Hi Rick, I'm in Rhinelander and I just put out 4 test taps. It is way too early (I think) but the forecast looks pretty "normal" for sap flow in my mind. They weren't dripping so I'll just watch them and see.
In the past I've tapped way too early (Feb thaws) and I didn't seem to get reduced flow later in the season. I'm on buckets so that helps. My suspicion is that tapping early when the trees might still be asleep means the tap holes won't start healing either. I'm not gutsy enough to tap trees in January to test that theory though.
2011 - 7 taps, 2 steam pans, block evaporator outside, 4gph
2012 - 32 taps, 5 steam pans (one drop tubed), block arch under lean to, 10gph
2013 - 46 taps, 5 steam pans (3 drop tubed), block arch under lean to, 18 gph
2014-2016 - Can't remember, moved and skipped a year somewhere in there
2017 - 60 taps, 2x6 pan with drop tubes, under roof (no walls), 20 gph