7 is early enough for me. I've played the 5-6 am game and there really is no difference in not catching fish at 5 and not catching fish at 8. I've never had any luck shore fishing and its certainly not from a lack of effort!
The backside doesnt open until next weekend, I'll be there then too(Thats when I'll be there at 5am), opening day for boats is always a good time. Rumor has it that they didn't stock this year because of a diverted load of eagle lake trout a month or 2 ago. How true it is, I dont know. Either way there are a ton of fish in that lake if you have a boat.