Fly Fish for Muskies on the Wild and Scenic St. Croix! This DIY trip is for anglers who are ready to make 10,000 casts and suffer together in pursuit of giant fish.
What is a DIY Camp with Fishing For All?
Our DIY camps are the perfect way for intermediate-advanced anglers to test their skills, meet fellow anglers, and explore new water. These trips are considered “DIY” because participants are expected to share in the camp experience by cooking a meal or two for the group, help with cleaning, rowing, fishing, and provide their own equipment. FFA guides will be there to coach and advise on the needed skills and tackle, ensure everyone is comfortable, safe, and having fun, but they get to fish too. Because of this, our DIY camps are offered at a greatly discounted rate compared to our all-inclusive, fully-guided camps. FFA will still handle the trip logistics and lodging, you just have to show up with a healthy dose of team spirit and be ready for an adventure.
Who Can Go on DIY Camps?
These trips are best for anglers who are intermediate-advanced with a solid enough foundation in fly fishing to be able to fish independently. This is a good “next step” for anglers who have completed our 201 level class. Before anglers can join a DIY Camp, they have to complete certain 301 level classes as prerequisites. These classes will ensure you have the foundational skills needed to be successful and safe on the DIY Camp, and the required classes will be listed below. Otherwise we welcome anyone and everyone to join us: men, women, BIPOC, LGBTQ, young, and old! Just be ready and willing to share camp responsibilities, grow your skills and self-confidence, and work as a team to create an awesome fishing adventure.
DIY St. Croix Musky Camp
The wild and scenic St. Croix River is the crown jewel of rivers flowing between Minnesota and Wisconsin. Once a pipeline for running logs, dammed and dredged for various industries, the St. Croix was among the first federally protected rivers, and has been restored to a near-wild state. Muskies are the apex predator of this watershed, growing to large sizes and inhaling huge flies. Test your fly fishing skills and chase the fish of 10,000 casts on this all-inclusive fly fishing weekend adventure!
The Fishing
Spend two full days floating and fly fishing from drift boats with our experienced guides. Our main target on the St. Croix River is the mighty muskellunge. Muskies are the apex predator fish of our river. Notoriously elusive and invoking many superstitions, they are affectionately called the “fish of 10,000 casts.” They primarily eat large baitfish, but have been known to attack small mammals and birds too. St. Croix muskies average 30-40 inches, with trophy sized fish reaching 50”. You’ll use 12wt fly rods and heavy sinking fly lines to throw huge streamer flies that imitate their prey. Plan to bring your own 10-12wt rod and reel with sinking lines (we’ll provide a detailed supply list.) Fly fishing for muskies is very strenuous, both mentally and physically. Anglers thinking of signing up should have a good amount of fly fishing experience, be prepared to work hard, and rest easy knowing that even seeing a muskie is a major win. Opportunities exist to also catch northern pike, walleye, and smallmouth bass on the fly too. The river banks are undeveloped and lined by lush forests that are full of wildlife. You’ll enjoy the scenery as much as the fishing!
The Lodging
An easy, one-hour drive north of Minneapolis-St. Paul, you’ll be staying at our Bass Camp Cabin near Pine City, MN. This humble fishing cabin overlooks the Snake River, a tributary of the St. Croix, and a fantastic fishery in its own rite. The Bass Camp Cabin is freshly updated, and has all the modern amenities of home, including wifi and A/C. Appointed with two shared bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full kitchen, dining area, and living room. Each bedroom has three XL twin beds, and all bedding and linens are provided. We can accommodate groups of up to 6 anglers. Enjoy the sunrise on the wrap around deck listening to the rushing rapids, or practice your cast in the yard shaded by giant trees. Heck, you can even try catching some bass from the shoreline below the deck!
The Experience
Day 1:
Arrive at the cabin on Thursday afternoon, greeted warmly by our guides and cabin staff. After unpacking, enjoy drinks and snacks on the deck getting to know the other anglers and guides. We’ll talk about the history, ecosystem, and fishery of the St. Croix before dinner. We’ll enjoy a delicious meal, then hit the yard for casting practice and rod rigging. After dark, we’ll start a campfire or pull out some activities in the cabin like fly tying or cribbage.
Day 2:
Wake up early Friday, enjoy coffee and watch the sunrise over the river. Eat a hearty breakfast as the boats get loaded for the day. Embark to the river with your guides to fish for 8 hours or more. Have a delicious lunch on a sandbar or campsite on the river. Return to the cabin and share your fishing stories around the dinner table and campfire. Take a few casts from shore in the Snake River below the cabin if you want to catch some bass before dark.
Day 3:
Wake after a restful night’s sleep on Saturday, and enjoy another scrumptious breakfast. Then you’ll head back onto the river for 8 hours of fishing with our guides with lunch on the river again. Once you get back to the cabin, you’ll have another mouthwatering meal, and celebrate your efforts in pursuit of the fish of 10,000 casts.
Day 4:
Spend Sunday morning leisurely while enjoying coffee, breakfast, and the beautiful fall scenery at the cabin. After packing up, be sure to leave your mark at Muskie Camp by “signing the paddle” with words of encouragement for future anglers.
Required Prerequisites
- One 301 Fly Fishing – Musky Rigging and Techniques Class
- At Least Two 301 Fly Fishing – Drift Boat Rowing Classes
- Consider becoming a Frequent Fisher Member to get free 301 classes and more!
2026 Rates & Date
$1000/person. $125 deposit due at time of booking.
(All-inclusive camp price: $1500/person.)
Sept 24-27
(Private camps can also be scheduled between late Sept to early Nov, please contact us for availability.)
What’s included
- 3 nights cabin lodging
- 2 full days of fly fishing
- Transportation to and from the fishing area
- Shared camp responsibilities, like cooking and cleaning
- Opportunities to grow your advanced fishing skills, like drift boat rowing.
What you’ll need
- MN Fishing License
- Transportation to the cabin in Pine City, MN
- Personal fishing equipment, like rod, reel, lines, and flies (A detailed supply list will be sent to you.)
- Personal gear items, like polarized sunglasses and rain gear
- Gratuity for guides and cabin staff (recommend $100/pp/day)
The Details-
Deposits are due at the time of booking, plus $2 per person booking fee and a 3% processing fee. Our booking software will auto-collect the remaining balance on the first day of the trip.
Hosted trip deposits are nonrefundable within 30 days of the trip start date., but can be applied to alternative trips. In the event that trip is canceled by the guide due to unsafe conditions, etc- the deposit can be fully refunded or be applied to alternative trips.
Equipment needs will vary per trip. We will send you a full packing list and itinerary so you know what to bring/expect. If you don’t have your own fishing equipment, we can provide you some free of charge.
It is advisable to purchase travel insurance for your hosted trip in the event of last minute cancellations. Fishing For All LLC does not provide this service, and it will need to be purchased separately at the discretion of the participant.
Please tip your guides and hosted trip staff, it is greatly appreciated!
Private Custom Camps-
Private camps can be arranged on a limited basis at Troutopia on Trout Run Creek in Chatfield, MN, the Bass Camp Cabin on the Snake River in Pine City, MN, or to other custom areas. We’ll organize all the details for you! Please contact us to inquire about private custom camp options and pricing.
