteve
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If you are traveling the Namekogen on the weekend you're best off using the campsites without road access. The drive up sites can be busy, and depending on who's there very party-centric. Great little river though, was my oldest kid's first canoe trip when he was 3.
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nicek
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mags459: "I have been tripping on the st croix at least one camping trip a year for about the last 35 years. You are getting a lot of good advice my favorite is from Riverside (north of Danbury) to Hwy 70.
Any advise on fishing this stretch of the river? I am planning to paddle it first weekend of May. Thanks
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WhereRwe
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Thanks Mags459!!
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HighnDry
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I've only canoed the stretch around St. Croix state park. The campsites on the WI side looked fairly, flat and grassy with decent tent pads. The river in that area is popular but it was beautiful and isolated once you paddled north of the park. It's definitely a trip worth doing in the future.
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