Fly Fishing The Brule

Lake Superior Steelhead are some of the hardest fighting fish that I have ever encountered. Steelhead are often referred to as the fish of a thousand casts. Some days on the Brule this analogy is very true and hooking one fish is an excellent day. There are other days when you can hook 5 or 6, but landing them can be another story. These fish can rip 20 feet of line off your reel and jump 4 feet into the air in a split second. I would describe it as trying to fight a tarpon or bonefish in a space about the size of your living room.

The Brule River offers extremely high quality fishing just 3 hours from the Twin Cities. Fishing this river is not a numbers game, but if you luck out and have the right conditions it might seem like it is. This River is more about catching one or two trophy trout over 25 inches and appreciating how cool these fish are and the journey they take to survive to actually get that big.

The best way to catch these fish depends on the day. I usually say nymphing is the most effective approach in terms of fly fishing, but I have had many days where spey casting to swing flies produces the best results.

For my guide trips on the Brule you will just need a fishing license and your own set of waders. I do have a few extra pairs of waders, but not many different sizes. I provide all the rods, reels, and flies for both spey casting and nymphing.

Before your trip, we’ll talk about your level of experience and what you’re looking to get out of your guide trip. Hiking and wading to some fishing spots can require a high level of fitness and mobility, but there are also spots we can fish that are just a short walk from the car. I have a lot of experience teaching complete beginners, challenging experts and safely accommodating mobility issues from guiding in Colorado.