Enjoying the Brule

There is a mix of public and private land along the Brule River. Most of the land along the upper river is privately owned as are some parcels along the lower river. We urge anglers and canoeists enjoying the river to be aware of the riparian ownership, to be familiar with the current Wisconsin stream access law, and to respect the rights of private landowners. Details of the current stream access law can be found by clicking on Wisconsin Stream Access Law. You can use Douglas County's GIS data to determine ownership along the river by clicking on Douglas Co GIS data. You can also view an informative video about the Brule by clicking on Enjoying the Brule.

Big Lake. The Winneboujou Club allows access to Big Lake via its walk-in canoe trail and landing. The Winneboujou Club issues annual Big Lake Access Passes for this use. Under the terms of the Winneboujou Club’s easement agreement with The Nature Conservancy, no commercial use is allowed via the walk-in trail. In addition, fires and overnight camping are not allowed. All items carried in must be carried out. This includes canoes, which cannot be left overnight. The Winneboujou Club hopes that everyone will care for and appreciate this resource that they are so blessed to share.

Access to Big Lake through the Winneboujou property is a privilege. Please obtain a pass if you wish to access the river at this point. It is important to respect the private ownership!

Responsible and Courteous Angling

The Brule River has long been noted for friendly, courteous anglers. We are fortunate to have many miles of productive water on the Brule to fish, and it’s important to acknowledge the generosity of the many private landowners who allow access to parts of the river through their property.  Perhaps the most important thing to remember when fishing is to give other anglers as much space as you can and to never, ever step into a run or hole below another angler. Just how much space is “enough” is subjective and will depend on how crowded the river is and where you’re fishing. If someone is already fishing the spot you’ve come to, you’ll never be wrong if you take the time to say hello and ask if they’d mind if you start behind them. We’ve all met some nice people, made some good friends, and even picked up some helpful tips by being friendly while on the river! Of course, if they’re in the tail out and clearly leaving, there’s no real need to ask. Be aware, that many anglers like to make multiple passes through a run or hole. So, if you’re uncertain as to whether they’re leaving, just ask. There’s a lot of places to fish on the Brule, and you can always move on. By all means, if a landowner asks you to refrain from fishing the water along their property, respect their request. Remember, we are their guests!

There may be occasions and locations, such as the opening weekend, when fishing space may be limited, and some of the above guidelines would be difficult to follow. In these instances, anglers often stake out a fishing spot, allowing sufficient space so as not to interfere with others nearby. When someone nearby is playing a fish, it’s courteous for others to take their lines out of the way and allow room for the lucky angler to play and land the fish. Never attempt to net someone's fish unless asked to do so.

If someone happens to step in and start fishing in front of you out of ignorance, you can explain politely the error of their ways. If that fails and they decide their fishing is more important than yours, don’t stoop to their level. Just you move on. First, you're less likely to catch anything with a person like that in the spot; and second, the stress of having to be around this kind of individual isn’t worth the trouble. Remember, we’re out there to have fun! Always think courtesy and friendliness. It's better than being rude. Everyone knows the “Golden Rule”, and you’ll never be wrong following it.

Many Brule anglers release the fish they catch, so proper handling is essential for fish survival. Land a fish as quickly as you can and keep it in the water as much as possible. Wet your hands before handling any fish.  Unhook fish in knee-deep (or deeper) water when possible. Some anglers believe fish unhooked in this manner may survive better than those unhooked in the shallow water at the bank because they don’t thrash around on the rocks. If you want a picture, have someone else take the photo. Ideally, water will be running off the fish in the photo because you will have just lifted it out of the water. Trout Unlimited also has a number of suggestions to ensure the release of healthy fish. See, Catch and Release.

Key Things to Remember

• Give other anglers their space. Never enter a hole or run being fished without asking permission. There’s a lot of water to fish.
• It is unethical to intentionally disturb fish on their spawning beds.
• Land your fish as quickly as possible and handle fish you intend to release as little as you can. Wet your hands before handling your fish.  Steelhead unhooked in knee-deep water may survive better than those unhooked at the bank.
• Respect the environment. Pack out what you pack in and pick up any litter you encounter, especially discarded fishing line.  Everyone has a little room in their fishing vest!
• Understand the trespass laws and respect the rights and wishes of property owners. See, http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Fishing/questions/access.html. Remember, we are guests when on private property!
• The State Forest allows warming fires along the river, but they must be attended and be fully extinguished prior to leaving. Never build a fire on private land without the landowner’s permission.