Brule River Fishing Report

10/28/11  Very low water conditions still precist and with the weather reports not bringing any major rains it looks like it will be tough steelheading until we get some decent rain. The water is low and clear. Some steelhead are being caught in the runs and slots, but the deep holes are the money. Look for holes where you can't see bottom. Use the float system since water temps are getting toward the mid 40's now. A perfect rod for this is a 8 or 7 weight Switch rod. Steelhead will not move very far for a meal in these colder water temps.  Soft hackles and Stones seem to be the preferred fly's, x-legs and prince nymphs are working also. Stick with bugs and fish them deep and you will stand a good chance of hooking a legal size chromer!!! You might want to chuck a big streamer for the browns still hanging around in the big holes. Cheers."Fight Fish and Drink Good Beer" 

 9/7/11 Very low water conditions and lots of veg still linger on the Brule. Holes and runs are very shallow and in some place you can see the bottoms. Flows are not expected to increase any time soon. No rain in the forcast for the next week. Stick with flies that are good for swinging such as stoneflies and soft hackes. Don't use much weight, maybe a couple splits above the point fly. Browns are in and are hitting flies pretty good. Steelhead are very few and far between. Some fish did come in with the rains we had a couple of weeks ago, but the river came down fast and is pretty clear now. Water temp around 62 degrees. The deep runs and slow holes are your best bet. If you use the float system, focus on the deep holes and runs where you will not get snagged. Cheers. "Fight Fish and Drink Good Beer"  
7/29/11 Expect Trico's to be present in the early mornings and brown caddis below in the riffles and runs. The hotter weather we are experincing will put the best hatches in early morning and some in late evenings. Blue Winged Olives still prevail with good hatches in the early evenings. Quills start coming off around noon but this is not a long hatch, but the browns go crazy for them. Hoppers are doing good in the slow back waters. This is also good for the lower Brule, where hoppers are more plentiful. Expect lots of green muck on the rocks, but focus attention in the slow deep pools. Pass lakes are good for this in the upper brule. Put some weight on the end and float an indicator and you might be surprised with an early steelhead. 
7/8/11 Hex fever is in full craziness. Bring lots of Dun patterns and if you stick around for the early morning hours use Hex Spinners. Heavy activity has been reported from around 11:30PM to 3:00AM. Big Lake is the preferred area but slow holes in Locouis have reported reports also. Hatches are not huge but good. Mostly browns in the 16 to 20 inch mark have been coming in the reports. Sulphurs are working well in low light and late evening and early mornings. Dont forget Pass Lakes! BH'd Princes and PT's are also good bets on the swing in riffles and fast runs. Swinging buggers aslo works good.

5/6/11 With lots of Blue Winged Olives and Size 16 Stones coming off on the lower Brule there will be lots of action with Stones and Softhackles.Big Stone patterns and Buggers are the main ticket also.  Drift them under an Indicator or drift on the swing through deep holes and deep runs. Steelhead are sitting in quiet areas on the bottom and some are moving for flies on the swing. Keep yourself in a tight position along big runs and deep holes keeping a low profile due to fish being spooked. Water temps are hovering around 48 to 50. Flows are perfect right now. 

4/27/11 High water conditions again have put the Brule River in a slow time. There are numerous Skipjacks still hanging around in deep holes and deep runs but most of the older fish have left back to the lake following heavy rains a couple weeks ago. Nice steelhead are hitting on Stone Flys and Soft Hackles and X-Legs. Expect hits to be fast and the fish to fight hard due to warming water conditions and getting their energy back from a hard spring.

4/15/11 The Brule has calmed down in the past few days. Flows are still up there but pretty safe for wading. Use a wading staff and cleats. Nice steelhead have been caught in Deep pools and Deep runs. All are being hooked on X-legs, Soft Hackles, Hairy Ass Stones and Squirrel Nymphs. Use the dropper method with an Indicator since water conditions are still in the upper Forties. Water still a little off colored but that makes it perfect. Have a rock on time on our beautifly Brule. End the day with a great pizza at the Thirsty Peagan in Superior and a great Brew. Cheers. John "Fight fish and Drink good Beer"

4/7/11 Its amazing what a day of rains will do. Since we received some rain on Sunday that has made the Brule basicly unsafe for wading the river. Muddy conditions have also accompanied the high water. High cold muddy water does not make for a great day on our beautiful river. Give this till about the beginning of next week and things should be getting better. This is if we do not receive more rains!! Cheers. "Fight fish and Drink Good Beer" John

 4/1/11 Good conditions on the Brule make Flyfishing a Joy. The takes are not many but when theres a take its a nice fish. Mostly dead drifting Stones and Softies with an Indicator. Use lots of split to get them down, thats where the big ones are. Ice conditions persist along the shore lines and in the woods so hike with caution. Water conditions are fair, getting cloudier with ice and snow melt, but very nice levels. Water temps in the upper 30s and low 40s. Kick ass and have a good time. Respect our beautiful jewel of a river and pick up after yourself. Cheers. John

3/29/11 The Brule is open past HWY 13 and is running low and clear which is expected since we did not receive any rain or snow from last weeks storm. Expect temps to be around the upper 30s which means Steelhead will not be moving fast tor any fly, so Highstickin slow and low or Indicator work is the best bet for hook ups. With lots of fishing pressure they will be extra cautious, so use the stealth method. Banks are pretty low on the Ice and Snow department. There are a few patches in the low valleys. Use the Switch rod for Indicator work drifting the Hairy Ass Stone as a point and an X-Leg or Soft Hackle as a dropper. Go on the smaller size!! Keep flies in the deep zones. Chartreuse Eggs work good this time of year also. I would go Fluoro in the Tip, around 3X to 4X when conditions warrant. Put on lots of Split. Use the Nymph Line from Sci Angler, you will love it!! Cheers. "Drink good beer and fight fish" John