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Testimonials
I had a fantastic time staying with Brooke and Wendy for a fishing trip in Hayward. The accommodations are very comfortable. The lodge is beautiful and the food ( Wendy's special breakfasts ) were out of this world. Waking up to see deer, turkey, bald eagles and uncountable song birds in the yard and around the trout ponds was an unexpected treat.
Brooke has all the trout named so you have to be careful with them, but he will let you tenderly catch one or two if you're nice. I highly recommend staying with them if you are in the area. I will be returning when I try again for a musky on a fly.
Richard Warriner, DDS, Tupelo, Mississippi |
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For many years I shared ownership of a cabin on Lac Courte Oreilles and spent my time fly-fishing on the Namegagon. Bean Brooke, etc. Never did I know that every time I drove up highway 27 I was passing a series of hidden trout ponds almost within walking distance of the road.
I learned about Brookhaven Lodge at last year's fly-fishing convention and signed up for a long weekend in early May. My thought at the time was that it would be a convenient base from which to fish the rivers. I discovered it was much much more.
First, though close to the "lake" generated activity of the Hayward area, the lodge provides quiet seclusion and a beautiful view of the trout ponds and surrounding woods. The lodge and accommodations are immaculate and the lodge seems to have been taken direct from the Livingston, Montana area.
Brooke and Wendy are kind, genuine people who made me and my companion feel like we were friends of the family. Wendy can cook and the meals we ate were excellent.
Brooke is an expert fly fisher and guide, learning both trades in the course of his upbringing out West. I like to think I have learned a few things about trout fishing from the many years I have spent slapping the waters with my sloppy casts, but I learned a great deal from Brooke is the short time we were there. The trout were large, in good condition from the clear cold spring waters and certainly not tame. We had a great time catching them on dries and nymphs.
How often have you wanted to take a friend fishing but were reserved about doing so, either because you were not sure you could provide the kind of experience in one day that would generate a lasting interest or, admit it, such a day would seriously interfere with your own fishing? Well, all I can say is that at Brookhaven, my companion, who had never held a flyrod or caught a trout before, enjoyed a full, one-on-one day of fishing instruction while I got to fish to my heart's content. Never mind that she caught more fish than I did, we were not keeping count.
I plan to return to Brookhaven in the near future.
Jon Kevin Murphy, St. Paul, MN. |
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Thanks for your warm hospitality when we stayed at Brookhaven Lodge last summer as four of us spent a great weekend fly fishing and enjoying the beautiful Hayward countryside. The accommodations, food and above all the friendship were excellent. My wife was touched with your attention to her quirky dietary needs and she truly appreciated the extra effort you made to make her food as enjoyable as everyone elses! Thank you, you made a friend for life. We look forward to future visits to the Hayward area for fishing, hunting and cross country skiing and Brookhaven Lodge will be our place we will stay.
Thanks Again,
Bob and Sara Beedie |
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A day at Brookhaven Lodge is quite literally dream becoming reality.
We were relatively new to fly fishing when we booked our day trip with Brooke. John had some Canadian fly-fishing experience, while mine was limited to a private lesson, one drift boat trip and a day of classroom instruction. The Hayward Fly Fishing Company suggested we try Brookhaven to gain the confidence building experience of catching more fish than one can count. That was an understatement!
We thoroughly enjoyed driving through the wooded acreage, past several of the six spring fed ponds, to one where the small custom pontoon waited tethered to a short dock. As we put together our rods, Brooke gave us basic instructions, suggested flies that might give one of the Rainbows, Browns or Brookies incentive to strike and then rowed out slowly across the water.
I tried a few false casts to get some line out and gauge my distance, when my fly accidentally hit the water - and a fish took my fly. We had not moved ten feet from the dock. It wasn't the pretty dance I had seen on videos, with bending rod and steady stripping … but I landed that fish and almost 40 more that day. John gave up on his count as we moved to two other ponds, stopping mid-day for a delicious lunch and tour of the Lodge (which exceeds most North Country dreams).
We would recommend Brookhaven to anyone who loves wilderness, elegant lodging, good food, relaxation, hiking, photography and especially fly fishing. It is the perfect place to glimpse what is possible - and to build
skills, experience, enthusiasm and confidence.
Our day at Brookhaven is indelibly locked in our memory, ready to be replayed.
Gini & John McCain
West St. Paul, MN & Hayward, WI
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8613N Hwy 27
PO Box 13037
Hayward, Wisconsin 54843
Phone #: 715-634-0472
Email: loonyinwis2@centurytel.net
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