I've been down most of the "designated canole routes". The St. Croix is always fun for smallmouth. The upper can get really shallow this time year especially up by the Namakogen.
The Kettle is always a good time unless it's really low. State record for catfish or sturgeon came out of there. Forgot which.
The Root is neat trip. It's southern MN. It flows east to the Mississippi. Pretty river runs through a deap canyon for a while. Amazing amount of Barn Swallows. Some swift water but barely worth worring about. Allot of Turkey Vultures. Really good trout fishing. Most of the campsites are maintained. Been a couple of years since I've been there. The last time I had dead cow in the campsite. Of course it wasn't until we had everthing set up before we were wondering what stunk so bad.
The upper Miss. is beautiful, nice fishing. Too many dams. It always felt a little artificial.
The Little Fork was a really good time. GREAT STURGEON FISHING, if that were legal. We caught several by accident. The largest was 41lbs. Also allot of Whitefish, Snot-rockets, and even a couple Wallys. Hardly any houses. Really fun rapids. Pretty waterfalls. Some great campsites. The bad part is that in low water the banks are really steep making it really hard to get out of the boat. Also the clay is so thick and sticky I still have some on my tent today. Probably the most remote river trip I've ever been on in MN.
The Rum is fun. Easily accesible.
The Cannon is also a really nice paddle. Pretty consistant water level. Really fun trip if started on the Straight river in Fairbault and finish at the bridge on 61 just north of Red Wing, before the Missisippi river. Really pretty trip. Also great shopping or restarants. A person could even spend the night in a hotel each night if they wanted. ::)

SW