First time - St. Croix River - St. Croix River

I finally made it out on the open water of the St.Croix River a week into the legal open season for walleye. The day started off slow as the minnow store in Hudson was out of minnows so with some crawler and leeches I had left over from last weekend (but forgot in the truck at the landing) I headed to the landing to meet a good friend WalleyeHunter2. We decided to float around the main channel in Hudson until the minnow store on the river opened. After a sheepshead and nothing else going in the main channel we head to get the minnows and leeches which they didnt have, after which we agree to start near Prescott and fish our way back to Hudson. We got to our first spot and fished the spot for around an hour with a smallie or two and a few misses we decide to head in to Prescott for some leeches and adult beverages. After which we started our trek north. Our second spot was infested with smallmouths that were all over our bait. Off to spot #3. When we pulled up a guy we spoke with said he boated an 8lb walleye, all we got out of the spot was more sheepshead, smallies and missed bites, off to spot #4 feeling kind of bummed no walleye have been boated yet. By now the wind was gusting to what seemed like gale force , we get on our 1st live bait rigging pass and “smack” WalleyeHunter2 lands a fat 18″ walleye . We make a few more passes with nothing to show and then “thunk” I stick a ‘lil walleye about 14 inches, we made about 12 more passes or so with nothing to show so up river we go. Our next 2 spots north land us 0 fish and the wind was tossing us around pretty good. Well at this point in time I want to go home or catch fish so I let WalleyeHunter2 in on 1 of my favorite spots that NOBODY ever fishes. I think it was the 2nd or 3rd cast and he sticks a sheepie shortly there after I catch a 17″ sauger which is spewing eggs so I quickly get her back into the water to do what nature was in the process of doing. The sauger was followed up by another 18″ walleye. After a few more passes and a headache from the wind we decide to call it a day. I think we would have had alot better day if the wind wasnt tossing us all over the place. All fish came on rigged crawlers and jigged minnows as everyone was sold out of leeches. Fish came from 12-24 FOW. All in all it wasnt to terrible first outting of the year. Good company, Good drinks, great weather, caught fish and had a blast. Thanks WalleyeHunter2