A Day on the Bois Brule
Recently my friend John Beth had an opportunity to fulfill a bucket list promise to himself, and that was to experience Wisconsin’s famous Bois Burle River in its upper reaches with a guide of outstanding skills and knowledge. His story follows.
My day with Damian Wilmot (http://fbnguideservice.com ) was a dream come true, and I never wanted it to end. I’m only sorry I didn’t do it sooner! All day in a wooden boat fishing a cane rod with dry flies for native brook trout–from Stones landing to Winneboujou–on a river so special words cannot do it justice. Damian knows the Brule: its history, its water, and its spirits…its every mood. And, he shares that with you in a special way. He is unrivaled as the “go to” guy for that river, especially that river. His reverence and passion is infectious. I caught wild brookies all day, with a gorgeous 16” brown as a bonus ! I cannot fail to mention: he made me the finest shore meal I’ve ever had in my life–all cooked on a wood fire ( Bois Brule means “burnt wood, ” you see). If you have yet to experience a day or an evening on the Brule with him, don’t wait.
The “legends” of the Brule are mostly behind us now, but you still have time to fish with this one. Let him transport you, not as much down the river as back in time. You will go home changed from who you were when you arrived. It’s not mist you see and feel in the evening, when the whip-poor-wills call, it’s the ghosts of Indians, voyageurs, trappers, pioneers, Joe Lucius , Gordon MacQuarrie and all the Presidents–and one day, Damian Wilmot.
John and Damian at the launch of the day’s fishing.
Damian capturing John’s sense of the gourmet.
A very fine brookie from the hallowed waters of the Bois Brule.
A “bonus” brown that thought it was a brookie.