10 St. Croix Fly Fishing Tips

The St. Croix river runs for 225 miles through Minnesota and if you are planning a trip, consider these top 10 St. Croix fly fishing tips. With it's beautiful, luscious landscape and genuinely untouched atmosphere, it's the perfect place to fly fish. There is a wealth of fish in the river and fly fishing is possible almost all year round.

1. Choose your location.  St. Croix offers a lot of options for fishing. The stretch of river that runs from Danbury to the St. Croix Falls is one of the best smallmouth bass fisheries in the entire US. From Taylor Falls to Stillwater is always chock-a-block with bass, walleyes, northern pike, muskellunge, saugers, catfish, sturgeon, carp, suckers, and pan fish. Stillwater to the Mississippi is called Lake St. Croix and is great for morning fishing. Whatever stretch you choose, do your research and then choose your spot.
2. Take Sun Block.  As with any outdoor sport, you'll need your sun block so that you don't regret your day in the sun afterwards. Fly fishing requires you to spend a long period of time in the water, and the sunlight bouncing off the water can cause serious sun burn.
3. Take Good Shoes.  Shoes with a good grip to let you grip the bottom of the river bed are essential fly fishing gear. The last thing you want to spend the day falling on your ass in the water. Shoes with rubber cleats will help you get a good grip on muddy surfaces and fine sand.
4. Ward off bugs.  St. Croix can get pretty buggy from the spring, right through to the fall. Make sure you take some sprays to use on exposed parts of your skin and wear colors such as navy blue, black, white or red to discourage mosquitoes and gnats.
5. Wade Safely.  Make sure that you follow the basic rules when wading. First of all, don't fish alone in remote areas. Secondly, use a wading staff - ideally one that is both strong and flexible. Last of all, take the time to do some basic research and reconnaissance in your area. Wading in St. Croix is a great way to access remote locations if done safely.
6. Tackle Box.  Make sure that your tackle box is properly equipped for your trip to St. Croix. Keep your lures and worms separate to prevent a chemical reaction from spoiling the lures. You will be able to pick up seasonal tackle boxes in St. Croix. These will contain the most appropriate plastic worms, jigs, minnows and lures for the place and season you're fly fishing in.
7. Light weight fishing vest.  It gets pretty hot in St. Croix, depending what time of year you visit, so take along a light weight vest. The vest should ideally be water-proof and in a bug-deterring color like navy or black. Make sure you keep your vest well organized.
8. Carry a Wading Stick.  A wading stick will help you keep your footing in rough or murky water. Make sure your stick is strong but flexible.
9. Polarized Glasses.  Polarized glasses will take your fly fishing experience in St. Croix to a new level. They will allow you to see into the water so that you can actually see the fish. Take a hat too to make the most out of your glasses.
10. Beware of Fishing Etiquette.  Remember some basic forms of fly fishing etiquette when you're fishing in St. Croix. Pay attention when you're removing your fishing line - the general rule is to remove your line for an angler. Also, maintain a silence when you're fly fishing. This will benefit yourself and your fishing partners by not spooking the fish away. And don't forget to lend a helping hand to another fisher when appropriate.