Last year, the Wisconsin and Minnesota DNR initially had different dates set for Walleye opener on the Croix. I am gettign a little older, so my memory isn’t what it used to be. 
But, I remember Wisconsin changing their Walleye opener to match Minnesota, which was a week earlier than Wisconsin. Obviously, the dates should be the same so us Mud Ducks and the Cheeseheads can get together for some fun. 
Well, guess what? The dates are messed up again this year. Minnesota plans to open Walleye season on April 29th, Wisconsin on May 6th. 
You would think both DNR’s would pick up the phone once in a while. Below is a series of emails I sent and received from the Wisc. DNR. What a mess.
Good Morning,
I just reviewed the Minnesota fishing regulations for 2006-2007. I noticed the Walleye opener for the St. Croix river is scheduled to open April 29th, 2006. Is Wisconsin going to continue with opening border waters on “the first Saturday in May”? It might get a little confusing for anglers if MN opens the Croix on April 29th and Wisc opens it on May 6th.
Thanks,
Dean
Dean,
There will again be a discrepancy in the opening dates for walleye and pike in the St. Croix River in 2006. In 2000, Minnesota failed to follow through on an agreement to standardize the opening date as the first Saturday in May. It did not become an issue until 2005, when the “Saturday closest to May 1” was a date different than “the first Saturday in May.”
There will be a question on this year’s spring hearing questionnaire to change Wisconsin’s opener back to “the Saturday nearest May 1,” and this rule change would take effect in 2007.
We sincerely apologize for the confusion, but the legal process to change rules is lengthy and requires holding public hearings, so a change could not be made before 2006, especially as Wisconsin officials expected Minnesota DNR to correct the discrepancy they created by failing to take the action they indicated they would.
Good luck fishing!
Joe
Joe,
Thanks for the quick response. It sounds like Minnesota residents will be fishing the St. Croix for Walleye a week before Wisconsin residents. Last year the Wisconsin DNR solved this problem by changing the St. Croix opener to match Minnesota. Can this problem be resolved in the same manner this year?
Thanks,
Dean
Dean,
Last season the opener was not changed, but Law Enforcement was not strict; this year, like last, Wisconsin residents are allowed to fish the Minnesota side after the last Saturday in April, but the Wisconsin side is closed to both WI and MN residents, and anglers could be cited for fishing on the Wisconsin side.
Joe
Joe,
My mistake. I remember the same scenario last year. I thought it was resolved by Wisconsin revising the St. Croix opener to match Minnesota. In your note below, you refer to fishing the Wisconsin and Minnesota “side”. Does “side” mean shoreline, or does “side” mean “side of the river”. i.e. – The Minnesota half (or side) of the river.
Thanks again for your time and response.
Dean
Final response from Wisc DNR
The Minnesota “half.”
So, I quess the Wisconsin “half” of the river is closed until May 6th. 
Time to get on the phone Wisconsin anglers.
