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October 18, 2012
My friend Rick Schreiber and I
flew into Duluth, Minnesota
last night and today we drove to Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin. We’re staying at the Chippewa Retreat Resort. This is our second annual muskellunge on a
fly trip. This fantastic excursion is
put together by our great friend George Hillenbrand. Rick once guided George on the Snake River and I took care of all of Georges tackle
needs when I ran the fly shop. Over the
years we became great friends and George started taking Rick and I and other
friends to Northern Wisconsin ice fishing each
year. Last year, he changed the trip to
fall in hopes we could catch some musky on the fly. The adventure was a great success.
Unfortunately, this year
George and his friends were unable to make the open water musky trip. They cancelled three weeks ago. Yet even though they can’t make it, George
generously kept everything from flights and guides to accommodations in tact
for Rick and me. The trip certainly
won’t be the same without the complete gang, but Rick and I intend to catch
some musky.
Although I’ve returned to Northern
Wisconsin the last six years, I’ve not been to Ashland since 1988 – hard to believe. So today, for old time’s sake, Rick and I
passed through. Like everything does, Ashland has changed. But after my quick observation, Ashland looks great and best of all, Northland College
is still thriving. I made a surprise
visit on an old pal, Tim Walworth. Tim,
an Ashland native, taught me a lot tricks for
catching fish out of Lake Superior. He is now the proud owner of the local
favorite, The Vintage Platter Restaurant.
Tim’s restaurant is a must stop for anyone passing through Ashland.
I probably don’t have to tell
you Rick and I wet a line along the drive.
We stopped at the famous Brule River. Right now you can fish from Route 2
downstream to the mouth by Lake Superior. After a Wisconsin breakfast in Iron River,
Rick and I got fishing licenses and drove to the mouth of the Brule.
Although the mouth of the Brule River
is loaded with Coho salmon, walleye and incoming steelhead, Rick is a fan of
moving water. After a look around we
drove back upstream a few miles and found some nice turns in the river. The water was slightly off color from the
drizzle and rain we were experiencing, perfect for fall run steelhead.
While the locals advised
fishing egg patterns Rick and I went with streamers. Neither of us is much into fishing egg
patterns. However, after I fished a
great looking run without a fish, I put on a favorite Vladi Trzebunia nymph of
mine and immediately dredged out a rainbow.
This was my first fish on a nymph in a long time and I was delighted. Today is my birthday and I catch a fish every
year on my birthday.
After working the run hard
with no other trout I went upstream to track down Rick to see how the streamer
was doing. When I found him he was fishing
hard. He’d had a steelhead chase his
streamer and was focused on bringing him up again and catching him. I bummed a stogie and watched.
After Rick worked the pool without
another sighting of the fish he turned it over to me and my nymph rig. On my second pass the oversized rainbow (Great Lakes steelhead) nearly ripped the rod from
me. It was game on and the thick lake
run fish leapt and ripped his way up the pool.
After a fantastic fight I tailed the splendid birthday fish.
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