BOIS BRULE RIVER
Known as the "River of Presidents" because five sitting U.S. presidents have fished it, the Bois Brule is undoubtedly Wisconsin's best-known trout stream. Rising a few miles from the headwaters of the St. Croix River, the Bois Brule flows north through Douglas County to empty into Lake Superior.

Early explorers caught brook trout here by the ton. There are still wild brookies in the upper reaches, but rainbow and brown trout become more prevalent farther downstream. Several wide spreads on the upper river give up some monster browns to night-anglers each season.

The Brule has two distinct characters. For 30 miles it meanders along, first through dense alder swamps and a cedar bog, then through wooded uplands. In its last 19 miles, the river makes a headlong dash over rock ledges for Lake Superior. Canoeists love the upper river, and so do trout anglers. The lower river is left to kayakers and steelheaders.

Although the Brule River State Forest surrounds the river over its entire length, most of the shoreline is in private ownership, and access is limited to several road crossings and state-owned landings. Access points on the upper river include Fishermen's Landing on Highway P, Stone's Bridge on Highway S and Winneboujou Bridge at Highway B. Most anglers canoe the river, stopping to fish along the way. Season dates and regulations vary along the river, so check before fishing.

Contacts: Brule River State Forest, (715) 372-4866; Brule River Classics, (715) 372-8153.

NAMEKAGON RIVER
The 100-mile-long Namekagon River is part of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. Its upper reaches in Bayfield and Sawyer counties offer superb trout fishing and harbor some of the biggest inland browns of any stream in the state. Despite all the stories he wrote about the Bois Brule, Gordon MacQuarrie's favorite stream was the Namekagon. Famed trout writer Ernie Schweibert also picked the Namekagon as one of his all-time favorite rivers.

The river begins at a roller dam on the outlet of Lake Namekagon. Trout water starts below Highway M where several springs and tributaries enter the river. You'll find wild brook trout from here down to Pacwawong. Below Pacwawong, brown trout are the dominant species. From its headwaters downstream to Phipps, the river is wadable. Deep holes make wading treacherous from Phipps down to Lake Hayward. There are fewer, but larger, trout from Hayward down to the Sawyer County line. A few small, brushy tributaries in Sawyer County also hold brook trout.

The Bayfield County stretch is open during the regular season. In Sawyer County, rules vary, so check the regulations booklet. Below Lake Hayward, the river is open year-round, with artificials-only catch-and-release fishing from Oct. 1 to the first Saturday in May.

Contacts: St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, (715) 483-3284; Pastika's Sports, 1-800-244-2159 or www.pastikas.com.

WOLF RIVER
The largest trout stream in Wisconsin, the Wolf River offers topnotch fishing for large brown trout, with some brook and rainbow trout thrown in. The trout water runs for 34 miles in Langlade County from Pearson downstream to the Menominee Reservation. The Hunting River and several other tributaries also hold brook trout. The harvest season opens here on the first Saturday in May, but the Wolf is open during the early season and during the extended season for catch-and-release fishing with artificials.

The Wolf runs high and mighty in spring, so bring a wading staff. Some stretches are easier to fish from a rubber raft than by wading. Huge boulders and deep holes provide cover for big browns throughout the river. There is good access at state-owned frontage along Highway 55 and at several bridge crossings.