[mike son]

Pic warning! Couldn't fit that disclaimer into the title. Got surprised Thursday night with a call that we got a camping reservation for the holiday weekend. Ended up staying at Pattison State Park way up near Superior, WI. Packed up Friday after work and shot up there early Saturday. Didn't plan to do much fishing but was able to sneak away and fish the Brule River on Sunday in the late afternoon. Monday I was able to explore some locations in the Driftless on the way home.

Spent Saturday evening hiking around the campsite. From the top of Big Manitou Falls

As it got dark, we decided to hike down. Not something I've ever done, night hiking, but I'd definitely recommend it

Full moon too

Before the Brule River on Sunday, we went out to kayak on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands. The Apostle Islands look insane but unfortunately they were booked up in that area. We ended up nearby in some bay in Cornucopia, WI. Still was pretty cool.

Now for the Brule, interesting history about the river but I'll save you the history lesson. World class trout river.

Lol. Ended up hooking and losing a couple small Brooks before they hit the net. Had landed my PB Brook, 14-15", unhooked it and placed it in the net but the fish didn't settle to the bottom or maybe the net was hung up. The fish ended up jumping out as I was pulling out my phone. A true heart breaker haha as it was an amazing looking fish. Ended up only landing another fish before my time was up and I had to walk back downriver to my car.

This little creek that had emptied into the Brule, tons of little trout in there running around as I stomped a little ways up river to check it out

On the way home I had the opportunity to explore an area of the Driftless I had been looking into. Some scattered thunderstorms and come through the area as they did further up north by the campsite on Saturday and Sunday. First spot was dirty and higher than normal. Had one hit from unknown, a bluegill :lol: follow my lure and what I think was a trout or large creek chub follow to the rod tip. Pretty scenic but I bailed after a few hundred yards.

Spot two was recommended by Rambler and nearby, looked promising from my research too. It was also stained and really deep in a few stretches. Stumbled around for a few hundred yards and made it to an impassable bend. Like rod tip wouldn't even touch bottom deep but it gave up my first Driftless trout on the outside bend in a large, slow moving eddy.

Finally, one more stop not far at all to a really small creek. Crystal clear. Funny how the little ones can clear up quickly after a rain.

It was lights out. Fish chasing nearly every single cast. Minnow size up to 14-15". Caught a ton and went further than I planned. All Browns but I think I hooked a brook. Sometimes hard to tell as all the fish just go absolutely crazy when they get hooked. Got out two bridges later and walked the pavement back. Crazy to see some of the size of the fish living in a small stream. Undercut banks, wood, pools, runs, boulders all held fish from decent to minnow that would chase or eat. I don't believe this stream is even rated, though, it is at least named.

1068 miles later I pulled into my driveway at 9:30pm. Spent a ton of hours driving for such a short trip but it was worth it. I'll definitely be back to explore more of the Driftless.

 

[Rambler]

GREAT STUFF! Glad to see you took my advice. Next time you get way up north check out Pictured Rocks in the UP.

Not sure how to tell you but that 1st fish is a chub.

 

[FishinMatt]

That is killer. I always wanted to try my hand at the Driftless, but obviously one has to do the homework to find areas not only to fish, but to get the access. Glad it payed off for you. Those are beautiful trout!

 

[joetrain]

Wow what a weekend. Great post.
~JOE~

 

[Rambler]

BTW - your night hike reminded me (here I go again) of the time a buddy & I were camping in Echo Park at the confluence of the Yampa & Green Rivers in Dinosaur Nat. Monument. Summer 1976. The only others camping there were 2 other guys who turned out to be from the south side.

We sat around a campfire late into the evening, shooting the breeze, etc. The full moon came up over the rim of the canyon & my buddy suggested we climb up the canyon wall. Probably something I wouldn't do now but at the time it seemed like a great idea. The moon was like a searchlight & we could see almost plain as day all around us. Magical.

We got pretty high up & then realized getting down might get a little dicey. Got back down safe & sound and slept like babies.

 

[WanderOff09]

Great report. I've driven through the Superior area a dozen times on my way to the Boundary Waters, but never stopped. I may need to. The Driftless is one of my favorite places. Nice browns!

 

[urbanHog312]

i have to read the full story later but those are some killer browns dude!

 

[Brett]

Great fish & post. Fun fact: the Brule river is named after French explorer Etienne Brule, who was in the area looking for a passage to the far east. The world has come a long way since then but it's easy to be envious of those old explorers. Glad you had a good time.

 

[mike son]

GREAT STUFF! Glad to see you took my advice. Next time you get way up north check out Pictured Rocks in the UP.

Not sure how to tell you but that 1st fish is a chub.

If only I had the time, have heard of Pictured Rocks in the past.

I do know the first fish is a creek chub. Made a joke, said "world class trout river" leading into a picture of the chub. Forever will my first Brule fish be a chub :lol:

 

[Phil6]

Gorgeous views and fish! I need to get out north asap!