Namekagon river in Wisconsin

[Mofloatjunkie]

I have been invited to go on a 3 night float on the lower end of this river the first week of June and was wondering if anybody has any info. I have never been to that part of the country. Thanks in advance.

[Dan Kreher]

I floated the last 30 or so miles from County K bridge (just below Trego Dam) to confluence with St Croix River the first week of June last year. Water was up a bit and little cold for that time of year with a bit of a late spring. Gorgeous stream with wooded shorelines, marshy areas, easy riffle areas -- no real rapids in that stretch. Camp sites are excellent and numerous. We floated from Monday to Wed on Namekagon and another 2+ days on St. Croix below confluence and saw very few people. Later in summer on weekends, there'd be lots more traffic with canoes, kayaks and tubers on this river, but nothing compared to typical Ozark stream.

Fishing for smallies was pretty decent -- not great numbers but excellent sizes. Caught about 12 first day, 16 the second and 12 the 3rd. Largest at 19.5 but several from 17-19. All over 12", 2/3rds over 15" and 40% over 17" so quality was excellent.  Some muskie action as well but not many landed without using steel leader.

With warmer spring, I'd think that time of year may have them a bit more active that we found. Due to a little higher than normal water many fish were holding on inside sandy bends in river rather on rockier, deeper and faster outside bends. Cranks seemed to work best with some sporadic topwater action. I think top would be better in July/Aug period up there. Tannin stained water has fish holding pretty shallow all summer.

 

PS -- other than the first couple miles of St. Croix below confluence where there are several nice rapids, the larger river was not too great. Water high by at least a foot and off colored following rains prior to trip. For St. Croix either try from St. Croix Flowage down to Namekagon or from Norway Point down to Hwy 70 bridge for the best looking water for floating and fishing.  

I hope to get up that way again myself this year. 

Enjoy

 

 

[SpoonDog]

I did a float a couple years back, Groat Landing to Trego Landing I think, early October.  Caught a few good smallies on topwater/slider deals but it was the end of the season and many fished had moved to winter territories.  Like Dan said, didnt catch a lot of fish but everything was >15". I did see a couple muskie.  You'll probably do better in the spring.  It hadn't occurred to me how low-gradient streams are up there compared to Ozark streams and I had to paddle through some good looking water to meet my shuttle, June you'll have more light and if you're camping you'll be able to get an early start.  If you're doing it over a weekend you'll have company, it's really not that far from St. Croix/Namekagon to the Twin Cities.

[Dan Kreher]

Gradient for that lower section is about 3.5 fpm. Water likely 2-3 inches over summer level and paddling was pleasant and pretty effortless. More rocky areas than SpoonDog's stretch I'd surmise as that section there is closer to 2.5.

Seems like river traffic up north doesn't pick up until July/August with warmer water. Kids still in school up there in early June, I believe.

And, yes, Namekagon in notorious for big seasonal migration of smallies out of the river almost entirely (in section below Trego Dam) starting as early as Sept 15. Would think St. Croix would have them stacked up in early fall then. For that reason, Minnesota has C&R regs on smallies after 9/15 but that doesn't apply on the river in Wisconsin until you get further downstream where St Croix becomes state border with MN.